Plenkovic: Transport sector and tourism hardest hit by coronavirus epidemic

European heads of state and government, with the participation of the European Commission and the European Central Bank, are looking to devise a European response to the coronavirus epidemic, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said during a visit to Skabrnja, inland from the coastal city of Zadar, on Tuesday.

"We as the Croatian presidency of the Council of the EU took measures even before the World Health Organisation declared the emergency," Plenkovic said, adding that Croatia had taken steps through the integrated crisis response mechanism already on 28 January.

He said that all countries were currently analysing the situation.

In Croatia, talks are in progress with all interested sectors of the national economy. Last week a meeting was held with hoteliers, and tomorrow the ministers of finance, economy and tourism will have consultations with representatives of all sectors, the PM said.

He said that the hardest hit would be the transport sector, notably air transport, and tourism. Croatia will be taking the necessary measures in both sectors, he added.

Plenkovic said that all government departments were monitoring the situation and would try to find ways at the European and national levels to minimise the damage to the Croatian economy.

The situation in Croatia is stable and under control thanks to measures being taken by the national civil protection authority, health workers and the state inspectorate, the prime minister said. "However, given the proximity of Italy, we have to be very cautious," he concluded.

Responding to questions from the press, Plenkovic disagreed with President Zoran Milanovic's decision to remove the busts of prominent Croatian historical figures from the lobby of the President's Office. "That wasn't necessary. I think it was a wrong move," the prime minister said. (Hina/FaH)

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