Govt to launch measures, worth HRK 1.5 bln, to boost employment

The Croatian government on Thursday sent to parliament bills to be discussed under fast-track procedure, which are aimed at stimulating the employment of young people, long-term unemployed people, and people with semi-skilled training.

"We plan to launch these measures, worth HRK 1.5 billion, already in March and I believe they will stimulate the employment, primarily of young people and people who have been jobless for a long period of time," said Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic.

Plenkovic underscored that reducing the unemployment rate was one of the main objectives of his government.

At its session today, the government also adopted a regulation on the financing of the cost of education, social welfare, health care and firefighting that is covered by local self-government units and for which a total of HRK 2.19 billion has been secured in this year's state budget.

The government sent to parliament a bill of amendments that will enable the submission of applications for the legalisation of houses and other illegally built structures until 30 June 2018. This, however, is not a new legalisation procedure, as this deadline refers only to persons who were entitled to submit their application in 2012 but didn't.

Construction Minister Lovro Kuscevic explained that re-opening of the deadline for the legalisation referred only to structures visible in aerial shots from 2011.

Also proposed were amendments to the Zoning Act, aimed at adjusting Croatia's legislation to the Directive 2014/89/EU of the European Parliament establishing a framework for maritime spatial planning. The amendments would enable spatial planning in the Ecological and Fisheries Protection Zone (ZERP) and the continental shelf.

At the closed part of its session, the government is expected to discuss Croatia's responses to several reports from the European Commission, including reasoned opinions on tobacco products, excise taxes on alcohol and alcoholic beverages, and privatisation.

 

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