Croatia is extending government support for households and businesses as it prepares for another period of higher energy costs, with the government presenting a new package of measures worth €257.7 million. The 11th package is designed to prevent a sharp increase in electricity and gas bills while also providing targeted assistance to vulnerable citizens and support for parts of the economy facing higher costs. The measures are set to apply from the end of September and continue through the winter, reflecting the government’s decision to maintain intervention in energy prices rather than allow households and businesses to absorb the full impact of rising market costs.
The largest share of the money, around €126 million, will be used to subsidize electricity prices. Another €43 million is allocated to gas and heating energy, meaning the government intends to prevent the prices of these essential forms of energy from rising sharply when the previous measures expire. The package also includes energy vouchers for the most vulnerable groups, giving targeted assistance to households that would have greater difficulty covering their energy bills. The approach continues the government’s policy of combining broad price intervention with more targeted support for citizens who are particularly exposed to higher living costs.
The new measures are also aimed at businesses and specific sectors of the Croatian economy. Support is planned for farmers and fishermen, who have been facing increased operating costs and pressure from higher energy and production expenses. The government has argued that protecting energy prices is not only about helping households but also about maintaining the competitiveness of Croatian companies and preventing higher energy costs from feeding into the prices of goods and services. The package is therefore intended to provide some stability during the coming months while reducing the risk that another increase in energy expenses will put additional pressure on consumers and businesses.
The latest package continues a policy Croatia has relied on since the European energy crisis began, with the government repeatedly extending or adjusting interventions in electricity, gas and fuel prices. Earlier this year, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said the energy crisis was more serious than the situation in 2022 and announced measures to protect households, jobs and the economy from its effects. The latest decision means Croatia will continue shielding consumers from part of the market pressure rather than allowing a sudden increase in household energy bills. For citizens, the most immediate effect is that electricity and gas prices will remain supported as the country enters another winter, while vulnerable households will continue to receive additional assistance through targeted measures.
