President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic on Monday presented her measures for the demographic policy, saying this was a vital issue for Croatia's survival as a country.

Pointing out an increased share of the elderly population, an increasingly low number of newborns, the departure of the young and working-age population, the president said all of this would directly affect the national security, economic growth, social stability and overall future of the Croatian nation and state.

Grabar-Kitarovic said she wrote the measures she presented today herself with the help of her advisors, adding this was a working document which could be changed following a public consultation and further consultations with public, political and economic stakeholders.

“The price of implementing these measures is high, of course, but the price of failing to implement them is even higher – the disappearance of the Croatian people and the state in a not so distant future. The implementation of these measures is not an expense, but an investment in the future,” the president said.

The first group of measures are economic measures.

“The foundation of everything is to create an economic environment in which new jobs can be created,” she said, adding that the tax reform was key.

“The main goal is to reduce the labour costs for employers and increase net wages for workers,” she said.

Family policy measures, including financial support, childcare services, family leave and free days, which the people prioritise, are another key group.

“The problem is in the discrepancy between the families’ wishes and their material circumstances. In supporting families with children, we aim to reduce the difference between the real and desired number of children,” she said.

Immigration measures are important, she said, because Croatia lacks labour force.

Amendments to the Croatian citizenship law are necessary, as is the integration of immigrants. Secondary school exchange programmes, online language learning programmes, and active promotion through diplomatic and consular representatives are also needed, the president said.

The key element of stability is to form a central office to tackle these issues. One model would be a Ministry for Demographic Revitalisation. The current approach is wrong, and a small ministry would help to coordinate all these measures, she said.

“These suggestions stem from the responsibility I feel as the Croatian president for the well being of all the people of Croatia,” she said.

“I call on the government, the parliament, the opposition, employers, unions… everyone, to get included in this discussion and act to build a prosperous state and a society of equal opportunities for everybody,” the president concluded.

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