LISBON: Portuguese MEP Ana Gomes (Socialist) asked the European Commission (EC) on Friday for clarifications about a possible breach of community rules for operating airlines in the European Union (EU) in the sale of TAP to the Gateway consortium.
Ana Gomes specifically asked whether the consortium the government decided to sell 61 percent of TAP to is in fact controlled by a European citizen. “We know that Humberto Pedrosa, a Portuguese citizen and majority shareholder in the winning bid, has no experience in the international civil aviation business, which is a highly specialised sector. Is the European Commission aware of any shareholder agreement or any other legal solution that allows for the effective control of TAP by the minority shareholder, David Neeleman (…)?” she asked.
The Portuguese government signed the sale agreement on 24 June for 61 percent of the capital of TAP to Gateway (belonging to David Neeleman and Humberto Pedrosa), the winners of the privatisation tender.
