Brussels, 23/01/2014 (Agence Europe) - European Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship Antonio Tajani is continuing his role as mediator in the dispute between Panama's administration and the three European companies (Sacyr from Spain, Impregilo from Italy, and Jan de Nul from Belgium) which are the shareholders of the consortium in charge of work on widening the Panama Canal. The dispute is over the additional finance of €1.2 billion requested by the consortium in order to meet extra costs due to unforeseen geological issues on the worksite, and in order to be able to continue their work. The initial cost of the work was €3.2 billion.
After obtaining last weekend that the consortium could continue its work, Tajani held a meeting on 23 January with representatives from the Spanish, Italian and Belgian governments and from the European Investment Bank in order “to objectively establish the facts of the situation and identify ways to resolve differences between the two parties”. In a “spirit of constructive negotiation”, Tajani asked the European consortium to “make a special effort and trust that it will be reciprocated by all stakeholders”. Tajani is ready to enter into contact with the government of Panama in order “to discuss issues of mutual interest - notwithstanding the eventual conclusion of this particular dispute between the parties under the contract and the laws of Panama”. (EH/transl.fl)