The news in Croatian

Hrvatska nacionalna politika stanovanja ide na javnu raspravu u prosincu. Plan je razviti povoljnije stanovanje za mlade, posebno u ruralnim područjima, kroz porezne olakšice . Vode se rasprave o porezu na nekretnine, s fokusom na pravednu raspodjelu poreznog tereta. Također, razmatraju se prijedlozi za poboljšanje uvjeta života u Dubrovniku.

Translation

Croatia's national housing policy will enter public discussion in December. The aim is to develop more affordable housing for young people, especially in rural areas, through tax incentives. Discussions are ongoing regarding property tax, with a focus on the fair distribution of tax burdens. Additionally, proposals to improve living conditions in Dubrovnik are also being considered.

Exercise: Text comprehension

Question 1: When is the public consultation for Croatia's national housing policy planned?

In December.

Question 2: Which group is the affordable housing plan especially aimed at?

Young people, especially in rural areas.

Exercise: Vocabulary

- national

- favourable

- rural

(f.) - relief

- fair

(n.) - improvement

Read the full story

▌06/11/2024

The Croatian National Housing Policy, aimed at achieving affordable housing, is set to enter public consultation this December, according to announcements made by Branko Bačić, the country's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Spatial Planning, Construction, and State Assets. Speaking in Parliament, Bačić elaborated that the completed plan is currently undergoing external evaluation and promises to address key housing issues.

During a parliamentary session, opposition member Sanja Radolović from the Social Democrats (SDP) questioned the government’s transparency regarding real estate taxation. She accused Finance Minister Marko Primorac and the administration of misleading the public by previously stating there were no plans to introduce a real estate tax, a point allegedly absent from the government’s programme for the 2024-2028 period.

Bačić outlined that the policy aims to facilitate young people, particularly in rural areas, by making housing more affordable and providing measures such as tax refunds or partial refunds on real estate transactions. These initiatives are expected to encourage both new construction and the adaptation of existing properties. The inclusion of affordable housing options within new buildings is also a primary focus.

Croatia Plans Affordable Housing Policy Consultation Croatia Plans Affordable Housing Policy Consultation (Illustration)

In an exchange marked by sharp retorts, Primorac accused Radolović of misrepresentations, emphasizing that future discussions on tax reforms aimed to redistribute the tax burden from labour to property, which he argues will benefit lower-income individuals. Furthermore, the government claims to have addressed issues such as bank overdrafts and savings concerns, significantly impacting the national economy.

Meanwhile, in a related discussion, Viktorija Knežević of the Centre party highlighted challenges faced by Dubrovnik's residents, including traffic congestion and lack of affordable housing. She queried Prime Minister Andrej Plenković about the potential for constructing an underground tunnel to alleviate these issues, contingent upon her election as mayor in upcoming local elections. While Plenković expressed openness to considering the proposal, he stressed that technical feasibility and municipal council discussions would precede any firm decisions.

These discussions underline the ongoing debate over housing policy and economic reforms in Croatia, reflecting broader tensions between government pledges and opposition scrutiny.

Info: "Croatian Learner News" is a service from "Let's Learn Croatian," a language school dedicated to helping individuals learn to speak Croatian. We offer various types of online courses to cater for different learning needs and preferences.

Advanced: Reports from Croatia