My support to the National COVID19 Response Team is clear. We want large consensus on Zagreb renovation law

Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic did an interview with Croatian Radio on Wednesday, sharing his thoughts on a number of topics, including the fight against COVID19, Zagreb renovation law and the state of economy. 

 

"The moment a vaccine is scientifically verified as the right vaccine against the coronavirus, we will have it at our disposal, just as Germany, France and other EU member states will," Plenković said in an interview with Croatian Radio.

He said that decisions made by the government benefited the Croatian citizens both in terms of healthcare and economically.

Asked if the vaccine would be paid for by the government or citizens themselves, Plenković said this process was ongoing. "News came in this morning that AstraZeneca is also verifying (its vaccine). When all this become more clear, we will try to make it as cheap as possible and even free of charge, but at this point we have not discussed details yet. What is important is that when it becomes available, our citizens will have it at their disposal," the prime minister said.

Plenković expressed satisfaction with the work of the national coronavirus response team. "My support to them is clear and firm and will remain so," he said, recalling that the national team is an institution of the central government.

"The national team is a government institution. It was established by the government based on the law and regulations passed by parliament. They are here to work on protecting public health. I am pleased with their work and think that they have done a great job," he added.

Commenting on the number of coronavirus cases in Croatia, Plenkovic said he expected it to decline, stressing the importance of self-discipline.

Government likely to adopt about 30 amendments to post-earthquake reconstruction bill

Regarding the bill on the reconstruction of Zagreb and its environs after the March 22 earthquake, which will be discussed by the inner cabinet today, the prime minister said that about 30 amendments could be adopted.

Recalling that the damage was estimated at over €11 billion, Plenkovic said that the government was right in not rushing the bill. He said that the reconstruction of the central part of Zagreb was very complex and challenging and that the government had decided to take part in it by securing funds from the budget and from international sources.

He said that the government had received €89.9 million from the EU for that purpose, noting that this was the largest advance payment ever made from the EU Solidarity Fund.

"I think the total amount will surpass €500 million," Plenković said. He added that the government was in talks with the World Bank, the Council of Europe Development Bank and other international financial institutions, and that the Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development would also have special programmes for that purpose.

He said the government would like the bill to be adopted with the greatest possible consensus because the reconstruction process would take a long time and would involve the City of Zagreb and many experts.

"At the inner cabinet meeting, we will adopt any proposal we think will help make the reconstruction process effective and transparent ... regardless of which political party it comes from," Plenković said.

No need for panic

The state budget can withstand the crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic, there is no need for panic, Plenković said.

"Yesterday, we had a discussion at the convention of exporters. The message not only from me but from the ministers and central bank governor is: 'Let's not create something that is not there.' We had the biggest economic crisis in the last hundred years which we dealt with in such a way that we practically have the same level of employment and unemployment as before the crisis and the tourist season was dealt with in the best possible way," the prime minister said.

He added that the GDP drop would probably be smaller than originally projected in spring, but was expected to grow next year.

The government has done well to secure €22 billion worth of European funding from the new seven-year budget, he noted.

"We continue to support sectors at risk with HRK 4,000, micro-entrepreneurs with HRK 2,000, and there is also the measure for reduced working hours of HRK 2,000 per employee. That will cost us about HRK 800 million by the end of the year. The government is making timely decisions and is sending a message of security and predictability to the private sector," Plenković said.

According to him, Croatia is more resilient to the current crisis than the one in 2008 and 2009.

"We are working very seriously and responsibly, and it is up to entrepreneurs to do the best they can within this framework. We will ensure stability, and it is up to them to fight. Entrepreneurs in other countries are also fighting, but we have been faster with our national measures than some other, bigger EU member states which waited for European solutions," the prime minister underscored.

Plenkovic also noted that Croatia had contracted 101% from the current 2014-2020 financial framework, over 40% of available funds had been paid out, and the money could be spent for three more years.

He said that he personally was in charge of a group of ministers tasked with preparing our recovery and resilience programme, based on EU guidelines.

 

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