Croatia: Major Reforms Required for Economic Upturn

Politics ♦ Published: September 26, 2013; 13:56 ♦ (Vindobona)

Croatia continues to suffer from recession - its economy has not grown since 2008, contracting in 2012 by 2% and in 2013 by 1%.

Croatia: Major Reforms Required for Economic Upturn / Picture: © Vindobona.org

Access to finance for businesses, especially SMEs, remains constrained. FDI has fallen by 75% from 2008 levels. Exports were also hard hit, especially given that the EU is the destination for 63% of Croatia's exports.

On the other hand, Croatia's accession to the EU has been a major driver of reform. A number of reforms have aimed at improving the business environment, including…