Filipović: We have sent clear messages to traders that they must take care of citizens

Croatia is officially in the eurozone for the third day, and reactions to the new currency are not ceasing but, on the contrary, are intensifying. Numerous stories about rounding prices can be found in the depths of the internet, so now coffee is no longer 12 kuna, or 1.59 euros, but two euros, or 15 kuna.

In addition to citizens, this has also angered the government, prompting Prime Minister Andrej Plenković to convene an urgent meeting with ministers and heads of the Tax Administration, Customs Administration, and the State Inspectorate, condemning the unjustified price increases due to the currency change.

This morning, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Davor Filipović also convened an urgent meeting with representatives of traders, after which he presented the conclusions at a press conference.

‒ We discussed with representatives of retail chains the continuous rise in food and beverage prices and the conversion of kuna to euro. Inflation is at 13.5 percent ‒ said the minister, noting that the rise in food and non-alcoholic beverage prices has the greatest impact on it.

Filipović emphasized several times that he would not allow traders to exploit the conversion at the expense of citizens, stating that the government has adopted its package of measures, but that everyone must cope with the crisis.

Calling retail chains his partners, the minister stated that the government ‘acted in good faith’ and that they did not expect such situations.

State Inspectorate on the Ground

‒ We have sent them clear messages that they must take care of citizens ‒ said Filipović, adding that he expects a decrease in prices, not a continuation of the rise.

The minister also referred to the recent situation with Petrol, stating that the State Inspectorate is on the ground, where it will be in the coming days, and emphasized that regarding price rounding, everything is possible and that the government has mechanisms to protect its citizens.

‒ Everything is on the table. From blacklists to freezing products ‒ said the minister, adding that he hopes today’s negotiations will find fertile ground.

He reiterated that the government intervened in energy prices and ensured ‘Croatian gas for Croatian institutions,’ so everyone should follow this example and bear the burden of the crisis.

Representatives of traders, as reported by Hina, did not make statements after the meeting, but before the meeting, they said that there had been no price increases in stores due to unjustified rounding during the transition to the euro, but that prices had risen before the introduction of the euro first due to the pandemic and later due to the war in Ukraine.