Marić: New Package of Measures Very Likely

A new package of measures to assist citizens due to inflationary pressures is very likely and is currently being worked on, reported Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Zdravko Marić after a coalition meeting, but he did not specify when this package might come into effect.

Discussions and talks about the new package of anti-inflation measures are ongoing both in the government and within the coalition, said Marić, but he did not clearly respond whether it would come into effect at the beginning of June, in line with some announcements that have appeared in public.

– We will see, when it is ready, we are working on it – said Marić.

According to him, the new package is “very likely given the developments,” and it will include state assistance in the form of guarantees to gas suppliers, primarily HEP, so they can more easily procure gas for the upcoming season.

The priority is to mitigate the effects of inflation and ensure the supply of energy and food products, said Marić.

When asked if the rise in prices in stores is justified, he replied that it is difficult to generalize as a range of elements influence prices.

Commenting on complaints from hospitality providers about a “tax massacre” these days, he said that it is a matter of regular and lawful activities of the Tax Administration which “protects the interests of taxpayers who duly fulfill their tax obligations.”

The pandemic, according to him, was a period in which the state showed solidarity towards the service sector, especially hospitality providers, and now “expects at least the same from the other side.”

He stated that during intensified oversight, irregularities were found among a smaller number of hospitality providers. He warns that a significant increase in turnover was recorded where intensified oversight was announced, and there are significant discrepancies between the data from the input book (procurement) and the output data. Based on this, the Tax Administration can assess the tax obligation and does so, said Marić, emphasizing that these are regular activities of the Tax Administration.