Croatia meets OECD entry conditions amid criticism over pension and veteran issues

Croatia is poised to fulfill the requirements for joining the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) after the government adopted measures to reform the management of state-owned companies. These reforms, approved before the summer recess, involve new public tender processes for selecting supervisory board and management members, alongside enhanced powers for supervisory boards in appointing executives in consultation with the government.

Finance Minister Tomislav Ćorić described the changes as a "regulatory step forward" and an "strengthening of corporate culture and processes in state-owned companies." The government aims to bolster corporate governance and transparency, aligning with OECD standards.

However, the article expresses skepticism, suggesting these reforms, while potentially beneficial for state enterprises, do not address critical issues concerning pensioners and war veterans. It implies that the government's focus on OECD entry and corporate reforms distracts from more pressing social and economic concerns, particularly regarding pension funds and benefits for veterans. The piece frames these reforms as a superficial move that fails to tackle deeper systemic problems.

“

this is primarily a regulatory step forward, but also a step towards further strengthening of corporate culture and processes in companies owned by the Republic of Croatia