Croatia's €450 M relief plan and regional stock exchange cooperation boost European markets

The Croatian government approved a ten‑measure package worth €450 million to shield households and the economy from rising energy costs. The package extends fuel price regulation, caps electricity and gas prices until 30 September 2024, reduces fuel excise duties and includes €70 million for renewable energy projects. Employers welcomed the speed of the measures, while unions warned that purchasing power continues to fall, noting that Croatia’s purchasing‑power parity was 70 % of the EU average in 2025.

In parallel, eight Central and Eastern European stock exchanges – Bratislava, Bucharest, Budapest, Sofia, Ljubljana, Skopje, Warsaw and Zagreb – signed a joint understanding with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The agreement aims to strengthen regional capital markets, improve funding for SMEs, and promote a culture of long‑term investment. Participants highlighted the role of well‑functioning markets in mobilising savings, financing innovation and supporting economic growth across their national economies.