ZAGREB, June 25, 2020 - Tourism Minister Gari Cappelli said on Thursday that currently, 246,000 tourists were vacationing in Croatia.

"Their number is rising by 20,000 to 30,000 on a daily basis," Cappelli said at a government session, adding that this was a sign that Croatia "is a safe and recognisable tourist destination."

Cappelli made the statement as part of a discussion on the adoption of a regulation on amendments to the Islands Act, which increases the annual, subsidised quantity of water for human consumption for residents of islands.

The government today also reduced, by 50%, water supply taxes which investors pay when building a new building, or legalising an existing one.

Environment and Energy Minister Tomislav Coric said that the reduction was in line with the action plan for the reduction of non-tax and parafiscal levies for 2020, adopted by the government in May.

The reduction of water supply taxes, which represent the revenue of the Croatian Waters water management company, refers to all categories of users.

ZAGREB, June 25, 2020 - The Croatian government on Thursday announced the possibility of introducing shorter working hours as a new measure designed to help save jobs, to be introduced in the second half of the year for businesses with more than ten employees.

Labour and Pension System Minister Josip Aladrovic said that the government was working on defining, in cooperation with trade unions and employers, criteria for job keeping aid to be granted as part of a scheme envisaging shorter working hours.

The measure would be in force from June 1 to December 31.

Under the measure, employers who need to introduce shorter working hours due to a decline in business activities would be entitled to aid for the payment of a part of their workers' wages.

The measure is intended for all sectors and for all businesses with more than 10 employees.

It will be financed by an EU programme.

The measure is expected to cost slightly less than three billion kunas by the end of the year, said Aladrovic.

June 25, 2020 - Tournament director Goran Ivanisevic hits back at critics of Novak Djokovic after the coronavirus outbreak at the Adria Tour in Zadar.

The final of the Adria Tour in Zadar was canceled when it was learned that Bulgarian player Grigor Dimitrov tested positive for the coronavirus. Panic ensued, and the tournament could not go on. Everyone who was there was asked to be tested.

Among those infected now are Croatian tennis player Borna Coric, as well as the Adria Tour tournament organizer and number one player in the world, Novak Djokovic, and his wife.

While some consider the main culprit Dimitrov, who kept silent that he wasn't feeling well and did not want to be tested, many are pointing the finger of guilt at Djokovic, who has been the target of severe attacks in recent days. Goran Ivanisevic, who was one of the directors of the tournament, also spoke out, and in conversation with Sportske Novosti, said that he was outraged by the number of attacks on Djokovic, as reported by T.portal.

"It is easy to be a general after a battle. Now everyone is very smart. A lot of them attack Novak, it’s very popular, as if they could hardly wait for his wrong move. He tried to do something big that had a humanitarian character after we were all imprisoned for three months," said Ivanisevic.

The legendary Croatian tennis player admits that the party in Belgrade was excessive and that they were carried away by the atmosphere. The parties were considered the source of the focus in Zadar, but Goran disagrees. 

"I can accept that we didn’t need it, but all the players are there for themselves. No one forced anyone to come to that club, no one was forced to dance or take off their T-shirts," says Ivanisevic and adds: "Again, how can anyone say that the infection started from there? Marco Panichi, Novak’s fitness trainer, wasn’t even at the party. I was with him in Belgrade every day for almost two weeks, and he tested positive, while I tested negative twice. Can anyone explain that to me? Or that Miljan Amanovic, Novak's physiotherapist, treated Grigor Dimitrov's elbow in Zadar, more than once, and his test was negative?"

Ivanisevic also revealed why Zadar is the main topic, and there are fewer cases of infection there than in other places.

"Zadar is 'attractive' because the most famous ones tested positive there, so now everyone would like to score some points. That's how it goes, and it doesn't matter that there are fewer people infected than in some other cities in Croatia," says Ivanisevic.

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

ZAGREB, June 25, 2020 - Construction and Physical Planning Minister Predrag Stromar said in Varazdin on Thursday that the provision of HRK 203 million for the energy renovation of family houses was one of the most important projects concerning housing and citizens' quality of life.

"We have renovated many hospitals, kindergartens, schools and other public buildings and in addition to the socially-subsidised housing construction and housing loans, this is one of the most important projects concerning housing and citizens' quality of life," said Stromar after the continuation of the energy renovation of family houses was announced.

Stromar recalled that the last time applications for grants from the Environment and Energy Efficiency Fund were invited for energy renovation was in 2015.

"We have secured HRK 203 million for our citizens to renovate their houses in such a way to consume much less energy and emit much less CO2 into the air," Stromar said, noting that applications for grants would be received by September 1.

ZAGREB, June 25, 2020 - Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said at a government session on Thursday that the government's measures designed to help businesses hit by the coronavirus crisis had helped save 600,000 jobs and 103,000 businesses.

Plenkovic recalled that the measures included payments to employers for workers' wages, the write-off of direct taxes and contributions and the procurement of medical equipment for the health system.

Plenkovic said the government had ensured the necessary aid also owing to Croatia's reputation on international financial markets.

"We have secured financing and liquidity, payment of wages and pensions and the normal functioning of the state," he said.

He said that aid worth a total of HRK5.3 billion had been secured for employers in March, April and June, with employers in Zagreb alone receiving HRK 1.6 billion in government aid.

He noted that data from the Croatian Employment Service showed that in terms of employment, Croatia was at the pre-crisis level and that there were 17,500 more unemployed persons because they had not been hired for seasonal jobs.

He said the government would help the business sector also by shortening working hours, which would help them retain workers.

In the EU's next seven-year budget Croatia will have €22 billion at its disposal as well as more than ten million euros from the EU's programme for economic recovery, of which two-thirds are grants, said the PM.

ZAGREB, June 25, 2020 - Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic on Thursday issued a message on the occasion of Independence Day, a memorial day marking the historic decision of the Croatian parliament for Croatia to separate from other Yugoslav republics.

"This year we observe Independence Day as a memorial day commemorating the Croatian parliament's historic decision, the adoption of the constitutional decision on Croatia's sovereignty and independence, and the declaration on Croatia's sovereignty and independence, which confirmed the will of the Croatian people to establish an independent state," Plenkovic said in his message.

Recalling the Great Serbian aggression that stood in the way of the country's independence and international recognition and Croatian people's sacrifice for its freedom and independence, Plenkovic expressed gratitude to all Croatian defenders and their families, noting that Croatia today was a society based on patriotism and universal values of freedom, democracy, solidarity, rule of law and social equity.

Noting that Croatia was successfully completing its EU presidency, Plenkovic said that the country had dealt, in the best way possible, with a number of extraordinary situations during its presidency, mentioning in that context the coronavirus pandemic.

He recalled that his government had introduced economic measures to support the private sector and help save more than half a million jobs and 100,000 businesses.

Plenkovic said the government would continue adopting measures to protect the lives and health of all citizens, ensure the country's economic recovery, and continue implementing the necessary reforms to improve citizens' living standards.

June 25, 2020 - The Croatian general election is 10 days away. Leading political commentator Ankica Mamic offers her thoughts in this pre-election preview.   

Official election campaigns for parliamentary elections in Croatia have begun. Though it seemed that the election would be held in a corona-free atmosphere, that unfortunately will not be the case. The coronavirus is again among us. At the moment, the numbers are not alarming nor worrying, but the fact is that certain events have favoured its spreading, such as the Adria Tour tennis event in Zadar where numerous organisational mistakes occurred. This is damaging for the current government, specifically Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, given that the event was organised with the endorsement of the Croatian Government, and has given the opposition the opportunity to take advantage of the situation in the election campaign.

Parliamentary elections will be held on July 5, 2020, with about 3.7 million voters in Croatia and from the Croatian diaspora having the right to vote. Croatia is divided into 10 constituencies each with 14 representatives elected to Croatian Parliament. In the 11th constituency, 3 representatives are elected by citizens who do not have permanent residency in the Republic of Croatia, whereas the 12th constituency, covering the entire territory of Croatia, is marked for the local national minorities in Croatia who will elect their 8 representatives. In all, 151 representatives are elected to Parliament, meaning that a parliamentary majority comprises 76 representatives.

The two leading and largest parties that have positioned themselves on the left and right electoral spectrum in Croatia are the RESTART coalition incorporating the centre left parties (SDP - Social Democratic Party, HSS, HSU, SNAGA, GLAS, IDS PGS and independent candidate Matija Posavec, whereas the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) is the centre-right party and currently the leading and governing party in Croatia. However, a survey of public opinion indicates that neither of these political options will be able to form a government after the elections without the support of smaller parties and other coalitions who have positioned themselves to the left, right or in the centre. This is primarily the Miroslav Škoro Domovinski pokret (Homeland Movement) as a right political option, which has currently established itself as the third political force in Croatia. The party MOST nezavisnih lista (Bridge of Independent Lists) has also positioned itself to the centre right. Among the left aligned parties is the political platform Možemo (We Can), gathered around active opponents of Milan Bandić in the city of Zagreb, whereas the centre-aligned parties include Hrvatska narodna stranka (Croatian People's Party – Liberal Democrats), Koalicija centra (Centre Coalition), Demokrati i laburisti (Democrats and Labourists) and also the Reformisti (Reformists).

If we consider that a reallocation of parliamentary seats within the Restart coalition formed by SDP results in 8 seats going to SDP’s partners (HSS 3, HSU 2, GLAS 1, PGS 1 and Matija Posavec 1), the presumption is that HDZ will be the strongest single party at the coming elections. However, it becomes clear that the Restart coalition is prepared to fight for every parliamentary seat. The campaign is now in full swing, with candidates touring Croatia and presenting their programs to the electorate. The resurgence of the coronavirus is assisting the Restart coalition. However, the situation highlights the leading people of the National Civil Protection Headquarters, i.e., Minister Beroš as an HDZ candidate in the 10th constituency and Minister Božinović as a candidate in the 6th constituency. Though HDZ’s slogan of a safe Croatia is somewhat comprised now, unless the opposition adequately responds in communicating that in the campaign, the current situation will cause not greater damage on HDZ.

The Miroslav Škoro Homeland Movement is heading off to the elections with quite an extensive list of people whom the public knows little or almost nothing about, or who come from an altogether different world, mostly from show business. It remains to be seen whether the list of candidates in the Homeland Movement will remain cohesive or disperse, which is what happened to Most after winning a total of 19 parliamentary seats in the 2015 elections. Concerning any possibility of forming a coalition, the pool of candidates gathered around Miroslav Škoro certainly presents a greater potential for a reaching post-election agreement with HDZ.

Most, which also lies on the spectrum of the conservative right, has an active and quite visible campaign with well-articulated messages and new political personalities who are well known to the public. However, their problem is that they are not a preferred coalition partner neither for HDZ with which they share similar ideologies, due to a failed political relationship from the past and the demise of the then coalition, nor are they suitable for the Social Democratic Party of Croatia (SPD), i.e., the Restart coalition, given that Most is too far to the right.

The latest survey of public opinion across constituencies in Croatia predicts 64 parliamentary seats going to the Restart coalition, 52 to HDZ, 15 to the Homeland Movement, 8 to Most and 1 to HNS. However, in some of the constituencies, some parties are hovering around the election threshold, and possibly leading to different outcomes. For instance, in the 3rd constituency, where the Reformist Radimir Čačić, the current mayor of Varaždin County, also has a big chance of winning a seat. An uncertain and interesting battle will take place in the 6th and 7th constituencies which include parts of the city of Zagreb and surrounding region. A united left in Zagreb, having branded itself through its opposition activities in Zagreb City Assembly, might result in a surprise in Zagreb due to the large number of voters there and the fact that the united left has been an active opposition to the Mayor of Zagreb, Milan Bandić. Therefore, I think that this left option might win a lot of left-leaning voters in Zagreb.

Tracking what the 8 minority representatives decide will be interesting, on account of their animosity towards Miroslav Škoro and the Homeland Movement. However, power is the best cohesive force and after the elections, various political combinations are possible, meaning that a large coalition might still be a possibility. Understandably, no political option wants to talk about that possibility at the moment, because such an outcome is certainly not appealing to each of their voters who form opposing camps.

So, we need to wait until 5 July, and after that, anything is possible!

You can connect with Ankica Mamic via LinkedIn.

For more election coverage, follow the TCN politics section. 

June 25, 2020 - There are currently 246,000 tourists in Croatia, Tourism Minister Gari Cappelli reported on Thursday.

"There are currently 246,000 tourists in Croatia, and the number is growing by 20,000 to 30,000 a day," Cappelli said at a government session, as reported by Glas Istre.

He added that this is a sign that Croatia is a "safe and recognizable" tourist country.

Cappelli presented these data as part of the discussion on the adoption of the Decree amending the Law on Islands, which increases the amount of healthy water for human consumption at a subsidized price from 45 to 85 cubic meters per year per islander.

Novi List reported yesterday that the new border rules would slightly tighten controls on entry into Croatia from Serbia and BiH, where the epidemiological picture has been disturbed, while the rule for 10 European countries agreed before remains the same, Tourism Minister Gari Cappelli said during a visit to Crikvenica and a tour of Crikvenica's tourism company Jadran d.d. Crikvenica.

When asked by journalists whether there were cancellations of accommodation in Croatia due to the coronavirus outbreak at the Adria Tour in Zadar, he answered that there were no cancellations, but that there was a little more pressure on questions asked by the media from nearby countries such as Slovenia and Austria.

"The fact is that there is a delay in order to see in a day or two whether something special will change, so far, there are no major connotations and I think that the new climate that has been created could be stopped in a few days.

We have to be ready for such events, either here or on the islands, these situations will be and from the first day, I say that we just have to be well prepared and have quality protocols to know who is doing what at what time. This goes for hotels, camps; everyone has their rules of conduct and what to do in case of infection to make tourists feel safe as if they were in their own country.

For these 10 EU member states, a health care system has been developed for who pays whom," Cappelli said.

Austria and Slovenia have threatened to introduce self-isolation for their citizens when they return from Croatia, journalists reminded him.

"No, today I spoke to my colleagues from Great Britain where we will define the entry of British tourists into the Croatian market so if they still insist on entering, there is no reason not to trust our first neighbors with whom we have very good relations.

A Slovenian government spokesman said Slovenian citizens would not have any restrictions when they returned from Croatia. I visited a hotel in Opatija this morning, it is practically full, there are no free rooms and 99 percent of foreign tourists are in it.

From what I heard in conversations with people from agencies and tour operators, there are no cancellations of arrivals, only now everything is a bit slow. Not that tourists do not want to come, but they want more information and they want to wait a day or two to see if the epidemiological situation in Croatia may worsen," Cappelli said, adding that there are still no canceled flights.

As many as 66 foreign flights will be launched in a few days and 11 Croatia Airlines flights; with Frankfurt alone, we will have 32 lines a week and in this way, we prove that we can connect with the whole world via Frankfurt.

Today, Great Britain is still being specified, so the British should start arriving soon. Jet2.com insists on that and has quite good bookings, especially for Split and Dubrovnik, and I believe that we will achieve good results there," said the Minister, and when asked by journalists how risky it is, considering that Great Britain currently has the most severe epidemiological corona situation in Europe with 2,000 to 2,300 patients a day, the minister said the control rules would apply as everywhere else.

"If our competition opens for Britain - Spain, Italy, Portugal and France, I think it would not be a good message to be the only one to close the door to them, because the British market is very important to Croatia, but with additional quality epidemiological measures that will certainly be in airports. 

After we agree with the British Ministries of Tourism and Foreign Affairs and get the green light to fly to Croatia, then we will further analyze the epidemiological situation. I call on all of us in Croatia to act a little more responsibly, we relaxed, and the recommendations are still valid," said Minister Cappelli.

He pointed out that airlines are crucial for Croatian tourism because Split-Dalmatia County and Dubrovnik are practically dependent on airlines.

"In Split-Dalmatia County and Dubrovnik, America and Britain are the strongest markets, only then do the Germans and everyone else come. The return of tourists from these markets will automatically revive Split-Dalmatia County and Dubrovnik, which is why these flights are important to us.

There is also Zadar for which Ryanair is running 40 percent of its activities compared to last year, and they are opening these permanent lines, to begin with. The fact that we are opening about 90 airlines next week is really good in these circumstances," Cappelli said.

Also, the Minister announced that CRO cards will start on July 1 and that they will already be assigned to some companies.

"The cards have been printed, the first two banks have signed, and later we will contract with other banks, we have talked to eight other banks and they are ready to cooperate. We will discuss giving the cards additional benefits in the future.

In fact, they are now not only valid for catering facilities, hotels and camps, but we have expanded their use to nautical and family accommodation. Due to the situation in the country caused by the coronavirus, we expect a decline in interest in the CRO card this year, according to a survey we conducted earlier this year, there were more than 63 interested in using the card, and now that number will drop dramatically to ten percent," concluded Minister Cappelli.

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