The Ministry of Finance of Croatia published a readout of its delegation’s participation at the Eurogroup and Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) meetings in Brussels on 12 and 13 November 2025, covering the euro area outlook, fiscal coordination, banking union oversight, the digital euro, and EU tax and customs files. ECOFIN reached a political agreement to abolish the exemption from customs duties for imports valued up to EUR 150 and adopted Council implementing decisions amending several Recovery and Resilience Plans, including Croatia’s. Eurogroup ministers reviewed inflation and the preparation of national budgets for 2026, agreed additional activities to strengthen euro area fiscal policy coordination, and discussed banking sector conditions based on half-yearly reports from the Single Supervisory Mechanism and the Single Resolution Board. In an extended format, ministers exchanged views on the state of digital euro negotiations and on the strategic implications of stable cryptocurrencies in the EU. ECOFIN debated a compromise text on revising the Energy Taxation Directive, which would remove certain existing exemptions and reduced rates, introduce new taxable items, and set new minimum tax levels based on energy content, with transitional periods for reaching those minima. Ministers expressed a commitment to reach a Council of the EU agreement on the digital euro by end-2025 and the Eurogroup will continue returning to stable cryptocurrency developments. Discussions also covered further financial support for Ukraine, the status of OECD Pillar Two negotiations on a global minimum tax for multinationals, and implementation of EU sanctions including the recently approved 19th package.
Ministry of Finance (Croatia) 2025-11-13
Croatia's Ministry of Finance reports Eurogroup and ECOFIN outcomes including deal to end the EUR 150 customs duty exemption and push for a digital euro agreement
The Croatian Ministry of Finance reported on its participation in Eurogroup and ECOFIN meetings, highlighting discussions on the euro area outlook, fiscal coordination, and banking union oversight. ECOFIN agreed to abolish customs duty exemptions for imports up to EUR 150 and amended several Recovery and Resilience Plans. Ministers also addressed the digital euro, stable cryptocurrencies, and revisions to the Energy Taxation Directive, committing to finalize a digital euro agreement by end-2025.