(4)Taking account of the rapidly changing economic and geopolitical situation, the European Semester resumes its broad economic and employment policy coordination in 2022, while evolving in line with the implementation requirements of the Recovery and Resilience Facility as outlined in the 2022 Annual Sustainable Growth Survey. The implementation of the adopted recovery and resilience plans is essential for the delivery of the policy priorities under the European Semester, as the plans address all or a significant subset of the relevant country-specific recommendations issued in the 2019 and 2020 Semester cycles. The 2019 and 2020 country-specific recommendations remain equally relevant also for recovery and resilience plans revised, updated or amended in accordance with Articles 14, 18 and 21 of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, in addition to any country-specific recommendations issued up to the date of submission of the modified plan.

(3)Russia´s invasion of Ukraine, in the wake of the global pandemic, has significantly altered the geopolitical and economic context. The impact of the invasion on Member States’ economies has been felt for example through higher energy and food prices and weaker growth prospects. The higher energy prices weigh particularly on the most vulnerable households experiencing energy poverty. The EU is also seeing an unprecedented inflow of people fleeing Ukraine. In this context, on 4 March 2022, the Temporary Protection Directive was triggered for the first time, granting displaced persons from Ukraine the right to legally stay in the EU, as well as access to education and training, labour market, healthcare, housing and social welfare.

(2)On 24 November 2021, the Commission adopted the Annual Sustainable Growth Survey, marking the start of the 2022 European Semester for economic policy coordination. It took due account of the reaffirmed joint commitment of the Porto Social Summit of May 2021 to further implement the European Pillar of Social Rights, proclaimed by the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on 17 November 2017. The European Council endorsed the priorities of the 2022 Annual Sustainable Growth Survey on 25 March 2022. On 24 November 2021, on the basis of Regulation (EU) No 1176/2011, the Commission also adopted the Alert Mechanism Report, in which it identified Croatia as one of the Member States for which an in-depth review would be needed. On the same date, the Commission adopted the proposal for the 2022 Joint Employment Report analysing the implementation of the Employment Guidelines and the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights, which was adopted by the Council on 14 March 2022.

(1)Regulation (EU) 2021/241 of the European Parliament and of the Council, which established the Recovery and Resilience Facility, entered into force on 19 February 2021. The Recovery and Resilience Facility provides financial support for the implementation of reforms and investment, entailing a fiscal impulse financed by the Union. It contributes to the economic recovery and to the implementation of sustainable and growth-enhancing reforms and investment, in particular to promote the green and digital transition, while strengthening the resilience and potential growth of the Member States’ economies. It also helps strengthen sustainable public finances and boost growth and job creation in the medium and long term. The maximum financial contribution per Member State under the Recovery and Resilience Facility [was] updated on [XX] June 2022, in line with Article 11(2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/2411.

(5)The General Escape Clause has been active since March 2020. In its Communication of 3 March 2021, the Commission set out its view that the decision on the deactivation or continued application of the general escape clause should be taken as an overall assessment of the state of the economy, with the level of economic activity in the EU or euro area compared to pre-crisis levels (end-2019) as a key quantitative criterion. Heightened uncertainty and strong downside risks to the economic outlook in the context of war in Europe, unprecedented energy price hikes and continued supply chain disturbances warrant the extension of the general escape clause of the Stability and Growth Pact through 2023.

(6)Following the approach in the Council opinion of 18 June 2021 on the 2021 Convergence Programme, the fiscal stance is currently best measured as the change in primary expenditure (net of discretionary revenue measures), excluding COVID-19 crisis-related temporary emergency measures but including expenditure financed by non-repayable support (grants) from the Recovery and Resilience Facility and other EU funds, relative to medium-term potential growth. Going beyond the overall fiscal stance, in order to assess whether national fiscal policy is prudent and its composition is conducive to a sustainable recovery consistent with the green and digital transitions, attention is also paid to the evolution of nationally-financed primary current expenditure (net of discretionary revenue measures and excluding COVID-19 crisis-related temporary emergency measures) and investment.

(7)On 2 March 2022, the Commission adopted a Communication providing broad guidance for fiscal policy in 2023, aiming at supporting the preparation of Member States’ Stability and Convergence Programmes and thereby strengthening policy coordination. The Commission noted that, based on the macroeconomic outlook of the 2022 winter forecast, transitioning from an aggregate supportive fiscal stance in 2020-2022 to a broadly neutral aggregate fiscal stance would appear appropriate in 2023, while standing ready to react to the evolving economic situation. The Commission announced that the fiscal recommendations for 2023 should continue to differentiate across Member States and take into account possible cross-country spillovers. The Commission invited the Member States to reflect the guidance in their Stability and Convergence Programmes. The Commission committed to closely monitor the economic developments and adjust its policy guidance as needed and at the latest in its Semester spring package of late May 2022.

(8)With respect to the fiscal guidance provided on 2 March 2022, the fiscal recommendations for 2023 take into account the worsened economic outlook, the heightened uncertainty and further downside risks, and the higher inflation compared to the winter forecast. Against these considerations, the fiscal response has to expand public investment for the green and digital transition and energy security, and sustain the purchasing power of the most vulnerable households so as to cushion the impact of the energy price hike and help limit inflationary pressures from second round effects via targeted and temporary measures; fiscal policy has to remain agile so as to adjust to the rapidly evolving circumstances, and be differentiated across countries depending on their fiscal and economic situation, including as regards the exposure to the crisis and the inflow of displaced persons from Ukraine.

(9)On 14 May 2021, Croatia submitted its national recovery and resilience plan to the Commission, in accordance with Article 18(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241. Pursuant to Article 19 of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, the Commission assessed the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency and coherence of the recovery and resilience plan, in accordance with the assessment guidelines of Annex V to that Regulation. On 20 July 2021, the Council adopted its Decision on the approval of the assessment of the recovery and resilience plan for Croatia. The release of instalments is conditional on a decision by the Commission, taken in accordance with Article 24(5) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, that Croatia has satisfactorily fulfilled the relevant milestones and targets set out in the Council Implementing Decision. Satisfactory fulfilment presupposes that the achievement of preceding milestones and targets has not been reversed.

(10)On 28 April 2022, Croatia submitted its 2022 National Reform Programme and, on 29 April 2022, its 2022 Convergence Programme, in line with Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1466/97. To take account of their interlinkages, the two programmes have been assessed together. In accordance with Article 27 of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, the 2022 National Reform Programme also reflects Croatia’s bi-annual reporting on the progress made in achieving its recovery and resilience plan.

(11)The Commission published the 2022 country report for Croatia on 23 May 2022. It assessed Croatia’s progress in addressing the relevant country-specific recommendations adopted by the Council in 2019, 2020 and 2021, and took stock of Croatia’s implementation of the recovery and resilience plan, building on the Recovery and Resilience Scoreboard. Based on this analysis, the country report identified gaps with respect to those challenges that are not addressed or only partially addressed by the recovery and resilience plan, as well as new and emerging challenges, including those emerging from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It also assessed Croatia’s progress in implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights and on achieving the EU headline targets on employment, skills and poverty reduction, as well as progress in achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

(12)The Commission carried out an in-depth review under Article 5 of Regulation (EU) No 1176/2011 for Croatia and published its results on 23 May 2022. The Commission concluded that Croatia is no longer experiencing macroeconomic imbalances. In particular, important progress has been made in reducing private indebtedness and net external liabilities, while government debt remains high but has resumed the downward trajectory that delivered marked improvements before the pandemic.

(13)On 20 July 2020, the Council recommended Croatia to take in 2020 and 2021 all necessary measures, in line with the general escape clause, to effectively address the pandemic, sustain the economy and support the ensuing recovery. It also recommended Croatia to pursue, when economic conditions allow, fiscal policies aimed at achieving prudent medium-term fiscal positions and ensuring debt sustainability, while enhancing investment. In 2021, based on data validated by Eurostat, Croatia’s general government deficit decreased from 7.3% of GDP in 2020 to 2.9% in 2021. The fiscal policy response by Croatia supported the economic recovery in 2021, while temporary emergency support measures declined from 3.3 % of GDP in 2020 to 2,1% in 2021. The measures taken by Croatia in 2021 have been in line with the Council Recommendation of 20 July 2020. The discretionary budgetary measures adopted by the government in 2020 and 2021 were mostly temporary or matched by offsetting measures. At the same time, some of the discretionary measures adopted by the government in 2021 were not temporary or matched by offsetting measures, mainly consisting of reduction of the personal and corporate income tax amounting in total to 0.5% of GDP. Based on data validated by Eurostat, general government debt stood at 79.8% of GDP in 2021.

(14)The macroeconomic scenario underpinning the budgetary projections in the 2022 Convergence Programme is cautious in 2022 and favourable thereafter. The government projects real GDP to grow by 3.0% in 2022 and 4.4% in 2023. By comparison, the Commission’s 2022 spring forecast projects a higher real GDP growth of 3.4% in 2022 and a lower growth of 3.0% in 2023, with the difference mainly reflecting a lower expectation in 2022 by the Croatian authorities concerning growth in real household consumption. In its 2022 Convergence Programme, the Government expects that the headline deficit will slightly decrease to 2.8 % of GDP in 2022 and to 1.6% in 2023. The slight decrease in 2022 mainly reflects the growth in economic activity and the unwinding of most emergency measures. According to the Programme, the general government debt-to-GDP ratio is expected to decrease to 76.2% in 2022, and to decline to 71.7% in 2023. Based on policy measures known at the cut-off date of the forecast, the Commission 2022 spring forecast projects a government deficit for 2022 and 2023 of 2.3% of GDP and 1.8% respectively. This is lower than the deficit projected for 2022 and higher then the deficit projected for 2023 in the Convergence Programme, mainly due to a lower level of expenditure expected by the Commission in 2022 for gross fixed capital formation and other expenditure. Furthermore the Commission forecast entails somewhat lower level shift in both revenues and expenditures attributed to a difference in the inflation outlook. The Commission 2022 spring forecast projects a lower general government debt-to-GDP ratio, of 75.3% in 2022 and a higher level 73.1% in 2023.

Based on the Commission spring 2022 forecast, the medium-term (10-year average) potential output growth is estimated at 2.2 %. However, this estimate does not include the impact of the reforms that are part of the Recovery and Resilience Plan and can boost Croatia’s potential growth.

(15)In 2022, the government phased out the majority of measures taken in response to the COVID-19 crisis, such that the temporary emergency support measures are projected to decline from 2.1% of GDP in 2021 to 0.4% in 2022. The government deficit in 2022 is impacted by the measures adopted to counter the economic and social impact of the increase in energy prices, which in the Commission spring 2022 forecast are estimated at 0.4% of GDP in 2022 and 0.2% of GDP in 2023. These measures mainly consist of social transfers to poorer households, support for companies and cuts to indirect taxes on energy consumption. These measures are mostly temporary. However, in case energy prices remain elevated also in 2023, some of these measures could be continued. Some of these measures are not targeted, notably the across the board cuts on indirect taxes on energy. The government deficit is also impacted by the costs to offer temporary protection to displaced persons from Ukraine, which in the Commission 2022 spring forecast are projected at 0.1% of GDP in 2022 and 0.1% in 2023.

(16)On 18 June 2021, the Council recommended that in 2022 Croatia maintain a supportive fiscal stance, including the impulse provided by the Recovery and Resilience Facility, and preserve nationally financed investment. The Council also recommended Croatia to keep the growth of nationally financed current expenditure under control. It also recommended Croatia to pursue, when economic conditions allow, a fiscal policy aimed at achieving prudent medium-term fiscal positions and ensuring fiscal sustainability in the medium term, and at the same time, to enhance investment to boost growth potential.

(17)In 2022, based on the Commission’s 2022 spring forecast and including the information incorporated in Croatia’s 2022 Convergence Programme, the fiscal stance is projected to be supportive at -1.8% of GDP, as recommended by the Council. Croatia plans to provide continued support to the recovery by making use of the Recovery and Resilience Facility to finance additional investment as recommended by the Council. The positive contribution to economic activity of expenditure financed by Recovery and Resilience Facility grants and other EU funds is projected to increase by 0.5 percentage points of GDP compared to 2021. Nationally-financed investment is projected to provide an expansionary contribution to the fiscal stance of 0.4 percentage points in 2022. Therefore, Croatia plans to preserve nationally financed investment, as recommended by the Council. At the same time, the growth in nationally-financed primary current expenditure (net of new revenue measures) in 2022 is projected to provide an expansionary contribution of 1.0 percentage points to the overall fiscal stance. This significant expansionary contribution includes the additional impact of the measures to address the economic and social impact of the increase in energy prices (0.4% of GDP) as well as the costs to offer temporary protection to displaced persons from Ukraine (0.1% of GDP), while higher intermediate consumption expenditure, in part reflecting the increase in inflation, is also projected to contribute to the growth in net current expenditure. Therefore, on the basis of current Commission estimates, Croatia does not sufficiently keep under control the growth of nationally-financed current expenditure in 2022.

(18)In 2023, the fiscal stance is projected in the Commission 2022 spring forecast at -0.7% of GDP on a no-policy change assumption. Croatia is projected to continue using the grants from the Recovery and Resilience Facility in 2023 to finance additional investment in support of the recovery. The positive contribution to economic activity of expenditure financed by Recovery and Resilience Facility grants and other EU funds is projected to increase by 0.5 percentage points compared to 2022. Nationally-financed investment is projected to provide a slightly expansionary contribution to the fiscal stance of 0.1 percentage points in 2023. At the same time, the growth in nationally-financed primary current expenditure (net of new revenue measures) in 2023 is projected to provide a broadly neutral contribution of -0.2 percentage points to the overall fiscal stance. This includes the impact from the phasing out of some measures addressing the increased energy prices (0.2% of GDP). Therefore, the broadly neutral contribution of nationally-financed current expenditure relies partially on the phasing out of the measures to address the impact of the increase in energy prices as currently planned.

(19)In the 2022 Convergence Programme, the general government deficit is expected to gradually decline to 1.6% of GDP in 2024 and to 1.2% by 2025. Therefore, the general government deficit is planned to remain below 3% of GDP by 2025. According to the Programme, the general government debt-to-GDP ratio is expected to decrease by 2025, specifically with a decrease to 68.9% in 2024, and a decline to 66.9% in 2025. Based on the Commission’s analysis, debt sustainability risks appear medium over the medium term.

(20)In accordance with Article 19(3), point (b), and Annex V, criterion 2.2, to Regulation (EU) 2021/241, the recovery and resilience plan includes an extensive set of mutually reinforcing reforms and investments to be implemented by 2026. These help address all or a significant subset of the economic and social challenges outlined in the country-specific recommendations addressed to Croatia by the Council in the European Semester in 2019 and 2020, in addition to any country-specific recommendations issued up to the date of adoption of the plan.

(21)In particular, the plan addresses the country-specific recommendations with reforms to reinforce the budgetary framework, active labour market policy measures and an education reform to improve access to education and the quality and labour-market relevance of education. The challenges faced by the Croatian healthcare system are addressed by measures to improve the efficiency, quality, accessibility, and financial sustainability, which was especially stricken by the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the plan addresses country-specific recommendations in those areas by advancing the decarbonisation of the energy sector, increasing overall energy efficiency, and focusing investments on sustainable transport and digital infrastructure and services. Moreover, the plan contains far-reaching measures to improve the efficiency of the public administration and justice system, to prevent, detect and correct corruption, to improve the business environment and support investment in and the policy relevance of research and innovation.

(22)The implementation of the recovery and resilience plan of Croatia is expected to contribute to making further progress on the green and digital transition. Measures supporting the climate objectives in Croatia account for 40.3% of the plan’s total allocation, while measures supporting digital objectives account for 20.4% of the plan’s total allocation. The fully-fledged implementation of the recovery and resilience plan, in line with the relevant milestones and targets, will help Croatia swiftly recover from the fallout of the COVID-19 crisis, while strengthening its resilience. The systematic involvement of social partners and other relevant stakeholders remains important for the successful implementation of the recovery and resilience plan, as well as other economic and employment policies going beyond the plan, to ensure broad ownership of the overall policy agenda.

(23)Croatia has not yet submitted the Partnership Agreement and the other cohesion policy programming documents. In line with Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2021, Croatia shall take into account the relevant country-specific recommendations in the programming of the 2021-2027 cohesion policy funds. This is a prerequisite for improving the effectiveness and maximising the added value of the financial support to be received from cohesion policy funds, while promoting the coordination, complementarity and coherence between these funds and other Union instruments and funds. The successful implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility and cohesion policy programmes also depends on the removal of bottlenecks to investment to support the green and digital transition and balanced territorial development.