"We also saw increased personal spending which led to GDP growth of 3.1%, while the positive effects on exports after Croatia's accession to the EU were decreasing as expected," Vujcic said.
He added that the HNB was pursuing an expansionary monetary policy, securing liquidity on the capital market and exchange rate stability. Interest rates dropped to record lows, while international reserves were at their historically highest levels.
Croatia is a highly euroised country and the adoption of the euro would have multiple benefits for the country, the central bank governor said. He expressed regret that criminal complaints filed against the HNB were used as "political marketing" and added that such behaviour should be sanctioned.
Marin Skribola of the Youth Independent List asked the governor what had been done about the attempt by RBA bank to exert pressure on the Constitutional Court in connection with the court case concerning CHF-denominated loans. Expressing a suspicion that other banks had tried the same, he accused the central bank of defending the interests of banking institutions rather than Croatian citizens and warned that they would be closely monitoring the HNB's steps in that regard.