The opposition populist Most party held a news conference on Tuesday, at which they asked the government to answer why it has given up on publishing blacklists of retailers who unjustifiably increase their prices due to the introduction of the euro.

“It was said that a list of retailers who unjustifiably increase their prices due to the euro changeover would be published on the euro.hr website and HNB Governor Boris Vujcic spoke about it on a number of occasions,” party MP Nikola Grmoja told reporters.

It is not clear why that plan has been scrapped, he said, noting that blacklisting retailers has proven to be the best way of controlling the process of switching to the euro.

The MPs also wonder whether now is the best time to switch to the euro, considering high inflation.

In Slovenia, when the euro was introduced, prices rose by 7-8%, however, inflation at the time was not as high as it is now, said Most MP Zvonimir Troskot.

Ministry: We haven’t given up on blacklisting retailers after the switch

In response to media reports that there will be no blacklists, the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development issued a press release on Monday, stating that it had not rejected the possibility of using such a model in Croatia.

“The Ministry of Economy is considering all available options, from introducing a code of ethics to publishing a blacklist, in order to… introduce the euro in an efficient and transparent way,” the press release said.

The Ministry says it has analysed the experiences and regulations of European countries that last introduced the common currency. Some member states published a blacklist of retailers who unjustifiably raised prices, it was added.

Gas prices

Troskot also commented on energy prices and the Zagreb Gasworks unilateral termination of contracts with its corporate clients, and possible lawsuits.

To prevent lawsuits and a possible bankruptcy of the Zagreb Gasworks, Troskot proposes that the substitute supplier, Termoplin Varazdin, compensate gas to corporate clients in Zagreb, after which the government can compensate Termoplin Varazdin.

“Local suppliers have already accumulated losses of more than one billion kuna,” he said.

The party also announced an interpellation request concerning the government’s short- and long-term response to the energy crisis.