The revised estimate of the fall in GDP is practically within the limits of statistical error but the key problem is that the European Commission's forecast of growth in 2014 and 2015 is very bad, Suker told Hina.
According to the Commission's forecast, Croatia's GDP could grow by 0.5% in 2014 and by 1.2% in 2015, while it is not possible to boost social standards unless economic growth is at least 2%, he said.
The EC's forecast just confirms the bleak outlook which is exclusively the consequence of what is happening in our surroundings, primarily the euro area, he added.
Labour Party leader Dragutin Lesar said that the reduced fall of GDP is positive but the structure of the budget deficit and public debt is more important.
The Commission's forecast that the general government deficit this year will amount to 5.4% of GDP, as against 4.7% which was expected in the spring forecast and 6.5% next year accounts for HRK 22 billion to cover reforms in the health and pension insurance systems.
The Commission's latest forecast that Croatia's public debt will amount to 59.6% of GDP this year, 64.7% in 2014 and 69% in 2015 is something we already know, said Lesar.
The most important thing is what the structure of that deficit and debt will look like if this all ends with consumption and reform and not in an effort to change the system then we cannot expect anything positive for Croatia, Lesar underscored.