The implementation of the pension reform will be stepped up, and the education reform will continue this year, Economy Minister Martina Dalić, said in an interview with state radio on Wednesday.

Dalić said that work on a national programme of reforms was close to completion.

“That document will lead to the continuation of some of the ongoing reforms… which means changes and further improvements will be made, related to (improving) the investment climate, and increasing Croatia’s appeal as an investment destination. The preparation that we did last year will make it possible for us to step up work on the implementation of the pension reform – which includes changes to pension system regulation and administration – and also to continue with the implementation of the education reform,” said Dalić.

The government must send the national reform programme, as well as a convergence programme, to the European Commission by the end of April.

The national reform programme’s purpose is to define plans to implement some key structural policies, while the convergence programme sets the main features for the country’s macroeconomic and fiscal policies.

Both of these are part of a mandatory process of reporting and harmonising economic policies of individual EU member states with the bloc’s common goals and EU regulations. Failing to follow this process may result in sanctions which might include the freezing of EU funding for the country in question.