Orešković: We did not achieve everything we wanted, but what we did, we did well and that is visible today

– Do not relax, implement reforms because without them there is no additional growth, said Prime Minister of the technical Government Tihomir Orešković on Wednesday at the last session of the Government which, in accordance with legal provisions, prepared a report on its work for the new Government.

Orešković assessed on Wednesday that his government leaves a good starting position for the next one and urged it to persist in fiscal discipline, continue with the implementation of reforms, and improve the management of public companies. He also advises the new Government to necessarily implement tax reforms and improve the management of public companies, noting that there are significant opportunities for savings in public procurement. He stated that his Government aimed to stabilize public finances and the economy and accelerate economic growth and the standard of living for citizens.

– We did not achieve everything we wanted, but what we did, we did well and that is visible today, emphasized Orešković, adding that all key economic indicators are better than predicted, the media report.

He noted that GDP grew by 2.7 percent in the first half of the year, expecting it to be nearly 3 percent by the end of the year, while predictions were at 2 percent. GDP grew by 2.7 percent in the first half of the year, he expects it to be nearly 3 percent by the end of the year, while predictions were at 2 percent. Consumer spending, investments, and exports are rising, the tourist season is the best ever, and employment is increasing with one hundred thousand new jobs, while at the same time unemployment is at a “record low”. He mentions that “even wages are rising, with the average net wage growing by 3.1 percent in the first six months of this year compared to the same time last year. Regarding public debt and deficit, his ministers have “tightened their belts and the results are showing today”.

– The budget is better filled due to economic growth, the deficit has decreased by 0.7 percent compared to the first half of last year, said Orešković, expressing hope that by the end of the year the deficit will be less than two percent of GDP.

He also emphasizes that his government has activated about one billion kuna of “dead capital” owned by the state and that the share of public debt in GDP has fallen from 86.7 percent to 83.5 percent. “We have improved the investment climate and that is visible, it is felt,” he says, noting the arrival of private investors in Croatia (Lukaps, IBM), and adds that the Crobex index has been rising for nine consecutive weeks.

Regarding foreign policy, he continued, everything was in the service of protecting national interests.

– During the migrant crisis, we managed to close the so-called balkan route through enhanced cooperation with neighbors, and Croatia actively represented its views at European Council meetings, stated Orešković.

We leave the new government a good starting position, he concluded, emphasizing that he is confident that the new government will succeed in strengthening the country’s credit rating, which, as he said, his government did not manage to do.

Orešković’s Government held 41 sessions in nine months of mandate, had a total of 641 agenda items, and the sessions lasted a total of 34 hours and 30 minutes. The Parliament adopted a total of 33 laws based on its proposals, of which 13 were harmonization with European Union legislation. The government issued a total of 1303 acts, sent 47 opinions to the Parliament, responded to three interpellations regarding its work, and answered 21 parliamentary questions.

Orešković concluded the session with the words: – It was an honor for me and I thank everyone.