May the 31st, 2024 – The Slovenian, Austrian and Croatian finance ministers held a meeting this week, where an array of topics were discussed.
As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, at the trilateral meeting of Finance Ministers Primorac (Croatia), Boštjančič (Slovenia) and Brunner (Austria) exchanged opinions on the future of the Capital Markets Union, which is high on the agenda of the European Union. The Capital Markets Union is key to mobilising the private investments needed to finance the green and digital transition and other top EU priorities, including strengthening the EU’s competitiveness.
The Slovenian, Austrian and Croatian finance ministers also discussed national tax measures that encourage the development of the capital market. Here in Croatia, tax policy measures contribute to the development of the capital market by encouraging the participation of small investors. Income from interest and capital gains from investments issued by the state and local and regional self-government units are exempt from income tax.
In addition, the Slovenian, Austrian and Croatian finance ministers referred to the financing of the countries of the Western Balkans through the new EU Instrument for Reforms and Growth for the Western Balkans and to the upcoming elections for the European Parliament. A joint statement from the trio has been prepared on the above topics. In addition, the ministers sent a joint letter to the EC Commissioner for Financial Stability, Financial Services and the Capital Markets Union, Mairead McGuinness, in which they highlighted the main priorities for further work on completing the Capital Markets Union.
Croatian Finance Minister Primorac also met with the executive directors of the Styria Media Group, one of the leading media concerns in the region, Markus Mair and Klaus Schweighofer, who presented current events related to their business.
In addition, Minister Primorac held a meeting with the Governor of Styria, Christopher Drexler, where excellent bilateral economic and political relations between Croatia and Austria were highlighted and further intensification of cooperation across all sectors was supported. They talked about strengthening economic ties, encouraging investments and the importance of joint action within the EU.
The trilateral meeting of the finance ministers ended with a joint press conference where they emphasised the importance of harmonising positions of mutual interest with regard to geographic and political connections. The ministers expressed satisfaction with the success of the meeting and announced further steps in strengthening cooperation and implementing joint initiatives.
