"At a time when Croatian road hauliers cannot be competitive on the market, this decision further undermines their position both in Croatia and abroad," the association said in a press release.
The association calls on the government to reconsider and revoke this decision or Croatian hauliers will have to buy fuel in Slovenia or some other neighbouring countries.
The Croatian government on Thursday decided to increase excise taxes on motor fuels by HRK 0.20 per litre as well as to raise excise duties on tobacco products in order to increase state budget revenues, with the explanation that this decision arose from Croatia's obligation to curb excessive macroeconomic imbalances, as requested by the European Commission.
Finance Minister Boris Lalovac said that annually higher motor fuel excises would ensure an additional 450 million kuna for the state budget.
in the remainder of this year, this increase will provide an additional HRK 280 million for the budget, with revenues from the energy excise taxes likely to amount to HRK 7.4 billion for the whole of 2015, according to Minister Lalovac's explanation.