ZAGREB, July 10 (Hina) - The parliamentary bench of the opposition party, the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), on Wednesday proposed that a decision on a Government bill on state subsidies in agriculture and fishery be postponed until
a new government is convened.
ZAGREB, July 10 (Hina) - The parliamentary bench of the opposition
party, the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), on Wednesday proposed
that a decision on a Government bill on state subsidies in
agriculture and fishery be postponed until a new government is
convened. #L#
The outgoing government and its fate is still uncertain and we are
yet to see where the new government intends to go, Drago Krpina said
on behalf of the HDZ bench, interpreting that the new law is one of
the most significant and if the government had any dose of
responsibility it would have postponed the bill of its own accord.
If the Sabor does not agree to postpone the bill, Krpina suggested
that the bill be sent into a third reading.
Further work on the bill - a third reading - was also proposed by the
Democratic Centre (DC) party bench and the Croatian Social Liberal
Party (HSLS) bench.
Marko Baricevic of the HSLS bench believes that without knowing
what the state budget for 2003 will look like, there is no need to
haste to earmark about 0.30 billion euros, which would be the
'weight' of the said law.
The benches did not object to the need for a new law however, they
pointed out its deficiencies.
The law lacks subsidies for quality, for example, a clear
distinction between subsidies for higher and poorer quality wheat
as suggested by Dino Debeljuh of the Istrian Democratic Assembly
(IDS) bench.
The Croatian Peasant Party HSS does not have any reservations
towards the proposed reforms in subsidies. This is a pre-condition
for reforms in agriculture on the whole, Ivan Kolar of the HSS
said.
Party benches backed models of support for elderly households
however, they believed these should not be included in the said bill
particularly with regard to the social category in question.
The model would include non-commercial farms with a maximum of
three hectares of land with the right to about 1,000 euros per annum
for each member of the household where women are 50 or older and men
55 or older.
Most benches agreed that the bill should be applied as of January 1,
2003 and not October 1 as suggested.
(hina) sp ms