Strategic plan CAP for 2023-2027 worth 3.8 billion euros

The government has adopted the Strategic Plan of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) of the Republic of Croatia for 2023-2027, worth 3.8 billion euros, and with a new regulation has extended the validity of lower excise duties on gasoline, diesel, and heating oil until March.

As explained by Minister of Agriculture Marija Vučković, the Strategic Plan of the Common Agricultural Policy combines support programs financed by the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).

After extensive consultations and a public consultation process, Croatia submitted the final version of the CAP Strategic Plan to the European Commission, which approved it on October 28, 2022, Vučković reminded, noting that a strategic environmental impact assessment process was also conducted for which approvals were obtained.

The CAP Strategic Plan for the period 2023-2027, as a fundamental document of agricultural policy, is worth 3.8 billion euros and has all the necessary approvals, Vučković stated, noting that the budget of the Republic of Croatia for 2023 allocates 267 million euros, and projections for 2024 and 2025 are 597 and 615 million euros, respectively.

For co-financing the establishment of irrigation trial fields 212.4 thousand euros

The government has also adopted a Program for co-financing the establishment of irrigation trial fields for agricultural crops for this year, which is worth 212.4 thousand euros.

Vučković reminded that within the Rural Development Program in this programming period, 19 public infrastructure irrigation projects for 8.2 thousand hectares have been financed, worth almost 800 million kuna, and the Ministry of Agriculture has also enabled an additional call for equipping farmers who need irrigation.

Irrigation is one of the most important agrotechnical measures needed to compensate for water shortages and to bring agricultural crops to their full biological potential, Vučković said, adding that the Program also anticipates an additional step, namely co-financing the work of scientific-research institutions in maintaining trial fields and applying innovative irrigation techniques and educating students.

And still lower excise duties on gasoline, diesel, and heating oil

The government has extended the validity of the regulation prescribing lower excise amounts on unleaded motor gasoline, diesel fuel, and heating oil for another month, until the end of March.

Given that there are still circumstances affecting the increase in energy prices, the government has maintained lower excise duties for gasoline, diesel, and heating oil for the period until March 31.

Thus, the excise duty on unleaded motor gasoline will continue to amount to 406 euros per thousand liters, diesel fuel 353 euros, and heating oil 21 euros per thousand liters.

National Council for Digital Transformation Established

The government has established the National Council for Digital Transformation at today’s session, as a strategic management body that will monitor the implementation of digital transformation guidelines, in accordance with the Digital Croatia Strategy until 2032.

As emphasized by State Secretary of the Central State Office for the Development of the Digital Society Bernard Gršić, digital transformation is one of Croatia’s priorities, for whose successful implementation a clear plan and vision, as well as a comprehensive and structured approach, are needed.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković stated in the introductory part of the government session that the desire is to elevate all activities related to the implementation of the digitalization strategy to a high level, whether it concerns public services, the business context of digitalization, European legislation, and efforts being made at the national level.

The Council is chaired by the Prime Minister, and its members include Deputy Prime Ministers, all ministers, representatives of the public sector, the economy, and the academic community.

With today’s decision, the Council for State Information Infrastructure and the National Council for Digital Economy cease to operate.

Public Call for Members of the HAKOM Council

The government session also announced the publication of a public call for proposing candidates for members of the Council of the Croatian Regulatory Agency for Network Activities (HAKOM).

As reported by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure Oleg Butković, the mandate of the president, vice president, and members of the HAKOM Council expires on April 27 this year, so a public call will be issued for proposing candidates for five members of the agency’s Council.

The HAKOM Council consists of five members, including the president and vice president, appointed and dismissed by the Croatian Parliament at the proposal of the government.