Latest articles from Croatia

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Trying to turn the taps back on

Croatia entered the financial crisis with its banking sector in good shape, but rising unemployment and fiscal pressures are dampening new lending activity. Writer Nick Saywell

‘Visionary’ tactics cushion the blow

Croatia has not been immune to the global liquidity squeeze, but measures taken by its central bank in recent years to avoid an uncontrolled build-up of foreign debt mean the banking system may be less vulnerable than some of its local counterparts. Writer Nick Saywell .

Champing at the bit

While Croatia’s banking sector is on a sound footing, with foreign investors now accounting for more than 90% of its total assets, the central bank’s restrictive measures to curb credit growth are frustrating lenders. By Nick Spiro .

EU accession talks boost markets

Croatia’s fledgling capital markets are benefiting from a surge in interest from domestic and foreign investment funds and a fast-growing corporate bond market as negotiations for EU membership get under way. Nick Spiro reports.

Foreign players vote with their feet

Although the economy is in bad shape, Croatia remains a magnet for foreign banks, simply because Croatians like to borrow and save.Tom Blass reports.

A new landscape

Croatia’s banking system has changed dramatically in the past few years with the rise in foreign ownership but the country is still overbanked. 

Fast track to EU accession

The Croatian government has planned a tight schedule of reform and economic targets in its efforts at convergence with the EU.

Building bridges

Croatia’s new government has its work cut out preparing for Nato entry and EU accession negotiations as well as strengthening the country’s external trade balance in a slowing economy. Istvan Lengyel reports from Zagreb.

The tourist trail

A carefully planned tourism industry will provide Croatia with jobs and economic growth.

Challenges mount

With falling GDP and possible government regulation, Croatia’s banks must find new growth areas as well as preparing for the competitive shock of EU accession.