January 30, 2022 - Wrestler FILIP ŠAČIĆ advanced to the finals of the international wrestling tournament Grand Prix Zagreb Open 2022 on Saturday. 

On the way to the final evening in the category up to 82 kg, he defeated YALDIRAN (TUR), JOHANSSON (SWE), and MUKUBA (NOR). In Sunday's final, he will face a representative of Ukraine - FILCHAKOV.

Slobodan Kadic

In the category of up to 63 kg, Croatia's Ivan Lizatović will compete for bronze, against the winner of the fight Celiček (CRO) - Juan (ESP). On Saturday, Lizatović registered two victories and one defeat. He took his first victory without a fight - the Hungarian KECSKEMÉTI surrendered due to injury. The second fight was won by ARNAUTA (ROM), and later in the semifinal fight, he lost to the representative of Turkey YILDIRIM.

In the category of up to 87 kg, Croatia's Filip Smetko and Kristian Lukač have the opportunity to reach bronze through the replay. In the same category, Croatian Olympian Ivan Huklek was unlucky. After the victory over YARASHEVICH (BLR), he, unfortunately, lost to OJOG (ROM) and dropped out of the competition. The finals begin on Sunday, January 30, 2022, at 7 pm in the Small Hall of the Zagreb Sports Hall.

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

January 30, 2022 - The Croatian Olympic Committee (COC) in cooperation with the Croatian Ski Federation (HSS) on Saturday presented the majority of the 2022 Croatia Winter Olympic team that will compete at the Games in Beijing from February 4 to 20. 

Seven of the 11 Croatian representatives who will compete in Beijing - alpine skiers Andrea Komšić, Zrinka Ljutić, and Matej Vidović, Nordic skiers Vedrana Malec, Marko Skender, and Tena Hadžić and snowboarder Lea Jugovac - took part in a relaxed gathering with the media, while respecting current epidemiological measures.

The Vice President of the Croatian Olympic Committee Morana Paliković Gruden, the State Secretary for Sports at the Ministry of Tourism and Sports Tomislav Družak, and the Head of the Croatian Olympic Committee Mission in Beijing Damir Šegota wished them successful performances.

With the emphasis on the importance of competition despite the pandemic by the COC Vice President and the effective message from Secretary of State Druzak ("Good luck leaving, come back even happier"), Šegota had the thankless task of announcing four PCR tests and other commitments needed to function in the Olympic villages of the Chinese capital.

Snowboarder Lea Jugovac explained her disciplines and has hopes to succeed in her Olympic Games debut accordingly to her satisfaction. Another debutant, cross-country skier Tena Hadžić, emphasized her happiness with the fact that she became a Croatian Olympian at the age of only 17, and her peer, alpine skier Zrinka Ljutić, said the same. 

"These are my first Games and I am very excited about them. It is definitely a special feeling when we are all together and fighting for Croatia," said Ljutić, adding that she has great support from her representative colleagues, primarily Andrea Komšić, but also Leona Popović.

Andrea Komšić is traveling to the third Winter Olympics and wants to do her best, regardless of the announcement that the snow will not be great for European representatives.

"I did well in the preparations, I feel good both physically and mentally. As for the results, Leona opened our eyes this season and showed that it is possible," said Komšić, adding that she feels very comfortable in the winter collection of the 4F brand, which has hit the design again.

Matej Vidović is also going to his third Games. He made his debut in Sochi and competed in Pyongyang.

"I am very motivated, I want to achieve something more than competing itself. My form is at a high level and I want to use it to achieve the best possible result. Although the focus will be on performance, not results, I would be pleased to be among the top eight," Vidović said.

Flag bearer Marko Skender wanted to stay healthy and enter the first half of the competition in three disciplines of cross-country skiing. He had the most questions from journalists about carrying the flag, said he wasn't nervous, but promised that he would practice this honorary act before leaving home.

His Nordic colleague, Vedrana Malec, hopes for the best at her third, and likely final Games. She pointed out that Croatia's Nordic skiers mostly train in Slovenia, which has become their reality.

"For the second time, we will wear 4F equipment and I can say that it is excellent again - quality, comfortable, and designed so that we are always recognizable as Croatian Olympians," she concluded. 

Croatia's Olympic athletes will travel to China on Sunday, January 30, 2022.

Source: HRT

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

January 30, 2022 - The draw for both rounds of the 2023 World Handball Championship qualifiers was held in Budapest on Saturday. 

The draw took place in two phases, as there are two qualifying rounds. Thus, the first to be drawn was the national teams that have already passed the first round of qualifications by groups, i.e., those ranked from 15th to 24th place at this European Championship, reports HRS.

UKRAINE - FINLAND
ITALY - SLOVENIA
PORTUGAL - SWITZERLAND
AUSTRIA - ESTONIA
GREECE - BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
NORTHERN MACEDONIA - ROMANIA
ISRAEL - LITHUANIA
SLOVAKIA - BELGIUM
FARO ISLANDS - BELARUS

The first matches will be played from March 16 to 17, and the return matches on March 19 to 20, 2022. The first-named national teams are the hosts in the first matches.

The second round of qualifications was then drawn. Russia and Ukraine could not face each other. Therefore, Russia was drawn first and will play against the winner of Slovakia - Belgium. The Croatia men's national handball team will thus play against the winner between Ukraine and Finland in the 2023 World Handball Championship qualifications, which is being played in Sweden and Poland next year. 

RUSSIA - WINNER SLOVAKIA / BELGIUM
WINNER UKRAINE / FINLAND - CROATIA
WINNER GREECE / BiH - MONTENEGRO
WINNER PORTUGAL / SWITZERLAND - NETHERLANDS
WINNER ITALY / SLOVENIA - SERBIA
GERMANY - WINNER OF THE PHARE ISLANDS / BELARUS
CZECH REPUBLIC - WINNER SJ. MACEDONIA / ROMANIA
WINNER AUSTRIA / ESTONIA - ICELAND
WINNER ISRAEL / LITHUANIA - HUNGARY

The Croatia handball team is participating in the second round of qualifications, played in two games between April 11 and 17 this year.  The return match is played in Croatia.

Six European national teams have already won their place at the World Championships. These are hosts Sweden and Poland, Denmark as world champions, and France, Spain, and Norway.

"We can be happy with the draw. Ukraine is a slight favorite in the match against Finland. We saw them at this European Championship. They showed several young, very talented players. They will certainly include three to four of the best who were not at the Euros. Most have experience playing in the Champions League. Finland is somehow the weakest of the Scandinavian countries, but it is certainly not to be underestimated. But if Croatia is right, and we have no reason to doubt it, we should move on without major problems. Especially before we play the return match at home," said coach Hrvoje Horvat. 

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

January the 30th, 2022 - An enormous EBRD Croatian investment took place last year, with the investment of a massive 176 million euros in various private sector projects which were primarily focused on supporting domestic companies affected by the global coronavirus pandemic.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, according to the final results, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) recorded its largest investment in Croatia in three years in 2021.

The total amount of EBRD Croatian investments to date stands at a huge 4.1 billion euros, and the current value of the portfolio is 850 million. During 2021, 200 million euros were withdrawn, which shows that EBRD funds are being used to provide active support to the Croatian economy.

"The EBRD is very active in Croatia, but the EBRD isn't only there to finance projects. Our team based in the City of Zagreb raised more than 100,000 euros for earthquake victims in Sisak-Moslavina County thanks to the initiative of its employees and the EBRD's Community Initiative programme,'' said Victoria Zinchuk, the EBRD Director for Croatia.

The funds raised will support the equipping of the Vrbina Sisak Children's Home, the construction of a new "Miracle Room" for children with special needs in the region, and the construction and renovation of several private homes for vulnerable families.

Renewable energy sources

The EBRD's focus throughout the year 2022 will be on developing and stimulating the renewable energy market. This approach is in line with the priorities of the Government of the Republic of Croatia, which recently introduced a new programme of support for investments in renewable energy sources, which is expected to attract new investments in the sector and contribute to achieving renewable energy goals, including objectives set out in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan.

It is crucial for Croatia to take the steps necessary to improve its overall electricity network in order to enable the best possible connection of renewable energy sources to the national network. In partnership with the Croatian Economic Renewable Energy Association (OIEH), the EBRD has developed an action plan identifying priority investments and activities to enable the smooth integration of renewable energy sources into the country's existing energy network.

The EBRD and OIEH have also developed a comprehensive guide for investors in the sector, which is available on the OIEH website. The study was financed by the Bank in the amount of 150,000 euros. The EBRD has also identified three renewable energy projects that it plans to finance soon, making it a leading investor in this particular sector.

Entrepreneurs and companies are also getting a look in

The EBRD's SME Business Advisory Programme has also had a very dynamic year.

With the support of the European Investment Advisory Hub and the EBRD's Small Business Impact Fund, more than 32 advisory projects were launched during the year. In addition to that, several training sessions were organised for female entrepreneurs, women on supervisory boards, small and medium enterprises in the tourism and hospitality sector which were negatively affected by the crisis caused by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, as well as a webinar for start-ups on "Sources of funding".

The European Commission (EC) has selected the EBRD as its partner who will work closely with the Ministry of Physical Planning, Construction and State Property to work closely on legal and regulatory reforms.

Back in 2021, the EBRD invested a total of 10.4 billion euros, the second best result in a row, and this bank's support remains an important factor in the recovery of new markets from North Africa to Central Asia.

For more on this EBRD Croatian investment and much more, check our our dedicated politics section.

January the 30th, 2022 - Zagreb's Pleso Airport police head is being investigated by USKOK (Croatian State Prosecutor's Office for the Suppression of Organised Crime and Corruption or Bureau for Combating Corruption and Organised Crime).

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, based on the criminal report released by the Zagreb Police, USKOK issued its decision to open an investigation against three Croatian citizens (born in 1982, 1965 and 1969) about whom there is reasonable suspicion of the commitment of the criminal offenses of the abuse of office, the incitement to commit abuse of office and trading in influence (influence peddling), according to a report from Dnevnik.hr.

There is a well-founded suspicion that the first defendant, in the period from April the 1st, 2021 to January the 27th, 2022 in Zagreb and Velika Gorica, as the head of the Pleso Airport Police Station, allegedly agreed for the second defendant to be allowed to pass through Zagreb International Airport's customs with goods without being checked.

Either personally or on his orders, through his subordinate police officers, without conducting any border and/or customs control, he allegedly made it possible for the individual in question to avoid the customs control of his luggage in which he carried clothes and footwear with non-original markings of various brands acquired while in Turkey, with the apparent intention to resell them on the black market here in Croatia. In this way, he also enabled him to avoid the collection of due customs duties/the confiscation of the goods.

The mayor parked free of charge

During the months of August and October 2021, the third accused person, the mayor of Ivanic Grad, allegedly abused his position in Velika Gorica and Ivanic Grad. He allegedly asked the head of the Pleso Airport Police Station to allow him to park the personal vehicle he was using without paying any fees, as well as to keep that vehicle at Pleso Airport Police Station's car park during his trip.

The mayor was aware that this car park was intended only for the official needs of the Pleso Airport Police Station. He succeeded in leaving his car there because his engagement was allegedly secured by subordinate police officers from the Chief of the Pleso Airport Police Station.

USKOK has proposed to the investigating judge of the Zagreb County Court to order the pre-trial detention of one of the defendants.

For more, check out our lifestyle section.

January the 30th, 2022 - A weaker Croatian national currency (kuna) during Croatian Eurozone accession could cause more issues than solve them.

As Poslovni Dnevnik/Ana Blaskovic writes, with Croatian Eurozone accession rapidly approaching, set to occur at the very beginning of 2023, one of the main issues will be the rate at which the kuna will be exchanged for the Eurozone's single currency. There isn't really much room for maneuver as the rules require targeting around a central parity of 7.5345.

For years, critics have been making negative remarks about the Croatian kuna for being too strong, arguing that it makes the currency uncompetitive when it comes to exports, and the idea of ​​depreciation was once supported by former president Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic.

The Croatian National Bank (CNB) once calculated that the depreciation of the kuna by ten percent would currently increase the debts felt by residents, companies and even by the state, whose contracts have a currency clause of 50 billion kuna. All of the aforementioned now comes a detailed review of the likely repercussions.

"The negative effect of kuna depreciation on the balance sheets of Croatian sectors outweighs the positive foreign trade effect of depreciation," concluded research author Ozana Nadoveza Jelic, an advisor at the Modeling Directorate, and Rafael Ravnik, an economic analyst from Macrode.

In their paper entitled "Dependent on the Euro: The Macroeconomic Effects of Exchange Rate Changes in Croatia", the duo concluded that in the medium term, net exports would benefit relatively slightly from the kuna's depreciation, but that all domestic sectors would end up paying a much higher price.

The change in the exchange rate of the kuna against the euro would be reflected through the trade channel, ie foreign trade, in which a short-term decline would occur first, followed by an increase in net exports.

The second effect is on the balance sheet of the sector of companies which, thanks to their open exchange rate position (where debt relief also depends on the exchange rate) are faced with an increased burden of loan repayment. Consequently, they'll reduce investment, which spills over to the rest of the economy, causing a reduction in capital accumulation in the medium and long term, and thus an effect on potential GDP.

At the same time, households will also be dealing with the burden of repayment, as well as having their financial wealth denominated in euros, and there will be a further reduction in real disposable income due to rising consumer basket prices.

The state doesn't go through quite the same effect thanks to the ability to borrow in foreign currency, but the repayment burden will grow for it as much as it will for regular citizens (as ultimately it is all the responsibility of taxpayers), and the higher debt burden will consequently raise the country’s whole risk premium.

In this vicious circle as Croatian Eurozone accession comes knocking, the next step would be the growth of all interest rates in the country, one of the factors of which is the riskiness of the state.

For more on Croatian Eurozone accession, check out our politics section.

January the 30th, 2022 - New Croatian coronavirus rules are set to come into force as of the 1st of February as things are altered to reflect what we know about the Omicron variant.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, after the meeting of the National Civil Protection Directorate with the representatives of the Dr. Andrija Stampar Public Health Institute, statements were given by Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic and the director of the Croatian Institute of Public Health, Krunoslav Capak on the new Croatian coronavirus rules.

“As of the 1st of February, we'll extend the decisions which are currently in force. The change that will happen as of that day concerns the regulation of border crossings. From February the 1st, covid certificates will be issued for those vaccinated with two doses for a period of 270 days, with nothing changing for those who need to take PCR tests - they are valid for 72 hours after testing. As far as rapid antigen tests are concerned, it will be possible to cross the Croatian border if it hasn't been more than 24 hours since the test was taken, and when it comes to recovery from the virus, covid certificates will be provided for a period of 180 days since recovery. As of February the 1st, Croatia, in cooperation with the Croatian Institute of Public Health, will issue EU digital covid certificates with these validity deadlines,'' explained Davor Bozinovic.

“There is also the national component of covid certification to think about, this refers to the need for the certificates to enter healthcare facilities, social welfare facilities, as well as state and public services. We aren't going to change anything there. Everyone who has previously been issued with certificates, when it comes to both recovering from the illness and vaccination against it, will be able to use until the date until which they were issued, which is a period of 365 days. We've asked for the recognition of rapid antigen test results for the EU digital covid-certificate, but this hasn't yet been decided at the EU level as we wanted it to be. However, an increasing number of countries are joining our initiative and we expect that decision to be made.

The second part of our meeting on new Croatian coronavirus rules was dedicated to the possibility of shortening the self-isolation period given the speed of spread of the new Omicron variant. The healthcare system, public activities, and other necessary functions are being burdened, but more about that will be explained to you by Krunoslav Capak,'' said Davor Bozinovic, adding that all decisions on new Croatian coronavirus rules will be officially announced on Monday.

Krunoslav Capak then said: ''Omicron causes a milder clinical picture, especially in vaccinated people, but it has also learned to bypass the system and it spreads more quickly than others variants. It's important to reduce isolation and quarantine periods, as its incubation period lasts slightly shorter than those of previous variants, the disease itself is shorter and the person is less contagious. That's why we're considering shortening the quarantine period. An ECDC document was released yesterday recommending that this possibility be considered.

This will be regulated by Croatian Institute of Public Health recommendations which will be adopted soon, but we're considering reducing the quarantine period for all those who are vaccinated down to seven days, as well as shortening the isolation period for patients with only mild or moderate clinical pictures down to five days, provided that they don't show any symptoms for 24 hours following their exit from self-isolation and as long as they return a negative result on a rapid antigen test. For other people, the rule remains the same as it was before.

"As for the booster vaccine, things still haven't yet been properly defined. We provide 365 day covid certificates to people after they receive their third dose because there's still no scientific evidence to suggest how long this booster remains effective. Entry into Croatia, but also into other EU member states using EU digital covid certificates will be possible only on the basis of these new rules, which will be made valid from the 1st of February. We aren't just changing the part for their use within Croatia. If you travel to or from Croatia, then these new rules apply to you,'' added Bozinovic.

Asked whether complete abolition of covid certificates is being considered at all, Bozinovic said: "Their main purpose of them is to slow down the spread of the disease. It is almost impossible to stop this variant from spreading, but with these Croatian covid rules, wearing masks, which we're now emphasising, we can slow it down, and that is the most important thing. The abolition of covid certificates in the EU is not something on the table,'' he said.

For all you need to know about coronavirus specific to Croatia, make sure to bookmark our dedicated section and select your preferred language if it isn't English.

ZAGREB, 29 Jan 2022 - President Zoran Milanović's statements about Croatian troops' deployment on the eastern borders of the EU are nonsense that causes great harm to Croatia, European Parliament member Tomislav Sokol of the ruling HDZ party said on Saturday, presenting his party's view.

Asked by reporters if Croatian troops would be deployed on the EU's eastern borders, Sokol said that that was a falsehood made up by Milanović.

"It is being alleged that Croatian soldiers will get killed for somebody. What (Milanović) is saying is a complete fabrication. Such statements cause serious harm to Croatia," Sokol said after a convention of the HDZ women's association "Katarina Zrinski".

Sokol said that Croatia supported de-escalation of the Ukraine crisis and that deployment of Croatian troops had never been mentioned.

Earlier this week, Milanović said that Croatia had nothing to do with the conflict in Ukraine and that if the crisis there escalated, there would be no Croatian soldiers in that scenario.

"Croatia has always been in favour of respect for Ukraine's territorial integrity and for a solution to be found peacefully. This is just one more way to attack the government and harm Croatia's international reputation," said Sokol.

Commenting on Milanović's remark that Plenković was acting like a Ukrainian agent, HDZ MP Mario Kapulica said that he was wondering whose agent Milanović was.

Milanović said in an interview with the RTL broadcaster on Friday that he was neither an enemy of Ukraine nor a friend of Russia, but that EU reports showed that the former Soviet republic was a corrupt country, noting that PM Andrej Plenković was acting like a "Ukrainian agent".

Kapulica said that Milanović could not define Croatia's foreign policy on his own and that the period of adaptation to his style of communication was over.

"This current situation is much more serious and much more dangerous... he wants to make Croatia's position as one having nothing to do with either Europe's or NATO's," Kapulica said.

For more, check out our politics section.