Politics

ZAGREB, 16 Feb 2022 - The Croatian government on Wednesday launched an HRK 4.8 billion (€640 million) package of measures aimed at shielding consumers from rising energy prices. The package includes the capping of the growth of electricity prices to 9.6% and the growth in prices of gas to 20%. Furthermore, the Value Added Tax (VAT) rate on gas supplies and some agricultural products will be lowered. The package also provides a rebate on domestic energy bills. Unveiling the set of measures, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said today that the package had been prepared in a systematic manner, and is "timely…

ZAGREB, 16 Feb 2022 - The Državne Nekretnine state property management company on Tuesday said that the renovation of the state-owned basement used by Prime Minister's chief-of-staff Zvonimir Frka-Petešić, had been conducted in line with law and regulations. "The renovation of the pertaining basement space in Zagreb was planned within the company's regular business activities and the project was also made public within the company's public procurement operations' plan for 2021", Državne Nekretnine stated in a press release in response to media reports that that the 83-square-metre large basement was renovated and refurbished at a price of 417,000 kuna. "During the advertised public procurement tender for…

ZAGREB, 16 Feb 2022 - Social Democratic Party MPs Arsen Bauk and Peđa Grbin have mastered the art of utilising all perks available for legislators, Wednesday's edition of the Jutarnji List daily reported in an article. Although both MPs have lived in Zagreb for more than 10 years, including have their families living with them, partners that are employed in Zagreb and children born in Zagreb, neither of them has changed their residency. Bauk is still registered on Brač Island, while Grbin in the City of Pula. The Sabor is paying their rent in Zagreb and both of them are…

ZAGREB, 16 Feb 2022 - Croatian National Bank's (HNB) Vice Governor Roman Šubić on Tuesday confirmed media reports about his purchase of a house in Zagreb below the market price, explaining that the advertisement of the sale of the property was made public and that transaction was in line with law. He also underscored that the purchase of that villa was not in contravention of the rules on conflict of interest prevention. Media outlets have reported that in late 2021, Šubić bought a 1,077-square-metre large villa in Zagreb's residential area of Gornji Stenjevec from a debt collection agency at the price of…

ZAGREB, 15 Feb 2022 - Prime Minister and HDZ party leader Andrej Plenković said on Tuesday that the government's set of measures designed to cushion the impact of rising energy prices was comprehensive and would be good both for households and the business sector, and that they would be presented at 10 am on Wednesday. "The measures... will alleviate, as much as possible, the impact of price growth expected as of 1 April," Plenković told reporters after a session of the HDZ Presidency and National Council but he would not reveal any details. He would not say if it was true, as…

14 February, 2022 - NATO isn't a threat to anyone, it's a defence alliance of states that live and promote freedom, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said on Monday during a visit to the American aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman, which has been docked in the port of Split since last Friday. US aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman is a symbol of the US commitment to NATO and the defence of our common values -- freedom and democracy, said the Croatian prime minister. The Croatian premier said that the presence of the aircraft carrier Truman was also a…

14 February, 2022 - After meeting with the parliamentary opposition on Monday, the Bridge party announced that it was launching an interpellation on the government's work over rising energy prices. "The Bridge group convened the meeting with the opposition to discuss certain proposals for an interpellation regarding the issue of energy," Zvonimir Troskot said, adding that there were several proposals and a final one hasn't been decided on. Each parliamentary group presented short and long term measures to buffer inflation, he added. Bridge believes that the government was not prepared for this crisis and that it is tardy in adopting measures…

14 February, 2022 - The Archbishop of Zagreb, Cardinal Josip Bozanić, met with Mayor Tomislav Tomašević on Monday to discuss further cooperation between the Archdiocese and the City in matters of common interest, notably in social and charitable work. The focus was on projects for the common good, including care for the citizens hardest hit by the consequences of the March 2020 earthquake, the COVID-19 pandemic and the increased cost of living, the Archdiocese Press Office said. Also discussed were challenges in the post-earthquake reconstruction process, and providing premises for the assembly of believers in parishes where there are no…

14 February, 2022 - Over the next few years Croatia and Kosovo will strengthen economic cooperation, particularly in the area of air and rail traffic as well as in infrastructure, Croatia's Transport and Infrastructure Minister Oleg Butković and Kosovo's Infrastructure Minister Liburn Aliu said in Zagreb on Monday. The two ministers expressed their satisfaction with the meeting in Zagreb where they discussed important topics and activities by the two ministries and announced the next round of their talks for April in Priština. After the meeting, Butković told reporters that he had informed his colleague from Kosovo about Croatia's investments in infrastructure.  "We…

14 February, 2022 - The opposition Homeland Movement's whip said on Monday the taxation of Croatian residents who work abroad "discloses the institutions' harsh treatment of their own citizens." "When the state wants to be efficient, as in this case, things are handled quickly, but when citizens depend on public administration, for example in (post-earthquake) reconstruction, the state is absent," Stephen Bartulica told the press. He said many Croatians abroad had been calling him these days to complain about the Tax Administration. "Enough of such oppression of one's own people! They have done nothing wrong. Many of them pay taxes in…