Politics

ZAGREB, 7 July 2022 - The European Commission on Thursday approved an up to €500 million Croatian scheme to support companies across sectors in the context of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the EC reported. The scheme was approved under the State aid Temporary Crisis Framework, adopted by the Commission on 23 March 2022, based on Article 107(3)(b) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (‘TFEU'), recognizing that the EU economy is experiencing a serious disturbance. The EC's Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy,  was quoted as saying that "in a period during which the functioning of…

ZAGREB, 7 July 2022 - Former agriculture minister Tomislav Tolušić and Željko Ferenc, an employee of the Paying Agency for Agriculture, who were arrested on Thursday on suspicion of subsidy fraud and abuse of office in two wine sector tenders, are to be interrogated by European investigators. Tolušić and Ferenc, who were apprehended in their homes in the eastern Croatian city of Virovitica on a warrant issued by the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO), have been transferred to Zagreb for questioning. A Zagreb County Court investigating judge will decide on their detention if the European investigators make such a request. Media outlets say…

ZAGREB, 7 July 2022 - Croatian MEP Valter Flego asked the European Commission on Wednesday to deal with the protection of the Adriatic as soon and as seriously as possible, saying this burning issue is not sufficiently in focus. Speaking at a plenary on the EU's biodiversity protection ambitions, the IDS/Renew MEP said that when biodiversity was discussed, soil, forests and air were mentioned, but not the sea. He said that for those living in the Mediterranean, the sea was as crucial as the air and the earth, telling Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius that the EU must deal more, and…

ZAGREB, 7 July 2022 - Outgoing Finance Minister Zdravko Marić said on Thursday that it is now the best time for him to quit the government because all the most important goals in the field of public finances have been achieved, adding that he does not have any new employment arrangements for the time being. Addressing a press conference after a cabinet meeting, Marić said that European Union Ecofin's certain decision on Croatia's entry into the euro area next week will be the "highlight" of his involvement in the government and that this completes the government's achievements in the field of…

ZAGREB, 7 July 2022 - The contribution of Croatian emigrants to the homeland is very important, not just emotionally but economically as well, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said on Thursday at the inaugural session of the third Government Council for Croats outside Croatia. Fifty-five representatives of the Croatian minority from all over the world attended the session which will work on recommendations to the government for improving the status of Croatian emigrants. Plenković spoke about Croatia's status today, mentioning accession to the Schengen and euro areas at the start of 2023, the opening of Pelješac Bridge this month, last year's procurement of fighter…

ZAGREB, 6 July 2022 - Prime Minister Andrej Plenković on Wednesday thanked Zdravko Marić for the contribution he made as Minister of Finance, saying that he "has done a great job" and said that the new minister, Marko Primorac, is also excellent and will gain a good reputation with his work, just like Marić. Addressing a press conference held in Government House after a meeting of the ruling majority, the prime minister said that he has a very good relationship with Marić and that they had a long discussion about his leaving the government. Every government member supposed to want to…

ZAGREB, 6 July 2022 - Croatian President Zoran Milanović on Wednesday received Slovenian Foreign Affairs Minister Tanja Fajon, with whom he talked about Ljubljana's support on Croatia's path towards membership of the Schengen Area and the euro area, as well as the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Milanović and Fajon talked about the possibilities of further improvement of cooperation between the two countries, as well as about Croatia's entry into the euro area and the Schengen Area, for which President Milanović expects Slovenia's support, his office said in a press release. A topic of the meeting was also the situation in Southeast Europe,…

ZAGREB, 6 July 2022 - The ruling HDZ party's coalition partners said on Wednesday that the resigned Finance Minister Zdravko Marić was one of the most successful ministers who had led Croatia into the euro area and who had results, with just an occasional mistake.  Speaking to reporters ahead of a meeting of parties making up the parliamentary majority, Reformists leader Radimir Čačić said that Marić had done his job excellently and had results to show. Čačić: Number of excellent results, guarantees a failure "His results are entry to the euro area, the country's improved credit rating and debt stabilisation,…

ZAGREB, 6 July 2022 - Government spokesman Marko Milić said on Wednesday that Finance Minister Zdravko Marić would speak about the reasons for his resignation in greater detail on Thursday, before or after a government session, and that his departure had not shaken the government or the ruling coalition, which were stable. In an interview with the N1 broadcaster, Milić said that Marić had informed Prime Minister Andrej Plenković of his plan to leave the government a few weeks ago and that he attended today's meeting of the inner cabinet and would address members of the parliamentary majority and HDZ…

ZAGREB, 6 July 2022  - The news of Finance Minister Zdravko Marić's unexpected resignation on Tuesday was followed by the first reactions of opposition politicians who in their comments told Prime Minister Andrej Plenković that the time was ripe for new parliamentary elections. Social Democratic Party (SDP) political secretary Mirela Ahmetović said in a Twitter post that "the last time Marić resigned, his boss fled the country and the company folded," a reference to former Agrokor company owner Ivica Todorić. When the most popular minister leaves, that means the government has fallen and Plenković just does not want to admit…