As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, due to the current wave of exponentially rising prices, especially for energy, some EU member states have already adopted a package of measures to mitigate the price shock for residents. There is a lot of talk here in Croatia about inflation and prices, but the Croatian Government hasn’t yet revealed the details of the aforementioned package of similar shielding measures.
However, it seems that it will be adopted earlier than it has been communicated so far, more specifically at some point during this month. At the same time, a solution to the gas crisis hasn’t yet been found in Zagreb. Company owners are scratching their heads and don’t know what to do with the huge bills they’re getting, gas companies don’t know what to do with their losses, and the city and the state are continually communicating in opposition as to who will pay the minuses and to what extent.
Prices in many shops have already risen several times and will continue to grow as this situation unfolds, but what’s worrying many is the reports of a ”tsunami of price hikes” which is set to arrive in April, when gas and electricity prices will rise even more. Everyone is waiting for the Croatian Government’s package of measures with which, according to employers and the opposition, the powers that be are already running very late, as reported by N1.
“As for the thesis that it’s late, no it isn’t too late. There’s nothing to be late for. We’re working on a package of measures. This package of measures will affect all stakeholders in the system, in part companies. The idea is not to wait too long with this package, for it to be presented to the public and those interested during the month of February, in the coming weeks,” said the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, Tomislav Coric.
Gas vouchers?
The poorest residents of this country who have already received electricity vouchers can now count on getting their hands on gas vouchers as well. It isn’t yet known how many of them will have this particular possibility expanded to them and how many vouchers will be issued. As prices for both electricity and gas are sure to rise dramatically, the conclusion is clear:
“Two hundred kuna cannot be enough, but it’s difficult to say at this moment in time how much the amount will have to go up. We ourselves tried to calculate whether it needs to be 300, 350, 400 or some other amount,” said Kresimir Sever from the Independent Croatian Trade Unions.
A gas crisis in Zagreb
Meanwhile, a real gas crisis is happening here in the capital. When it comes to the city’s gasworks, the supply is in such losses that bankruptcy is now a real threat, and the help of the state should not be counted on either.
“One should not expect from the Croatian Government, where the city government is in Zagreb, to cover the debt of the city gas supply in Zagreb,” said Minister Coric.
However, Zagreb Mayor Tomislav Tomasevic claims that talks between the City and the Croatian Government are taking place. He admitted that part of the responsibility lies with the former administration headed by the late Milan Bandic, but there is also an objective circumstance – gas prices that are raging absolutely everywhere.
“There are also talks in various European Union countries between suppliers owned by local governments and the state, to absorb these blows, especially in the business sector, and also to enable the normal operation of these companies because there are many alternatives, all of which are bad for everyone,” Tomasevic pointed out.
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