Reducing the number of civil servants, introducing the "2 for 1" clause, and retirement are some of the ways to downsize the state administration as envisaged by criteria the Croatian government adopted at a session on Thursday.
In late April, 52,656 civil servants worked in state administration units and government offices.
Most of them, almost 45,000, were employed at ministries, around 4,000 were employed in state administration organisations, and slightly more than 3,000 were employed at administration offices at county level.
Administration Minister Davorin Mlakar said that 5,890 people held senior positions in public administration units, explaining that giving civil servants senior positions had been often used to keep good staff in the public administration and prevent them from leaving for the private sector.
Between April and late August this year, the number of employees in public administration units dropped by 387.
The downsizing will continue, but care will be taken of the internal organisation of public administration units and their efficiency, as well as of the need to meet obligations towards the EU.
Speaking of rationalisation, Mlakar mentioned the introduction of the "2 for 1" clause, under which two civil servants going into retirement would be replaced by one new employee. He added that this year 736 civil servants would meet conditions for old age pension.
Deputy Prime Minister Slobodan Uzelac said one should take care of quality criteria, as well as depoliticise the state administration.
The government today also adopted a draft action plan for removing obstacles to investment, which defines some 50 measures, the departments in charge of their enforcement, and implementation deadlines.
The measures are designed to remove obstacles to investment by simplifying the issuing of work permits to foreign nationals, the procedure for the establishment of companies, land purchase, registration and construction, financial transactions and taxes, etc.
The government supported a draft strategy for the development of maritime police and an action plan for its implementation, which Minister of the Interior Tomislav Karamarko said was drafted in line with European standards and was important for the closing of the policy area No. 24 in Croatia's EU entry talks, Justice, Freedom and Security.
The government also decided to launch a procedure to sign an agreement with the Hungarian government on joint research and exploitation of hydrocarbon along the joint border.
At the closed part of its session, the government nominated first members of public companies' supervisory boards following an announcement of vacancies, including Croatian representatives on INA's Supervisory Board.
