ZAGREB, CROATIA - - It is high time to stop the squabbling, now is the time to make firm decisions and undertake measures to solve the existing crisis – the chairman of the Economic and Social

Apart from Mudrinic, speaking at the news conference were also Croatia’s Finance Minister Ivan Suker and Vilim Ribic, a representative of unions in the Council.

Mudrici said the Croatian Employers’ Association had suggested measures, but part of them pertained to fiscal effects and a part were adopted to keep jobs. He stressed that he expected the support of the Bank for Reconstruction and Development, adding that he wanted an urgent rebalance of the budget.

- The time for a rear-view look into the future is over, jobs need saving – Mudrinic said.

Subsidies are used to buy yachts 

Mudrinic’s statements were criticised by Ribic, who said that the uproar regarding unemployment was too dimensional and that those who know something about numbers of decreasing employment should deal with them. He backed his statement by a report by agencies which confirm an increase in employment by, as he claims, five percent.

- Who needs hysteria – Ribic wonders, stressing that these issues need a serious approach.

He is also angered by the fact that less attention is paid to the education sector than private entrepreneurs. He expects the government to give subsidies to capable business people to improve exports, He believes it is senseless to give subsidies without them being paid back because “some use them to buy Maybach cars and yachts”.

Ribic and Mudrinic harshly against freezing of salaries 

Minister Suker explained that some measures of the Economic and Social Council need to be adopted, some of which will be put in effect. He also wants an increase of liquidity. The government will inject 400 million euros into small and middle-scale businesses, and another 200 million euros in June.

- Institutional loans will have a lesser interest rate and will be easier to pay off – Suker said, adding that there will be a rebalance of the budget, but it is not known when.

He stressed that he was fighting for a stability of the currency together with the Croatian National Bank governor.

There was also discussion about the freezing of salaries, but Ribic believes that freezing salaries in the police, education and health systems would be a harsh blow, while Mudrinic said it was important to increase salaries and reward the success of employees.