ZAGREB, April 29 (Hina) - The Croatian National Sabor's House of Representatives on Thursday completed a debate on a bill on customs tariffs envisaging the acceleration and simplifying of the flow of goods and securing more efficient
operation of the customs service, aimed at enabling Croatia to join European and world integration courses. Parliamentary benches endorsed the proposed changes, suggesting that regulations securing incentives for economic development be included in the bill by the second reading. Djuro Njavro of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) said there should be as few customs privileges as possible, and customs rates should be in the interest of economic development. The bill must be oriented towards export, and it is necessary to regulate the import procedure for some goods so that Croatia could be able to export final products. Last year only, Croatia imported 90,000 vehicles, said Ivan
ZAGREB, April 29 (Hina) - The Croatian National Sabor's House of
Representatives on Thursday completed a debate on a bill on customs
tariffs envisaging the acceleration and simplifying of the flow of
goods and securing more efficient operation of the customs service,
aimed at enabling Croatia to join European and world integration
courses.
Parliamentary benches endorsed the proposed changes, suggesting
that regulations securing incentives for economic development be
included in the bill by the second reading.
Djuro Njavro of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) said there
should be as few customs privileges as possible, and customs rates
should be in the interest of economic development. The bill must be
oriented towards export, and it is necessary to regulate the import
procedure for some goods so that Croatia could be able to export
final products.
Last year only, Croatia imported 90,000 vehicles, said Ivan Kolak
(HDZ), adding that almost two billion German marks had gone into the
hands of foreign manufacturers and banks. Kolak asked why some
automobile parts could not be produced in Croatia. Marinko
Filipovic (Croatian Peasants' Party, HSS) also believed that
customs privileges had to be selective, while only equipment should
be exempt from customs duties.
On behalf of the Committee for Immigration, Zdenka Babic-
Petricevic suggested that immigrants who have taken up permanent
residence in Croatia should continue enjoying customs privileges
as regards household appliances, vehicles and production
machines.
Dragica Zgrebec (Social Democratic Party, SDP) said the bill on
customs tariffs should be amended by the second reading and one
should also consider the possibility of tax exemption for some
users of the budget, such as the health and school systems.
Pavao Sarcevic (HSS) said the customs service has a protective and
fiscal role, with the latter one currently being dominant.
It is necessary to strengthen the protective aspect with the aim of
stimulating economic development, he added.
Zlatko Kramaric (Liberal Party, LS) welcomed the bill, assessing
that the current one was obsolete.
Antun Vujic (SDP) suggested that books be exempt from customs
duties and Drazen Svagelj (HDZ) proposed that the same be done with
the materials which are not manufactured in Croatia and are used in
the reconstruction and restoration of monuments.
(hina) rml