Croatian PM: Decisions on reactivation of some economic branches to be made this week

PM Andrej Plenkovic (screenshot)

ZAGREB, April 20 (Hina) – Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic has said that the government will formulate a conclusion, along with epidemiologists’ recommendations, which would serve as the basis for the national civil protection authority to make decisions on the reactivation and normalisation of some economic activities.

Speaking to reporters before a session of his HDZ party’s presidency on Monday, Plenkovic said that the main topic of the government session on Thursday would be the measures for the reactivation of certain economic sectors in light of the coronavirus epidemic.

“This week, the government will prepare a conclusion and after that, the national civil protection authority, acting in line with that conclusion and within the framework to be defined by epidemiologists, it will be making decisions on the reactivation and normalisation of some economic activities,” the PM said.

He explained that after consultations that were conducted today and that would continue on Tuesday and Wednesday, the scope of economic activities to be reactivated would be known.

He described today’s figures as encouraging, which shows that there were ten new COVID-19 cases, noting that health and safety restrictions had yielded results, slowed down the spreading of the infection and resulted in a relatively low mortality rate.

Plenkovic also pointed to the fact that a large number of businesses had used the government’s measures designed to alleviate the impact of the coronavirus crisis on the economic sector, and that the state allowance in the amount of HRK 3,250 per employee, aimed at helping employers keep workers, had been used by about 88,000 businesses for more than 480,000 workers.

He also recalled the government’s measures regarding taxes and contributions as well as the decision to cancel e-passes in individual counties, noting that all those measures would contribute to the reactivation of the economy.

Parliamentary elections “are not a topic” at the moment, Plenkovic said answering a reporter’s question, adding that “care for citizens’ health and measures for the business sector and workers are the only topic on the agenda.”

“As soon as (elections) are put on the agenda, I will tell you right away,” he said when asked again by a reporter when the parliamentary election would be held.