{ "title": "Statement by IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde at the Conclusion of her Visit to Croatia", "publication": "IMF News, July 12, 2017", "sourceUrl": "https://www.imf.org/en/news/articles/2017/07/12/pr17276-statement-imf-managing-director-christine-lagarde-conclusion-croatia", "canonical": "https://www.imf.org/en/news/articles/2017/07/12/pr17276-statement-imf-managing-director-christine-lagarde-conclusion-croatia", "overlayPath": "/en/news/articles/2017/07/12/pr17276-statement-imf-managing-director-christine-lagarde-conclusion-croatia/index.md", "summary": "Press Release No. 17/276", "publishDate": "2017-07-12", "sections": [ { "heading": "Overview", "content": "- Press Release No. 17/276\n- Date: July 12, 2017\n- Location of statement: Dubrovnik\n- Speaker: Ms. Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)\n- Context: Visit included participation in a joint IMF/Croatian National Bank conference on “Reaccelerating Convergence in Central Eastern and Southeastern Europe: The Role of Governance and Institutions” and a regional roundtable discussion." }, { "heading": "Key observations and findings", "content": "- Regional transformation: The region has \"transformed successfully from centrally planned economies to market-based systems in less than a generation.\"\n- Convergence slow-down: \"Convergence with advanced Europe has slowed since the global financial crisis.\"\n- Croatia-specific developments:\n - Croatia recorded growth \"for the third year in a row after a long recession.\"\n - Strong fiscal outcome in 2016.\n - Exit from the EU’s Excessive Deficit Procedure in June 2017." }, { "heading": "Policy messages and recommendations", "content": "- Governance and institutions:\n - Good governance and strong institutions can \"play a crucial role in speeding up the convergence process and making growth more durable and inclusive.\"\n- Fiscal policy and resilience:\n - Encouraged \"efforts to strengthen Croatia’s economic defenses, including through further reducing debt,\" to \"provide room to maneuver in case economic conditions deteriorate.\"\n - Emphasized the importance of fiscal reforms.\n- Structural policy:\n - Emphasized the importance of structural reforms to \"improve competitiveness and boost private sector growth and employment opportunities, especially for women and youth.\"" }, { "heading": "Meetings and engagements", "content": "- Participated in:\n - Joint IMF/Croatian National Bank conference on “Reaccelerating Convergence in Central Eastern and Southeastern Europe: The Role of Governance and Institutions.”\n - Regional roundtable discussion with economic policymakers from throughout the region.\n- Bilateral and high-level meetings with:\n - Prime Minister Andrej Plenković\n - Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Martina Dalić\n - Croatian National Bank Governor Boris Vujcić\n - Minister of Finance Zdravko Marić\n - \"and their colleagues\"\n- Closing remark: Ms. Lagarde expressed gratitude: “I would like to thank the authorities and the Croatian people for their warm welcome and gracious hospitality.”" }, { "heading": "Contact information (as provided)", "content": "- IMF Communications Department\n- MEDIA RELATIONS\n- PRESS OFFICER: Wiktor Krzyzanowski\n- Phone: +1 202 623-7100\n- Email: MEDIA@IMF.org\n\nStatement by IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde, July 12, 2017.\n\n---\n\n\n References\n\n- Christine Lagarde\n- Republic of Croatia and the IMF\n- Press Releases\n- PRESS CENTER\n- https://www.imf.org/en/home\n\nSource: https://www.imf.org/en/news/articles/2017/07/12/pr17276-statement-imf-managing-director-christine-lagarde-conclusion-croatia" } ], "bullets": [ "[Markdown version](/en/news/articles/2017/07/12/pr17276-statement-imf-managing-director-christine-lagarde-conclusion-croatia/index.md)", "[Structured JSON version](/en/news/articles/2017/07/12/pr17276-statement-imf-managing-director-christine-lagarde-conclusion-croatia/index.json)", "[Bundle manifest](/en/news/articles/2017/07/12/pr17276-statement-imf-managing-director-christine-lagarde-conclusion-croatia/bundle-manifest.json)", "Published: July 12, 2017", "Press Release No. 17/276", "Date: July 12, 2017", "Location of statement: Dubrovnik", "Speaker: Ms. Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)", "Context: Visit included participation in a joint IMF/Croatian National Bank conference on “Reaccelerating Convergence in Central Eastern and Southeastern Europe: The Role of Governance and Institutions” and a regional roundtable discussion.", "Regional transformation: The region has \"transformed successfully from centrally planned economies to market-based systems in less than a generation.\"", "Convergence slow-down: \"Convergence with advanced Europe has slowed since the global financial crisis.\"", "Croatia-specific developments:", "Governance and institutions:", "Fiscal policy and resilience:", "Structural policy:", "Participated in:", "Bilateral and high-level meetings with:", "Closing remark: Ms. Lagarde expressed gratitude: “I would like to thank the authorities and the Croatian people for their warm welcome and gracious hospitality.”", "IMF Communications Department", "MEDIA RELATIONS", "PRESS OFFICER: Wiktor Krzyzanowski", "Phone: +1 202 623-7100", "Email: MEDIA@IMF.org", "[Christine Lagarde](http://www.imf.org/external/np/omd/bios/cl.htm)", "[Republic of Croatia and the IMF](http://www.imf.org/external/country/HRV/index.htm)", "[Press Releases](https://www.imf.org/en/news/searchnews)", "[PRESS CENTER](http://presscenter.imf.org/)", "[https://www.imf.org/en/home](https://www.imf.org/en/home)" ], "alternates": { "markdown": "/en/news/articles/2017/07/12/pr17276-statement-imf-managing-director-christine-lagarde-conclusion-croatia/index.md", "json": "/en/news/articles/2017/07/12/pr17276-statement-imf-managing-director-christine-lagarde-conclusion-croatia/index.json", "bundleManifest": "/en/news/articles/2017/07/12/pr17276-statement-imf-managing-director-christine-lagarde-conclusion-croatia/bundle-manifest.json" }, "generatedAtUtc": "2026-09-25T21:02:16.397Z" }