ZAGREB, May 6, 2018 – Prime Minister Andrej Plenković announced on Saturday a budget review after July 1 so that the Ministry of Demography, Family, Youth and Social Policy could have more money to implement population measures.
He was speaking with Croatian Television, asked if he was willing to revise the budget in case President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović presented her population measures.
He reiterated he welcomed initiatives and measures from all stakeholders in society. “Together, we will consider them in order to solve this problem.”
Asked when citizens would feel the fact that the state had a surplus for the first time, Plenković said part of the funds would go into tax breaks. He said the surplus amount was above the government’s expectations and that it showed that the government could manage state finances responsibly.
“That’s very important also in view of reducing the public debt, enabling economic growth and meeting the criteria for Croatia’s membership in the euro area,” he said.
“Last year, by rescheduling the debt of the road companies, we reduced the pressure they were under due to interest rates. What has been achieved in recent months, both with international creditors and domestic banks, will help us save 50 million euro in interest annually,” Plenković said.