ZAGREB, Dec 12 (Hina) - The Croatian parliament adopted the state budget for 2002 in the amount of 76.887 billion kuna (approx. US$ 9.3 billion) in the early hours of Wednesday. Following a day-long voting on around 400 amendments
moved to the budget draft, 82 MPs voted in favour and five abstained. The government managed to keep the budget within set frameworks, turning down all the amendments the MPs would not withdraw. Vladimir Seks, the president of the strongest opposition party, the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), expressed deep discontent at the fact that not one of the HDZ amendments was adopted. The government made reallocations within the budget through its own amendments, claiming it had thus acknowledged many moved by the MPs. In line with the government amendments, revenues from custom duties are decreased by 50 million kuna, another 100 million kuna is secured for the Regional Development Fund, and 20 million for
ZAGREB, Dec 12 (Hina) - The Croatian parliament adopted the state
budget for 2002 in the amount of 76.887 billion kuna (approx. US$
9.3 billion) in the early hours of Wednesday.
Following a day-long voting on around 400 amendments moved to the
budget draft, 82 MPs voted in favour and five abstained.
The government managed to keep the budget within set frameworks,
turning down all the amendments the MPs would not withdraw.
Vladimir Seks, the president of the strongest opposition party, the
Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), expressed deep discontent at the
fact that not one of the HDZ amendments was adopted.
The government made reallocations within the budget through its own
amendments, claiming it had thus acknowledged many moved by the
MPs.
In line with the government amendments, revenues from custom duties
are decreased by 50 million kuna, another 100 million kuna is
secured for the Regional Development Fund, and 20 million for the
first instalment of damages to the Esuli.
Additional funds have been secured for culture, science and
scientific projects in the amount of 50 million kuna, while 67.5
million have been secured for the judiciary.
On the other hand, expenses for business trips, office costs, and
representation have been cut. Around 140 million kuna will be saved
from a range of other items.
The government was given the "green light" for making certain
changes within the 14.1 billion kuna envisaged for salaries, i.e.
the government can restructure salaries.
For the first time, the new state budget includes pension and health
insurance funds and the employment bureau.
The budget reduces indebtedness and the deficit from this year's
5.3 to 4.25 percent of Gross Domestic Product, as well as the
current deficit, which will drop to below 700 million kuna, and
increases saving.
The 2002 budget is development-oriented and socially just,
resuming the policy of increasing pensions and more children
receiving child's allowance.
Parliament adopted conclusions moved by the ruling coalition's
Peasants' Party (HSS) which bind the government to prepare the
establishment of a specialised agency for mediation and
cooperation among the agricultural, food-processing and tourist
industries.
Parliament also adopted the Law on the Execution of the State Budget
for 2002.
The majority gave the government the green light to execute
internal reallocations of up to one percent of budgetary
expenditure in order to support begun reforms, especially in the
agriculture.
Ivan Suker of the HDZ vehemently objected to this, saying it
represented a "dangerous precedent" which might lead to a mini-
revision of the budget, without parliament's supervision.
Finance Minister Mato Crkvenac countered by saying that in other
states, neighbouring Slovenia included, the government was
authorised to reallocate some budgetary funds.
Funds intended for reforms cannot be precisely set in advance and
the government will notify parliament every three months, said the
minister, confident the 2002 budget is the most transparent one to
date.
(hina) ha