State Secretary Bianca Matković organized meeting with heads of diplomatic missions of EU and NATO members accredited to Croatia

The meeting, which saw the attendance of Finance Minister Ivan Šuker, State Secretary at the Ministry of Economy, Labour and Entrepreneurship Tamara Obradović Mazal, and Chief Negotiator Vladimir Drobnjak, presented to the ambassador a package of antirecession measures that the Croatian Government adopted at its session on February 26th 2009. The package includes 10 antirecession measures, among which the first one is principal for the implementation of the other measures and entails strengthening the macroeconomic stability through the announced rebalance of the State Budget as early as the second half of this month. The other measures pertain to unburdening the economy and tax-free payments, ensuring the liquidity of public corporations and the private sector, harmonizing the state support with the EU support system, strengthening the position of Croatia’s Bank for Reconstruction and Development, strengthening the tourism, stimulating direct foreign investment, supporting the real estate market jumpstart, strengthening the import control, and sustaining the living standard of the most affected population groups.

State Secretary Matković pointed out that, as part of the implementation of the antirecession measures, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration too would intensify its activities through the diplomatic network of Croatia’s mission abroad. In that regard, a series of activities are to be undertaken in promoting economic investment in Croatia and Croatia’s tourism as one of the key branches of its economy, along with a continued expert assistance to the Croatian businessmen abroad.

Noting the current course of the EU negotiations, State Secretary Matković said she is convinced they would be completed by the end of this year, in accordance with the European Commission’s Indicative Timetable. In that regard, she presented in short the planned course of the negotiations during the ongoing Czech and the following Swedish EU presidency.

State Secretary Matković thanked all of the NATO members’ ambassadors for ratifying the Protocol on NATO Enlargement to the Republic of Croatia, expressing conviction that the April’s NATO summit in Strasbourg and Kehl Croatia would see the participation of Croatia as a full-fledged member.

In regard to solving the border dispute between Croatia and Slovenia, State Secretary Matković welcomed the European Commission’s involvement, adding that the Croatian side supports further activities of the interstate commission for determining the disputable border points and preparing the legal framework for appearance before the International Court of Justice.