Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic on Wednesday announced on Twitter that the government would mitigate the impact on the citizens' standard of living with a strong package of measures given the increase in energy prices, adding that talks on support were also under way with business people.

“We are talking with the leaders of the Croatian Employers’ Association (HUP), the Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK) and the Croatian Chamber of Trades and Crafts (HOK) about Croatia’s economic recovery, the price increase and support for business people in the challenges we are facing. The Croatian government will mitigate the impact on the citizens’ standard of living with a strong package of measures due to the increase in energy prices,” the prime minister wrote on Twitter.

Due to an imminent increase in the prices of gas and electricity as of 1 April, Prime Minister Plenkovic had earlier announced that in order to mitigate the effect of the increase of energy prices on citizens the government would act in three segments — social transfers, gas and electricity pricing and VAT rates.

Economy and Sustainable Development Minister Tomislav Coric earlier announced that the government would present its measures for mitigating the impact of the increase in energy prices in February.

In the meantime, the government on Monday issued a decree capping the prices of petroleum products, limiting the price of Eurosuper 95 to 11.37 kuna per litre, Eurodiesel to 11.29 kuna and Eurodiesel BS blue to 6.5 kuna per litre, VAT included. The prices will be valid for a maximum of 30 days.