Marko Primorac, Croatia’s former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, has been appointed Vice-President of the European Investment Bank (EIB), marking the first time a Croatian representative joins the institution’s Management Committee.
Primorac succeeds Poland’s Teresa Czerwińska and will represent Croatia, Hungary and Poland as one of the EIB’s eight vice-presidents. His appointment was confirmed by the EIB Board of Governors, composed of EU finance ministers, following his nomination by the Croatian government.
EIB President Nadia Calviño highlighted Primorac’s strong background in public finance, noting his role in strengthening Croatia’s fiscal position and aligning it with EU standards. During his tenure as finance minister, Croatia met the Maastricht fiscal criteria for the first time, achieved an “A” sovereign credit rating, and completed accession to both the eurozone and the Schengen area.
Primorac said he joins the Bank at a critical moment for Europe, with investment priorities focused on resilience, competitiveness and the green transition. He emphasised his commitment to supporting sustainable growth and strengthening the EU’s global economic position.
Before entering government, Primorac was an associate professor at the University of Zagreb’s Faculty of Economics and Business, specialising in fiscal policy, and has held roles in several international financial institutions, including the EIB.
The EIB has been active in Croatia since 1977, investing more than €11 billion across sectors such as climate action, transport, renewable energy and social infrastructure, alongside advisory support aimed at unlocking further EU funding.
