Croatia Changing Constitution So It Can Access EU

The government reduced its aid to citizens for buying digital TV receivers from 135 kuna to 75 kuna.

ZAGREB, CROATIA – The Croatian government on Thursday appointed members of a working group that will draw up amendments to the Croatian Constitution, which is one of the conditions for entry into the European Union.  

- Constitutional changes must be prepared carefully with the cooperation of the President and with a political consensus – Prime Minister Ivo Sanader said at today’s session.

2008 best tourist year so far 

Minister of Tourism, Damir Bajs, reported on the results of the tourist season last year which, he said, was the best season in Croatia so far.

The prime minister stressed that tourism is tourism is one of Croatia’s strongest branches of the economy “behind which he stand firmly”, adding that the cooperation between agriculture and tourism is especially important.

- Everything our agriculture sells to a tourist is export. If a Spanish man buys a Croatian tomato in Dubrovnik, then that is even better than exporting to Spain because there are no transport costs – the premier said.

As part of a proposal of a new programme of providing loans to rural tourism called “The Development of Rural Tourism” for 15 years, a grace period of a year and subsidised interest rates, for which 150 million kuna has been intended, Finance Minister Ivan Suker said:

- This is a way how we are investing into our economy in the next 16 years. Many jobs will be opened through this programme, although the jobs will not be classic.

Due to a decrease in the prices of digital television receivers and the recession savings measures in the country, the government reduced its aid to citizens for buying digital TV receivers from 135 kuna to 75 kuna.

Croatia, which is transferring to the digital television signal on January 1, 2011, is one of the rare countries in Europe that provides financial support to citizens when they buy digital receivers.