British Airways London Gatwick-Dubrovnik Flight to Resume Next April
December 15, 2021 - The latest flight news to Croatia as the British Airways London Gatwick-Dubrovnik flight will resume next year, namely in April with a daily service from May! We also have the latest on Dubrovnik-based Croatian start-up Pragusa.One.
British national airline British Airways has announced it would resume the scheduled flight between Dubrovnik and London Gatwick Airport, bringing two flights to Dubrovnik next summer from London, from two different airports, reports Croatian Aviation.
The London Heathrow-Dubrovnik line was in traffic last summer season, while this airline previously operated to Dubrovnik from Gatwick Airport. Following the pandemic, British Airways relocated all operations to Heathrow to reduce its operating costs, and with the gradual recovery of traffic, the line from Gatwick Airport will run again.
From Monday, April 4, British Airways will connect Dubrovnik and London Gatwick once a week, on Mondays, from April 20 three times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, and from May 2 every day!
In addition, the airline will keep operations from Heathrow Airport, so Dubrovnik will have two regular routes to London on this British airline.
The lines between London and Dubrovnik are very well filled in the summer flight schedule, which is not surprising considering that Dubrovnik is the most frequent destination for British tourists in Croatia. British Airways currently operates between London and Zagreb, and in the summer flight schedule additionally to Pula, Split, and Dubrovnik.
In other Dubrovnik flight news, Ex Yu Aviation reports that Croatian start-up Pragusa.One will finally launch flights from Dubrovnik in the fourth quarter of 22022. The airline was meant to launch flights already in the 2021 summer. Airbus A330 and A350 aircraft from Dubrovnik and Prague will be used on long-haul flights to North America and Asia.
For more on flights to Croatia and other travel announcements, make sure to check out our dedicated travel section.
Croatian Burger Chain Submarine Expanding into Europe!
December 15, 2021 - The success of the Croatian burger chain Submarine should not be doubted, which is why we are not surprised about their latest news - a European expansion.
In the spring of this year, Financial Times included Submarine in the list of 1000 fastest-growing companies in Europe and thus positioned themselves as the only non-tech company from Southeast Europe recognized by Financial Times. This special recognition was undoubtedly a driving force to continue to expand their business, reports HRTurizam.
This Croatian chain of burgers, currently in Zagreb, Rijeka, Split, and Zadar, already has an impressive 13 locations. Now, the beloved burger spot will think outside the Croatian market and beyond our borders - this time, going into Europe.
Thus, Submarine has just opened its first branch office in the Romanian capital, announcing a significant expansion planned for 2022, both in Romania and other European countries, and a major expansion in Croatia.
The first branch in Romania was opened on the principle of dark kitchens, i.e., a model of a virtual restaurant from which you can order through delivery services. The pandemic has introduced new habits and ways of consuming food, so the concepts of dark kitchens are becoming increasingly popular globally.
Further expansion in Romania, but also markets across Europe, is planned through physical restaurants because Submarine is known for its top and world-renowned burgers and unique interiors that always exude a great atmosphere.
"We are very pleased that, after this year's boost by Financial Times, we have begun to expand to foreign markets. Romania is our first market, and in 2022 we plan to open several more branches in Romania, and at the same time, continue to expand to other markets in Europe. We have an exceptional job ahead of us, but it is also a great challenge to keep the quality of food and brand in markets that we still do not know enough about," said Dragoljub Božović, founder and CEO of Submarine.
"This expansion only shows our readiness to grow as a company and develop in line with our expectations," says Aleksandar Lazinica, founder and co-owner of Submarine, adding that their seven years of experience in the Croatian market have taught them how to position themselves in the markets they plan to conquer. "I am glad that we have become the first Croatian company in the hospitality and food sector to expand into the European market and that all our branches are not franchises but remain in our ownership. You can expect a lot more from Submarine, we have a lot more to do, and more will be heard about us. Our goal is that in every major European city, you can eat a Submarine burger when you leave," adds Aleksandar Lazinica.
Submarine is also active through their socially responsible program (CSR) and especially the cooperation with the Red Noses Clown Doctors Association; they have their online radio - Submarine live, and for their 7th birthday, they presented the first burger beer in Croatia, created in collaboration with The Garden Brewery.
As already mentioned, Submarine is the only Croatian burger brand included in the list of the 50 best burgers in the world and the only Croatian non-technological company to be on this year's list of the 1000 fastest growing companies published by the Financial Times.
Submarine Burgers also cooperates with local family farms in Croatia, and their burgers are 100% domestic.
For more on lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.
Petra Marčinko Ends 2021 as World #1 Junior Tennis Player!
December 15, 2021 - Young Croatian tennis player Petra Marčinko is the #1 junior tennis player in the world!
When it seemed that this tennis year could not be better for Croatia after numerous doubles titles and becoming Davis Cup finalists, 16-year-old Petra Marčinko reached new heights, reports HRT.
Namely, Petra became the first player in history to win the most prestigious junior tournament - Orange Bowl - in both singles and doubles competitions and ends the year as the best junior in the world!
Marčinko defeated the seventh junior in the world, Russian Diana Schneider, in the final of the Orange Bowl in three sets (3:6, 6:1, 6:3). In the doubles final, Petra reached her second title with Schneider, celebrating 7:6, 6:0 against the Czech team Brenda and Linda Fruhvirotva.
After a phenomenal success at the Orange Bowl, the world's largest junior tournament, the 16-year-old from Zagreb jumped nine places in the new ITF ranking of the world's best juniors and took first place.
Petra was born on the day Croatia won the Davis Cup in 2005 and won her first international tournament on the same day Croatia lifted the second Davis Cup 2018. Some may see this symbolism as a good sign for Petra's future, but Petra has already proven that the Orange Bowl and the first place in the junior rankings are not a coincidence.
"Winning such an important tournament and being the first in the world means a lot. The biggest success in my career so far," says Petra, adding that she did not expect it.
"My goal was to be in the Top 10," she added.
Her Orange Bowl success was something no one in the 75-year-old tradition of the competition has succeeded. The only other Croatian to win this tournament was Ana Konjuh in 2012.
"Ana is one of my role models. I hear stories about her, and it's always been a part of my career," says Petra, who has already been named the best tennis player in Europe under 14, and behind her is an excellent season in which she celebrated at the recent tournament in Cape Town.
"The whole season mainly was pretty good. I started with South America; I won one of a few tournaments and played Grand Slams, which was a good experience. There was also the quarterfinal at the US Open; it is my best result at the Grand Slams, and now I recently won that Grade A. All together very well," says Petra.
And how did it all start?
"I started playing tennis at the age of six. Dad took me to train. It was the first sport I ever tried, and I didn't even try anything else," said Petra.
"In about five years, I want to be on the WTA tour. I want to win the Grand Slam; that’s my goal. I think that's the most you can do in tennis," she concluded.
To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page.
ZSE Indices Slightly Up, Liquidity Down
ZAGREB, 14 Dec 2021 - The Zagreb Stock Exchange (ZSE) on Tuesday went up slightly amid lower liquidity, with four stocks generating a turnover of more than one million kunas each.
The Crobex went up by 0.25% to 2,021.15 points while the Crobex10 rose by 0.41% to 1,237.02 points.
Regular trading amounted to HRK 8.6 million, 2.9 million less than on Monday.
The stock of the HT telecommunications company turned over HRK 1.77 million, with its price going up 0.27% to HRK 183.50.
The Podravka food company stock generated a turnover of HRK 1.55 million, with its price going up by 0.64% to HRK 632.
The Atlantic Group turned over HRK 1.42 million and its price rose by 1.23% to HRK 1,650.
The stock of the Span IT consultancy group turned over HRK 1.04 million, its price going up by 0.42% to HRK 237.
Thirty-five stocks traded today, with 13 gainings and 11 losing in price, while 11 were stable.
(€1 = HRK 7.520254)
For more, make sure to check out our dedicated business section.
HNB: Perceived Inflation Rate Exceeds 24%
ZAGREB, 14 Dec 2021 - In the past few months inflation perception has grown strongly and the perceived inflation rate now exceeds 24%, which is much higher than the realized consumer inflation rate of 3.8% in October, the central bank (HNB) has said.
Based on data from a survey on consumer confidence, Lucija Fioretti, Karlo Kotarac, and Davor Kunac of the Croatian National Bank's (HNB) research department have analyzed changes in inflation perceptions in Croatia as well as the reasons for the recent divergence between inflation perceptions and the realized consumer inflation rate.
Since an unusually great divergence between inflation perceptions and the realized inflation rate may signal problems regarding the credibility of and confidence in official price statistics, the authors of the analysis have also compared the retail prices of a number of products published by the Croatian Bureau of Statistics (DZS) with microdata on retail prices in the main retail chains in the country.
The HNB says that the analysis indicates a high level of conformity between individual components of consumer inflation as calculated by the DZS and microdata on the prices of individual products available to the HNB.
The analysis notes that inflation perception, that is, the subjective consumer assessment of price growth is exceptionally important to monetary policymakers because it is closely related to the formation of expectations regarding future inflation, which, ultimately, are an important determinant of the future realized inflation.
In the past few months, inflation perception has grown strongly and now exceeds 24%, which is much higher than the realized inflation rate, which stood at 3.8% in October, the HNB analysts say.
They note that the average perceived inflation has been growing unusually fast in relation to the realized inflation and that one should look at the movement of prices of certain products as the reason for the increased inflation perception.
They note that there is a strong asymmetry in the recent increase in consumer prices, with the prices of some crucial food products such as cooking oil, milk and dairy products, bread, potato and petrol having gone up unusually strongly. All of those products belong in the categories that affect perceived inflation the most.
The analysts stress, however, that despite the strong rise in the prices of some basic consumer basket products, the price increase is not widespread for the time being.
For more, check out our dedicated politics section.
Opposition MP: Court to Be Asked to Test Constitutionality of COVID Certificates
ZAGREB, 14 Dec 2021 - Sandra Benčić of the Green-Left Bloc (ZLB) on Tuesday said that they had collected 34 lawmakers' signatures to file an appeal to the Constitutional Court to test the constitutionality of COVID-certificates.
"As we announced before, we are sending the request to the Constitutional Court to assess the constitutionality of the decision on COVID certificates, not because of its contents, or COVID certificates as such, but rather the way the decision was made," Benčić said in Parliament House.
She believes that all decisions that restrict human rights during the pandemic, which is deemed to be an emergency situation, have to be adopted by a two-thirds majority in the national parliament and in accordance with Article 17 of the Constitution.
"Had we acted in that way from the start, we would have succeeded in creating a better way to strengthen social cohesion concerning vaccination," said Bančić and added that the Constitutional Court is expected to be a guardian of the Constitution.
A constitutional request requires the signatures of one-fifth of lawmakers. ZLB has collected 34 signatures from the SDP, Social Democrats, IDS, Centre, and GLAS parties as well as the HSS and RF, said Benčić.
She announced that they are prepared to request a test of the constitutionality of the procedure to adopt amendments to the Law on the Protection of the Population against Infectious Diseases which regulates penalties of up to HRK 50,000 for breaches of COVID certificates which will be put to the vote in the Sabor on Wednesday.
"We want penalties related to COVID certificates to be decided by a two-thirds majority and if that won't pass easily we are prepared to request a test on its constitutionality because the bill will not have been accepted with the necessary majority," she said.
For more, check out our dedicated politics section.
Plenković: 2022 Essential Because of Accession to Schengen and Euro Area
ZAGREB, 14 Dec 2021 - Next year is very important because we expect a final decision on Croatia's accession to the Schengen and euro areas, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said on Tuesday, recalling that Croatia has access to about €25 billion from European sources for this decade.
Addressing a launch conference for the Croatian-language special annual edition of the global magazine The Economist, Plenković said that Croatia has about €25 billion at its disposal for this decade, including regular funds from the seven-year European budget, funds from the NextGenerationEU, and about one billion euro for reconstruction following last year's devastating earthquakes.
"That is more than we have ever had....and these are mostly grants," he underscored.
This year's conference dealt with the transformation of the Croatian economy through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NPOO) 2021-2026 as the basis for the absorption of funds from the NextGenerationEU mechanism, under which Croatia has access to €6.3 billion in grants and another €3.6 billion in favorable loans.
The NPOO has been approved by the European Commission and Council, Croatia has already received an advance payment of HRK 6.14 billion, and in the first half of 2022 it will receive a new tranche, Plenković said, adding that there are some EU countries that have not yet even delivered their national plans.
The NPOO is the reform basis and financing basis for economic growth and is forecast to increase Croatia's GDP in 2022 and 2023 by 1.4 percentage points.
Economy proved to be exceptionally tough
Plenković said that the national economy showed exceptional strength, agility, and resilience, particularly since the tourism season was beyond all expectations. He also mentioned growth in personal consumption and economic growth which is expected to exceed nine percent, which is more than the eight percent drop in GDP last year.
The most important thing is that Croatia has maintained its image among international organizations, financial institutions, markets, and credit rating agencies, he noted.
"Anyone who is following us sees our credibility and the direction of our actions," said Plenković and highlighted that the direction is based on a speedy return on the path to decreasing public debt and a balanced budget, which cannot be expected this year or next.
He recalled that the Fitch agency has upgraded Croatia's credit rating to its highest level since rating agencies have appraised Croatia.
"This is the framework with which Croatia is entering 2022, which should be very significant institutionally because we expect a final decision on accession to the Schengen and euro areas," said Plenković.
He emphasized the importance of political stability, noting that the period from 2021 to 2028 will have just one intensive period of about 12 months of electioneering.
Government faced unbelievable challenges last year
Speaking of last year, Plenković said that all governments faced an unbelievable challenge as a consequence of coronavirus and had to find solutions to enable normal functioning and economic trends.
That led to a decline in all trends and weaker economic activities, but the government managed to overcome that and it does not regret the expenditure due to the coronavirus crisis which has exceeded HRK 40 billion.
"We have no regrets because we did not see any mass layoffs or bankruptcies," the PM underscored, recalling government support for wages in the private sector among other measures.
Challenges of climate change and demographic revitalization
Globally, the pandemic is still continuing and no one can know when it will end and what new variants we will meet, or what measures we will have to take. However, we will do everything we can to protect the health of citizens while ensuring economic, financial, and social flows, he said.
Everyone has had to learn how to balance - governments, companies, educational institutions, and international institutions, he said.
In the global context, Plenković reflected on relations between the USA and China, the need to strengthen the EU's strategic autonomy in all possible aspects, relations with Russia in the context of Europe's stability, and the issues of migration, climate change, and demographic revitalization.
Polarisation in society during the coronavirus crisis
Plenković said that the coronavirus crisis has led to an exceptional polarisation in the social and political environment, both in Croatia and in the world.
He highlighted the impact of the Internet, social networks, and false information that deceives people, which is why they do not trust institutions, public health, and science.
The latest edition of The Economist was presented by Ivan Vrdoljak from the Livit company. The edition is published in Croatian and provides analyses and forecasts for next year.
Vrdoljak said that The Economist was wrong in its projection of Croatian growth for this year due to unexpectedly fast recovery.
The Economist has forecast growth of 4.7% whereas the government expects growth of about 9%. The Economist projected next year's Croatian GDP growth at 4.1% and inflation at 1.7%, added Vrdoljak.
For more, check out our dedicated politics section.
Closing Conference Held for Project Aimed at Improving Quality of Higher Education
ZAGREB, 14 Dec 2021 - The Agency for Science and Higher Education on Tuesday held a closing conference for a project aimed at improving the quality of higher education, describing the project as an important step in developing the Croatian higher education system.
The value of the project, launched in 2016, was HRK 20 million, of which 85 percent was provided by the European Social Fund.
Project manager Ivan Bišćan said that 54 procedures for the re-accreditation of higher education institutions and 114 procedures for the re-accreditation of postgraduate university programs had been carried out in the four years.
The Agency has also held over 100 workshops, seminars, and conferences for representatives of higher education institutions and students, which were attended by over 2,000 staff from higher education institutions.
Six surveys have been carried out covering the employability of graduates, student experience, aspirations of secondary school students to continue education, needs for information about higher education, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on classes, students, and teachers.
The Agency's director, Jasmina Havranek, expressed satisfaction with what has been done, saying that the project helped develop new and improve existing procedures for the external evaluation of Croatian higher education institutions and programs, improved the programs of study, and increased the competence of teachers.
For more, check out our dedicated politics section.
Croatia Logs 3,071 New Coronavirus Cases, 56 Deaths
ZAGREB, 14 Dec 2021 - Croatia has registered 3,071 new coronavirus cases and 56 COVID-related deaths in the last 24 hours, the national coronavirus response team said on Tuesday.
Currently, there are 21,396 active cases in the country. Among them are 2,253 infected persons receiving hospital treatment, 315 of whom are on ventilators, and 18,937 people are self-isolating.
Compared with last Tuesday, the number of new cases decreased by 191 and the number of deaths fell by four cases.
To date, 657,726 people have been registered as having contracted the SARS CoV-2 virus, of whom 11,722 have died and 624,608 have recovered, including 3,200 in the last 24 hours.
As of Monday, 4,406,837 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered, with 54.94 percent of the total population, or 65.51 percent of the adult population, having been vaccinated. A total of 2,229,626 people have received at least one dose and 2,046,615 have been fully vaccinated, which is 60.33 percent of the adult population.
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.
Aladrović: Job Keeping Measure to Remain in Place Until Year's End
ZAGREB, 14 Dec 2021 - Labour Minister Josip Aladrović said on Tuesday that the job keeping measure was intended to remain in place until the end of the year in sectors where it was necessary and that Croatia was now moving to the job creation stage, for which more than a billion kuna has been set aside.
"We have secured some funding for the shortened working hours measure and for the job keeping measure. We hope and expect that these measures will not be intense next year because we are moving to the job creation stage, for which we have secured over a billion kuna," Aladrović said in response to questions from the press on the sidelines of a conference organized by the Livit company under the government's auspices.
Aladrović said that this would be the direction in which the country would be going in 2022. He, however, reiterated that "we will be at the service of workers and employers as long as necessary."
He said that about HRK 40 million was currently being paid out for 12-15,000 workers as part of the job-keeping measure.
For more, check out our dedicated politics section.
