Politics

ZAGREB, July 21, 2020 - Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said on Tuesday the outgoing government dealt successfully with many crises and fulfilled its goals, and that the new government would reduce divisions in society and do more for poorer citizens. "We have been faced with many crises. I think we have overcome and managed them well. And I'm pleased that we won the confidence of a huge majority of voters in the (parliamentary) election, that practically a couple of hours after the results we ensured a parliamentary majority with our former partners, ethnic minority representatives, the HNS and Reformists," he told the press…

ZAGREB, July 21, 2020 - Croatia's economic recovery will depend on the moves by the new government, and the way out of the crisis should also be sought in increasing exports, participants in the Zagreb Invest&Export 2020 conference concluded on Tuesday.  "A country's success does not depend on someone else's assistance but on the efficiency of its government," economist Ljubo Jurcic said at the conference. He said that boosting exports should be "a lodestar" for every small country, adding that the share of exports in Croatia's GDP is lower than in the case of its peers, and in this context, he…

ZAGREB, July 21, 2020 - The future Minister of Defence, Mario Banozic, said on Tuesday that the priorities in his department would be further modernisation of the armed forces, development of infrastructure, and personnel training. "It will definitely be the continuation of modernisation of the Croatian army, training, development of infrastructure, including accommodation and other capacities necessary for the Croatian army to be the pride of Croatia," Banozic told reporters ahead of the last meeting of the outgoing government. He said that despite defence budget cuts, salaries for military personnel would not be reduced and should be increased. Banozic has served…

ZAGREB, July 21, 2020 - The agreement reached by EU leaders on the pandemic recovery plan and seven-year budget is a good compromise and Croatia can be very pleased because with over €22 billion it will have an excellent lever for the implementation of reforms and economic recovery, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said in Brussels on Tuesday. "I think that we all, as heads of state or government, can be satisfied that a compromise has been reached. It is a good compromise because everyone benefited and the process of economic recovery in the member states will benefit the most," Plenkovic…

ZAGREB, July 21, 2020 - EU leaders have agreed on the pandemic recovery plan and seven-year budget after marathon talks, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic announced on Twitter early on Tuesday morning. "The meeting has ended #EUCO. We have adopted #NextGenerationEU and #EUBudget for the next seven years. We are bringing Croatia 22 billion euro as a guarantee of a quick economic recovery and further balanced development of the country," Plenkovic tweeted. The EU summit lasted nearly five days. It resumed at 9.30 pm on Monday and lasted through the night. On the table was a €1.074tn Multiannual Financial Framework and a…

 ZAGREB, July 20, 2020  - Branko Bacic, the head of the 66-strong Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) parliamentary group, said on Monday after meeting with Opposition MPs that the  HDZ would chair 16 parliamentary committees and the remaining 14 would be chaired by the Opposition. Bacic expressed satisfaction with today's meeting at which he informed the elected MPs about the work schedule of the 10th 151-seat national legislature and the distribution of chairpersons. Of the three Croatian Parliament delegations, the delegations for NATO and the Council of Europe will be led by lawmakers from the ruling majority and the delegation to the OSCE…

ZAGREB, July 20, 2020 - President Zoran Milanovic said on Monday that the reason why he would not attend the inaugural session of Parliament lay solely in his understanding of the role and status of the Croatian Parliament. "The reason why I am not coming to the session lies solely in my understanding of the role and status of the Croatian Parliament - its independence of the President. That's all. This is at the same time both affirmative and well-intended towards the Sabor," Milanovic wrote in a Facebook post. He said he had read comments saying that all his predecessors had…

ZAGREB, July 20, 2020 - Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic described on Monday as very unusual President Zoran Milanovic's decision not to attend the inauguration of the new parliament on Wednesday. Milanovic's office said on Sunday he would not attend the session. Speaking to the press, Plenkovic said, "I know what is certain, parliament will be inaugurated. It's very unusual from what I've seen in the media. We haven't talked about it. It was news to me." He recalled that everyone who had been invited attended Milanovic's inauguration. "We received an invitation and attended because we respect the Croatian institutions, state…

ZAGREB, July 20, 2020 - EU member states are getting closer to a deal on the next seven-year budget and the coronavirus recovery plan, after three days of tough negotiations and numerous compromises, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic told reporters outside the government offices in Zagreb on Monday. "After tough negotiations and numerous compromises, in my estimate, we are nevertheless slowly moving towards an agreement," Plenkovic said. EU leaders have been unable to agree on the number of grants in the proposed plan for the economic recovery of the EU hit by the coronavirus pandemic. According to diplomatic sources, five "frugal"…

ZAGREB, July 20, 2020 - The Green-Left Coalition said on Monday they would forward to the government and parliament a model for revitalising dairy production in Osijek-Baranja County, highlighting the purchase of Meggle plants or a package of measures to rescue that industry. It is necessary to examine if Meggle Croatia is interested in selling the company, including production plants, the coalition said in a press release. If so, it added, it is in the public interest to ensure the funds for the purchase via Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development loans. If not, the government must come up with a…