The chief or the bank's Croatian office, Albert Martinez, and the bank's expert on social issues, Philip Goldman, said spending for pensions would further increase in the future at the expense of other public sectors such as education and health care, negatively affecting Croatia's competitiveness, inflation, or the growth of taxes.
The bank's officials said spending on pensions in the world ranged from nine to 11 percent of GDP, whereas Croatia's 7.5 percent in the mid-1990s had jumped to the current 13-14 percent of GDP.
HSU leader Vladimir Jordan said after the talks pensioners would not abandon their requests, and that all previous pension system reforms were carried out without the participation of pensioners.
He said the World Bank representatives were only interested in the financial aspect of the problem, while the HSU pointed to the human and ethical position of pensioners.
Jordan said the average Croatian pension was 241 euros, and that 600,000 pensioners received less than 214 euros a month, which he added was the brink of poverty.
Goldman said Croatian pensions were 44 percent of the average monthly salary, as in EU countries, but added this percentage was different in Croatia or France, for example, because the countries' possibilities were different.
Today's talks also addressed the adjustment of pensions given that last year Croatia started adjusting them to the real growth of salaries.
The World Bank representatives said the Government, employers and trade unions should decide which model was best for Croatia.
Goldman said adjusting pensions to the real growth of salaries meant that pensions did grow, but so did spending from the GDP, which he added additionally encumbered the economy.