PM urges cooperation of govt, local authorities to ensure even regional development

Meetings between government members and county, town and municipal officials will become a regular practice so as to make the most of that cooperation for the sake of Croatia's overall development, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said in Pozega on Monday, at a meeting of government members and representatives of associations of counties, towns and municipalities.

The first such meeting, aimed at introducing principles of partnership in the communication between the central government and counties, towns and municipalities, was held at the government offices last December, when agreement was reached to hold regular meetings in order to coordinate multi-level governance thus ensuring the country's even regional development.

PM Plenkovic said today that such meetings would be held twice a year, in June and December.

He said that this was not so in the past and that his government appreciated very much the role of counties and their heads.

Most government ministers have already visited all counties as part of their regular activities and we will continue with such practice, he said, adding that the results of the new approach should be visible in four years.

The meetings of government ministers and county, town and municipal heads will focus on specific topics, and the main topic of today's meeting was the national development strategy for the period until the end of 2020.

Regional Development and EU Funds Minister Gabrijela Zalac was expected to present the strategy while Finance Minister Zdravko Maric was expected to speak about fiscal decentralisation and financing of local and regional self-government units.

PM Plenkovic said that since the December meeting, a law on the subsidising of housing loans had been adopted and he expressed the belief that it would be very well accepted by young families.

A few days ago, legal amendments were passed to increase maternity allowances, he said, adding that a number of agreements had been signed to improve the availability of medical services and that there was a plan to open offices of the State Assets Ministry in Osijek, Split and Rijeka. That will make it possible to activate unused state property in many counties, he said.

Later in the day, Plenkovic and members of his government were expected to attend a presentation of a HRK 400.9 million scheme designed to help women find employment.

Plenkovic said that unemployment had fallen to below 170,000, which "is the lowest figure since 1990 in absolute terms", and that employment was growing.

Greeting the government officials, the meeting's host, Pozega-Slavonia County head Alojz Tomasevic said that the meeting was proof that the government cared about that region, which expected concrete measures and support in improving living standards.

Later in the day, the second meeting of the Council for Slavonia, Baranja and Srijem was expected to be held in Pozega and Minister Zalac was expected to speak at it about the implementation of the Slavonia, Baranja and Srijem project, notably projects to be financed with EU funds.

Text: Hina

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