Finance Minister Zdravko Maric said on Monday that he communicated regularly with Zagreb Mayor Tomislav Tomasevic about the city's financial situation while the city-owned multi-utility conglomerate Zagreb Holding said that it operated normally and is meeting its financial obligations.

“I have regular and intensive communication with Mayor Tomasevic regarding the city’s finances,” Maric told reporters in a comment on the financial situation of the city whose companies, according to media reports, are faced with debt enforcement over unpaid bills to suppliers.

Maric recalled that Zagreb was one of the biggest budget users but that there were 576 units of local government in the country.

“Zagreb is not the only one we have been communicating with, there are other towns and municipalities with financial problems,” he said.

In principle, the state always tries to find a solution for local government units but everything needs to be in line with the relevant laws and treatment is equal, the minister said.

Following reports about announcements of debt enforcement, Zagreb Holding said on Monday that it was communicating with all suppliers, that it was operating normally and that it was meeting its financial obligations.

The conglomerate did not confirm that private companies had launched debt enforcement procedures against it. According to media reports, those companies include the Reoma Group and the Ce-za-r company. The Cistoca city sanitation company owes HRK 14 million, to Reoma and HRK 11 million to the Ce-za.r company, which is part of the C.I.O.S. Group.

“Due to inherited debts, Zagreb Holding is currently undergoing a process of refinancing and restructuring with the aim of long-term stabilization of financial operations,” the conglomerate said, noting that its suppliers were familiar with payment deadlines defined by its services.