Meeting with Mr. Mate Rebić, Assistant Minister of Environment and Energy

On 14 February, AmCham met with Mr. Mate Rebić, the Assistant Minister of Environment and Energy at the Directorate for Energy. AmCham representatives informed Mr. Rebić of the problems faced by biodiesel producers in Croatia, which have had to close production due to a regulatory framework that neither adequately enforces existing obligations for blending biofuels into mineral fuels, nor implements the most recent EU legislation amending, but not removing, these obligations.

While a number of measures and more time are required in order for Croatia to implement new EU directives, AmCham recommended stronger implementation of existing national regulations and introduction of additional necessary measures required to enable the continuation of biodiesel production in Croatia until new EU rules are implemented. Mr. Rebić recognized the seriousness of the problem and committed to dedicate specific persons within the Directorate for Energy to cooperation with AmCham at an operational level to identify and implement concrete steps to assist biodiesel producers in Croatia.