GOVT PROPOSES ABOLISHING OR REDUCING STAMP DUTY FOR INVESTMENTS

ZAGREB, Aug 28 (Hina) - Amendments to the law on administrative fees should decrease or abolish administrative fees relating to foreign investments and introduce duties for certain administrative acts which have not existed, government members said at Thursday's session. The government sent the amendments into urgent parliamentary procedure. #L# Court fees were reduced before, and now administrative fees will be decreased to improve the position of citizens, Justice Minister Ingrid Anticevic Marinovic said. The government also sent to parliament amendments to the Distress Act for their final adoption. Under the amendments, distress processes will be transferred from courts to public notaries. According to data cited by the justice minister, of the 1.2 million cases submitted to courts every year, as many as 925,000 relate to non-court issues, and only 125,000 cases to lawsuits and 33,000 to criminal cases. By transferring non-court cases to public notaries, courts will be unburdened. A new law on conciliation, which has been tabled in parliament, will also help relieve courts and secure justice to be administered faster. The conciliation process should be a faster and more efficient way of settling disputes for all parties, Marinovic said. The government also sent to parliament for urgent adoption amendments to the law on the production, overhaul and transport of armament and military equipment, according to which the defence ministry will supervise the production of military equipment for export purposes. The exporter would cover the cost of supervision. The government agency would continue to perform duties of import and export, but not of supervision. The agency would also set up a unified data base. In view of the political situation and the fact that terrorism has become a global threat, the issue of supervision of armament and military equipment is justified, the justice minister said. (hina) lml