We will continue with the policy of reducing inflation and raising the economic and social standards of citizens

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković attended the opening of the conference "Creating policy in turbulent waters: fostering resilience in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe", organized by the Croatian National Bank and the International Monetary Fund in Dubrovnik. Inflation, sustainable economic growth and solving energy problems in Europe were in the centre of attention at this conference.

The conference brought together representatives of the Croatian Government, governors of central banks and ministers of finance from Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe, representatives of the European Commission and the European Investment Bank, as well as the academic community and civil society.
 
This gathering, hosted by IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and CNB Governor Boris Vujčić, provided a forum for discussing the main challenges and policy opportunities for the area.
 
Among the topics was also the energy crisis, since Russia's aggression on Ukraine limited the gas supply and dramatically risen energy prices, which brought new challenges to the economies of Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe.
 
Strengthening resilience to crises is an important lesson of the Covid pandemic and the war in Ukraine, it was pointed out at the conference, and political stability is important for that.
 
Time of unprecedented state intervention in the economy and preservation of social peace
 
In his speech, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said that the Government, as part of the wider European political family to which it belongs, followed three principles in its policies: individual responsibility, freedom of entrepreneurship and development of the social-market economy.
 
But all that had to be changed quickly, because the circumstances required it, he added.
 
In the last few years, the described principles have been severely tested due to the pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but the Government reacted strongly during that period to protect citizens and the economy and preserve social peace.
 
"In general, we would not want to interfere much in market movements, we would be happy if we didn't have to, however, everything we have done in the past few years since the beginning of the pandemic, and especially after the beginning of the Russian aggression against Ukraine, has been the opposite," said the Prime Minister.
 
"It was a time of unprecedented state intervention in the economy and the preservation of social peace, while at the same time trying to achieve the strategic goals we set for ourselves."
 
Political stability and stability of public finances
 
He pointed out that the key to the Government's successful moves is political stability and the stability of public finances.
 
"When you have political stability, you have the capacity to use your political power to achieve strategic goals," he said.
 
He also emphasized the significant role of European funds in the financing of economic and social projects.
 
CNB Governor Boris Vujčić said that in unpredictable times, strengthening resilience becomes a priority for businesses and governments.
 
The director of the IMF, Kristalina Georgieva, said that when planning the priorities, the Fund concentrates on three points: the fight against inflation while at the same time taking care not to undermine the foundations for growth; energy transition and finding a way to navigate in the new era of a fragmented world.

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