President Milanović at Economic Council Session, Posthumously Decorates Prof. Ivo Bićanić
The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović attended the 5th Session of the Economic Council of the President of the Republic of Croatia. At the meeting of the Economic Council, which was held in the Office of the President, an overview of Croatia’s key achievements and EU budget outcomes was presented. Political trends and determinants of voter behaviour from 1990 to 2020 were analysed, as well.
The forecasts of the Economic Council of the President of the Republic for 2023 are moderately optimistic, given the expected real GDP growth rate for 2023 of one percent, along with the expected high but single-digit inflation rate. An uncertain environment and consumer expectations make estimates subject to a downward revision.
The Economic Council of the President of the Republic calls on the Croatian Government to take into account growing social inequalities and inflationary pressures in its activities next year and to hence focus on targeted measures that would help the most affected social groups. In accordance with the OECD recommendations and Economic Council measures proposed in July of this year, the Council voiced its expectation that the aid package would be less horizontal and more targeted towards the needy.
After the meeting of the Economic Council of the President of the Republic and in the presence of its members, President Milanović presented the decoration Order of the Croatian Star with the effigy of Blaž Lorković to the family of the late Professor Ivo Bićanić, Ph. D. The President of the Republic posthumously decorated Professor Ivo Bićanić, Ph. D., for extraordinary services for the economy and his many years of exceptionally successful and internationally recognized work in teaching and scientific research.
“Today, I have the honour to present to you posthumously, unfortunately, the decoration for Professor Ivo Bićanić, a man whom I knew personally, with whom I worked, collaborated and conversed on several occasions. I had the opportunity to personally confirm his views, to debate them quite harshly, and to actually enjoy his company. There are few such economists, people who have very broad fields of interest and who are not focused on just one thing. A small number of people conform to the criteria that, in my opinion, should be met. I am glad that friends and family are here today and I am glad to at least posthumously present this decoration,” President Milanović said as he handed the decoration to the family of Professor Bićanić. The decoration was accepted by the late professor’s daughter Jele Jadviga Dominis, his grandson Tibor Dominis Aničić and his son Job Mate Dominis-Bićanić, who expressed gratitude to President Milanović for the decoration that was posthumously bestowed upon his father.
Accompanying President Milanović were the Head of the Office of the President of the Republic Orsat Miljenić, Head of the Cabinet of the President of the Republic Bartol Šimunić, Special Adviser to the President of the Republic for the Economy Velibor Mačkić, who also serves as Chair of the Economic Council, Adviser to the President of the Republic for Human Rights and Civil Society Melita Mulić, Secretary General of the Office of the President of the Republic Dinko Suton, Assistant Head of the Cabinet of the President of the Republic Goran Grobotek and Assistant Adviser to the President of the Republic for the Economy Martina Ciglević. The following members of the Economic Council of the President of the Republic participated in the 5th Session: Đula Borozan, Ana Grdović Gnip, Igor Matutinović, Marina Tkalec, Tomislav Hernaus, Vinko Muštra and guest participants Filip Novokmet and Filip Rusmir.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Tomislav Bušljeta