ZAGREB, Oct 3 (Hina) - The coalition government has decreased the state budget by five to six structural points in relation to the Gross Domestic Product in two-and-a-half years, and the entire job required great efforts but made it
possible for the government to achieve great results such as an economic growth of four percent, Finance Minister Mato Crkvenac said on Thursday.
ZAGREB, Oct 3 (Hina) - The coalition government has decreased the
state budget by five to six structural points in relation to the
Gross Domestic Product in two-and-a-half years, and the entire job
required great efforts but made it possible for the government to
achieve great results such as an economic growth of four percent,
Finance Minister Mato Crkvenac said on Thursday. #L#
Upon the completion of a parliamentary discussion on a report on the
execution of the state budget in the first six months of this year,
Minister Crkevanc responded to questions and remarks from MPs.
He reminded them that the country had no longer any problem with its
solvency, the government and government bodies regularly met their
financial obligations, and Croatia enjoyed a high international
rating.
He added that the banking system was stable, investments were being
made in road construction, housing, and tourism, and that export
was supported, while the fiscal and monetary policy were creating
an atmosphere favouring entrepreneurship.
Crkvenac agreed with MPs that the budget should be cut further and
that the state debt should be lower, but all of this should be
followed by an increase in economic growth.
The report which he presented to MPs was supported by the benches of
the ruling parties, but the opposition severely criticised it,
announcing it would not endorse it, or would abstain, as it was
against government subsidies to state-run companies to the
detriment of social rights of citizens.
(hina) ms