The Croatian government is adopting today the 11th package of aid measures for citizens and businesses, worth nearly €260 million. Wondering if your winter bills will go up? The short answer is: no — at least when it comes to electricity and gas. Here are the hard numbers.
How big is the package and what does it cover?
The total value of the 11th package is €257.7 million. The largest portion goes to energy subsidies:
- Electricity: €126 million
- Gas and heating: €43 million
- Vouchers for vulnerable consumers: €70/month per person
- Farmers: ~€10 million
- Fishermen: ~€4 million
The measures take effect on September 30, 2026, just as the previous subsidies expire.
What stays the same — and what changes?
Good news: electricity and gas prices for households remain unchanged. Without this package, gas would have risen 7-8%, which is about €40-50 per year, or €4 per month. The government will allocate €15 million from the budget just to prevent that increase.
Specifically, households continue to pay 8.8% less for electricity than the market price. The €70 monthly allowance for vulnerable consumers (electricity, gas, heating) continues — over 125,000 people are eligible (recipients of guaranteed minimum benefit, inclusion allowance, national allowance for the elderly, unemployed veterans, etc.).
What about student meals?
Still €0.86 per meal — a subsidy covering 102,000 students across 25 cities. If you’re a student, your meal price stays the same.
And fuel prices?
The government continues regulation. As of September 8, these prices are in effect (valid 7 days):
- Petrol: €1.67/l (unchanged)
- Diesel: €1.79/l (unchanged)
- Blue diesel: €1.34/l (+€0.13/l)
- LPG tanks: €1.33/kg (+€0.08/kg)
- LPG bottles: €1.90/kg (+€0.07/kg)
Without intervention, petrol would cost €1.88/l and diesel €2.10/l. The government lowered excise duties: by €0.025/l on petrol and by €0.09/l on diesel — the latter below the minimum level required by EU directive.
What about businesses and social services?
Businesses consuming up to 250,000 kWh of electricity per half-year still qualify for lower prices. The public sector (schools, kindergartens, universities, hospitals, nursing homes, associations, municipalities, cities, counties) also retains subsidized rates.
Social service providers receive support from €70 to €540 per month, depending on the number of users — a measure covering 520 providers and over 2,300 foster families.
Farmers and fishermen
Farmers continue to receive €100/hectare for the first 10 ha, and €50/ha for the next 10 ha. Transport companies get €0.16 per liter of diesel. Around €4 million in support is secured for fishermen.
Changes to the Penal Code
Among the 13 legislative proposals on today’s government agenda are amendments to the Penal Code. Key novelties include the introduction of life imprisonment and new environmental crimes — ecocide and animal abuse.
Why does this matter?
This is the 11th package of measures since the beginning of the energy crisis, and the reason is clear: the war in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have once again driven up energy prices. Without government intervention, your utility and fuel bills would be significantly higher.
If you pay utilities, fill up your car, or use student meals — this package directly affects you. The good news is that energy prices are frozen for the foreseeable future.
Data sourced from media reports and unofficial information from government sources. The exact text of the regulations will be published in Narodne novine after the government session.