ZAGREB, Oct 30 (Hina) - Following several delays, late on Wednesday evening the Croatian Government began an extraordinary session to discuss and endorse a draft state budget for next year as well as a proposed revision for this
year's budget.
ZAGREB, Oct 30 (Hina) - Following several delays, late on Wednesday
evening the Croatian Government began an extraordinary session to
discuss and endorse a draft state budget for next year as well as a
proposed revision for this year's budget. #L#
The final preparations for the meeting commenced early Wednesday
morning with the meeting of Premier Racan's narrow cabinet. In the
meantime meetings of government co-ordinating bodies were held as
well as the meeting of the heads of the ruling coalition parties.
The reason for the delays to commence the meeting were explained by
Premier Ivica Racan this evening who said that they removed some
final doubts concerning some matters relating to the budget. He
added that a series of important bills such as amendments to the Law
on Income Tax, the Penal Code etc.
The Premier noted that a bill on one-off taxation was also discussed
so that it too would be on the agenda for Thursday's regular
government session.
There are plans to increase total expenditure and expenses from the
state budget for 2003 by four percent to 80.2 billion kuna
(approximately 10.7 billion euros).
He added that this amount should be added to repayments for foreign
debts and bonds issued amounting to 7.67 billion kuna (EUR 1.02
billion) meaning that the entire budget should amount to 87.879
billion kuna (EUR11.71 billion).
Budget revenue for 2003 is estimated to increase by 7.2 percent as
against this year's to 75.28 billion kuna (EUR 10 billion).
(hina) sp ms