Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic on Friday issued a New Year's message to Croatian citizens at home and abroad in which he said that despite the challenges, Croatia had reasons to be optimistic.

He said the past year, like 2020, was marked by the COVID-19 pandemic and that it affected Croatia’s social life and economy as well as claiming many lives.

Mentioning the recent appearance of the much more communicable Omicron variant, Plenkovic said the defence from “this plague” called for responsibility and social solidarity from everyone.

He thanked all medical workers who, “with unselfish effort, are making an immeasurable contribution” to the protection of lives and health. Everyone can contribute to this common effort by complying with COVID protocols and getting vaccinated, including with the booster shot, he added.

The prime minister said Croatia was still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s earthquakes and the “challenging reconstruction process.” The government is doing its best to step up the process so that everyone could return home, and it wants the reconstruction to be an opportunity for the economic development of the badly affected Banovina region, he added.

Despite those challenges, he said, Croatia has reasons to be optimistic. An economic growth of over 9% is expected and 2022 will see a continuation of strong economic development, job creation, reforms, and demographic revitalisation measures.

“Ahead of us is also the fulfilling of two strategic goals, entry to the Schengen and euro areas,” the prime minister said.

“In the coming period, let’s show that with solidarity, joint effort and the responsibility of each of us we can overcome this health crisis so that we can realise all the opportunities that lie ahead for Croatia,” he added, wishing everyone, on his and the government’s behalf, health, peace and success in 2022.