ZAGREB, 28 May 2021 - Croatia's decision to buy 12 used French fighter jets reflects the strengthening of the strategic relations between Croatia and France, French Defence Minister Florence Parly said on Friday after the Croatian government stated that it had opted for Rafale F3R fighter jets.

The French minister noted that after in January Greece bought 18 Rafale jets, the fact that another EU member state selected the offer made by a European country "is is strong sign, more than a symbolic gesture."

"The French offer turned out to be the best because Croatia is getting the best-assessed and equipped aircraft for the least money," Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said in Zagreb on Friday, adding that the offer was the most favourable one with the best payment in instalments that would not slow down Croatia's accession to the euro area.

Besides the Rafale, bids were submitted by the US, the latest F-16 Block 70, Sweden, the new JAS 39 Gripen C/D, and Israel, the used F-16 Barak.

For more on politics in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated section.

ZAGREB, 28 May 2021 - By purchasing 12 F3-R Rafale jets Croatia will obtain the most advanced combat aircraft in this part of Europe, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said on Friday.

"With today's decision we are not only making the biggest investment in Croatia's Armed Forces since the country gained independence, we are making the biggest investment in a lasting peace and security for Croatian citizens," Plenković said at a government session.

By procuring fighter jets, Croatia is gaining a powerful strategic deterrent for the next 30 to 40 years, which significantly strengthens its international position and its airspace protection and multiplies the overall combat capability of the Croatian Army, said Plenković.

Offer includes training, weapons and year-long warranty

He noted that in addition to the aircraft, the French offer also includes a flight simulator, basic weapons package, ground and test equipment, spare parts, staff training according to the principle of "training of trainers", comprehensive support from authorised representatives of manufacturers for a period of three years and a warranty of 12 months per each delivered aircraft, engine, other equipment and spare parts.

Plenković added that the purchase of Rafale planes would make the protection of Croatia's sovereignty on land, at sea and in the air much more effective, and that the country would acquire a powerful strategic instrument of deterrence, thus raising national security to an unprecedented level.

"The purchase of a multi-role fighter aircraft will strengthen Croatia’s position as an ally within NATO and a partner within the European Union. With this move, Croatia will for the first time reach the level of spending of 2% of GDP for strengthening its defense capabilities, which is the goal of all NATO members," said Plenković.

By significantly increasing its security, Croatia will become more attractive to foreign investors because it will enhance the security of their investments, which in the long run will contribute to a better credit rating and economic development of the country, said Plenković.

The purchase also creates new possibilities for the defence industry in terms of research and development.

Plenković thanked the bidding countries -- the United States, Sweden and Israel -- for their high quality offers and the effort invested in that demanding process, congratulating all involved in the process on protecting its integrity and confidentiality.

"I am particularly pleased to be making this decision today, on Croatian Army Day, as a token of lasting gratitude to defenders and soldiers, those who gave everything for Croatia and those who are always faithful to the homeland," said Plenković.

Defence minister: Partnership with state, not aircraft manufacturer 

Defence minister Mario Banožić said that considering the value of the project, the decision to buy French aircraft was the biggest investment in the army since the 1990s.

He noted that it would enhance the Air Force fighter component's capability and potential and significantly increase the overall combat capabilities of the Croatian Army as well as help maintain the tradition of combat aviation in Croatia.

"As a NATO member Croatia has the obligation to invest in its own defence capabilities by making contributions to the defence budget and also in the part referring to equipment and modernisation," said Banožić.

He added that the decision showed Croatia's determination to develop its own defence capabilities to contribute to its own security and defence as well as that of NATO and the EU.

Recalling the course of negotiations on the purchase of the aircraft, the minister said that the project would be implemented at the government level and that it envisaged partnership with the country from which the aircraft came, and not the manufacturer.

For more on politics in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated section.

May 28, 2021 - KK Split fought but was missing the necessary edge and luck to make a difference at 73:58 (28:28).

In the first game of the Croatian National Basketball Championship Finals, Zadar convincingly celebrated a victory against Split (81:53). Zadar dominated the entire match and with their dedication, they took the first step towards lifting the trophy for the third time. The main reason for the Zadar celebration was their defense. Coach Veljko Mršić’s squad played with high intensity and aggression. Zadar had 10 rebounds more than the guests and forced Split to 17 turnovers.

During the first match, Antonio Jordano was extremely successful from the three-point range, hitting three of his 6 attempts.

"We played a really good game but we have to leave that behind because the series is long. I think that in the next game we have to play as aggressively and focused as possible because that is the only way we will be able to fulfill some of the goals we agreed on. We have to be at a high level in defense and attack, I think that is the key for tomorrow's game. We have shown that we play as a team, we play as a team, and that is the most important thing," said Antonio Jordano last night.

At the same press conference, Veljko Mršić said that one should be careful after the first game. "I expect a good Split, it is still a team that beat Cibona twice in the semifinals. We have no right to relax after yesterday's victory, regardless of the fact that we have beaten Split four times in a row. We have to continue like this, because this is only the first third of the road, we have two more steps to win the title, that is our wish. We are going step by step, tomorrow is a new game and we are just thinking about that," said Veljko Mršić.

The normally very relaxed guest coach Mile Karakaš became very emotional during the second half of the game and stayed in Zadar with his team to fully focus on finding a way to crack the Zadar defense. He was able to start with his full roster including Perković who had missed the last game. 

The game started with slight advantages for the home team. Towards the end of the first quarter, Split brought the game to Marin Marić who could not be stopped. However, Zadar was able to pull away again with the last two attacks of the first quarter including a buzzer-beater by Carter for an 18:13 lead. 

Burak Canboy

The Yellows were able to shake off the first loss and the issues of the first quarter and continued to put pressure on Zadar's big men. Despite a low shooting percentage, Split stayed in the game and put up a good fight for the rebounds. With Marić scoring 11 points in the first half, the guests tied the game 28:28 at halftime. 

Burak Canboy

Milan Karakaš had to watch his team's luck run out in the second half. His team kept fighting against the constantly delivering home team but neither free throws nor important outside shots found their way into the basket.

Burak Canboy

Zadar out-rebounded the guests in the second half by 21:8 while Split could not even score from the free-throw line. A mere 3 shots out of nine found their target.

Burak Canboy

Burak Canboy

Despite his team having the upper hand, Zadar's top scorer Chinanu Michael Onuaku (19 points) showed some unsportsmanlike conduct in several situations towards the end of the game leading to a verbal dispute with Luka Babić after the final whistle. Maybe he sparked the fire that Split will need to get back into this series.

The next two games will be played in Split on Monday and Wednesday. Zadar only needs one more win to finish the season with their third title.

Referees: Luka Kardum, Tomislav Vovk, Alfred Jovović

Box score: https://fibalivestats.dcd.shared.geniussports.com/u/HKS/1884507/

To follow the latest sports news in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

To learn more about sport in Croatia, CLICK HERE. 

May 28, 2021 - Adria Business Network #16, organized by entrepreneurs Željka Barišić, owner of Forca Digital Agency (www.forcadigitalagency.com), and Kristina Krstinić, owner of MIKRIS Project Management (www.mikris.eu), was held on May 26, 2021, for the second time at Aspira High School. Monika Mikac was the featured guest. 

The event's goal is business networking in Croatia and the region, creating business opportunities, and encouraging continuous education. The event offers the opportunity for all participants to get to know each other better and network better and in a targeted way.

The guest lecturer was Monika Mikac, CBO at QEV Technologies, a company that leads one of the Formula E teams and offers engineering services for the automotive industry focused on the electrification segment. She started her career as a COO at Rimac Automobili d.o.o.

Monika said the following about the event: “It was a pleasure to share my story and experiences at this event. I like that it was not a classic presentation but a pleasant conversation and interaction with all the other participants. Networking after the panel offered an opportunity to get to know the participants better, but also to make good contacts for future business."

“It was extraordinary to be in the company of a female from the automotive industry because it’s a predominantly male world. We received a lot of practical advice, from the fact that it is worth learning Chinese to that the companies we work in, in addition to business, can also give us valuable life experiences, mostly based on interpersonal relationships. In addition, we learned a bit about Formula E-racing and how electric cars work," Željka Barišić, owner of Forca Digital Agency and one of the founders of Adria Business Network, said after the event.

“Another fun and inspiring gathering is behind us. Our guest Monika Mikac talked about the trends in the e-car industry and its turbulent beginnings. In addition, she gave us some excellent advice, and what I remember the most is that if you are young, you should not be afraid to learn new jobs/projects because the worst that can happen is to fail, but again, on the other hand, what is the best that can happen is - to succeed! And that's why young people shouldn't be afraid to take risks, because the one who is ready to give will get it," said Kristina Krstinić, owner of MIKRIS Project Management in Zagreb and also the founder of Adria Business Network.

The diamond partner of the event is A1. The silver sponsor is ManpowerGroup. The event is sponsored by the Bagatin Polyclinic and the Aspira High School.

Partners are Vladimir Abicic Photography, Aero Print, Bornstein Wine Shop, Kupinovo Vino - Kupilek, Planet Art Theater, and Croatian Choco Concept.

The media partners of the event are the magazine and portal Poduzetnik, the magazine and portal Zaposlena, Netokracija, She.hr, Zagrebonline.hr, Rep.hr, Glas Istre, Flash.hr, Moja Domovina, Total Croatia News, Fama, ZgExpress, Akademija Art and Radio 92 FM.

Follow Adria Business Network on Facebook and Instagram to find out all the details about upcoming events.

For more, follow our dedicated business section.

May 29, 2021 - Have a drone? Familiarize yourself with the 2021 Croatian drone regulations. 

The last decade has seen a rise in the popularity of unmanned aerial vehicles (a.k.a. drones) both among amateur tourists and seasoned professionals visiting Croatia. However, in order to legally fly them on Croatian territory, you need a permit In an effort to speed up the process of registration and permit issuance, Croatia Control Ltd -  Croatian air navigation service provider launched the world's first app to apply for such permits - AMC (The Airspace Management Cell) Portal Mobile.  

In 2016, TCN's reported on a story of a tourist from the U.S. who had to remove his promo video of Split from Youtube, while his Croatian partner received a fine, because of the violation of the Croatian Aerial Vehicle Ordinance. And in 2018, we did a piece on the unclear rules on who is the competent authority for issuing drone permits. So, did anything change since then? Yes and no.

In 2020, the new EU Drone Regulation came into force in Croatia, so there are essentially two levels of authority you ought to obey: the supranational (the EU level) and the national (Croatian level). Let's look at the EU level first. 

As Drone Traveller writes, the EU Drone Regulation has significantly harmonized the rules across the EU. Now all you have to do only is register as a remote operator in one EU country of your choice in order for your drone license to be accepted across the rest of the EU.  

Under the new EU Regulation, registration is mandatory for all drone operators, unless both of the following requirements are met: 1) the drone weighs less than 250 grams and 2) is not equipped with sensors to collect personal data (e.g. camera, microphone). 

Keep in mind that, if you want to capture footage, you must also receive a separate permit from the State Geodetic Administration (this is where the national level of authority comes into play).

All drones must be visibly marked with the individual registration number (e-ID). Depending on the category, pilots must take exams to obtain the EU drone license and must insure their drones.

You can check the detailed instructions on the site of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency by clicking here. 

As for the national regulations, in order to operate a drone (but, remember! one without sensors for collecting personal data) a person must be at least 16 years of age and make sure that the drone insurance they have taken out is valid in Croatia and covers any third-party damage that may occur. Ideally, proof of this insurance should be written in English.

Depending on the area that the flight will be conducted above, there are two separate procedures:

The automated procedure for the establishment of an ad hoc structure (5 minutes before activity start) is applied if the flights are conducted:

• in uncontrolled airspace up to 120 m above ground level
• in controlled airspace outside the radius of 5 km from the aerodrome reference point, up to 50 m above ground level.

The automated procedure for the establishment of an ad hoc structure for obtaining a real-time approval on the day of activity is available via the AMC Portal Mobile application in three steps:

• Sign up with the Croatian Civil Aviation Agency’s unmanned aircraft system operators register.
• Download the app from Google Play or App Store to your smartphone.
• Sign up or log in to the app with your username and password.

Submit your request via the AMC Portal or send us the filled-in form by e-mail no later than 7 working days before the planned day of activity start to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The regular procedure for the establishment of an ad hoc structure (7 working days before activity start) is applied if the flights are conducted:

• in uncontrolled airspace over 120 m above ground level
• in controlled airspace within the radius of 5 km from the aerodrome reference point and/or
• in controlled airspace over 50 m above ground level.

For the regular procedure, fill in the form and submit it via the AMC Portal 7 working days before the planned activity. 

You can check the competent air traffic control unit here. 

As for aerial footage, State Geodetic Administration is responsible for issuing permits for taking aerial photography, but the application form available at the SGA site is entirely in (sigh) Croatian. Hint: this is the part I talked about in the introduction of this article - the 'still no changes' part. Although the Decree on Aerial Photography has been amended, the basic rules which we wrote about in this article have remained the same.

To sum it up,  you may not take aerial recordings for private purposes. If you are a business owner however and are registered to take aerial footage in the country in which you registered your business, you are able to apply for a permit, but I recommend you start the process at least a couple of months in advance, for your own peace of mind.

For more on travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

May 28, 2021 - A recently published study on ionic liquids with solid state nanopores at the Ruđer Bošković Institute (IRB) can help the energy storage sector.

The top scientific and research institution in Croatia, the Ruđer Bošković Institute (IRB), continues to be the home of interesting scientific progress.

Researchers from the IRB's computer bioscience team, Nataša Vučemilović-Alagić, and dr. Mario Špadina under the mentorship of dr. Ana Sunčana Smith cleared the phenomenon of transport inside liquids on the principle of nanopores in the solid-state. A nanopore is a small cavity in solid matter, invisible to the naked eye. This IRB research was done in collaboration with dr. Sanjin Marion and dr. Aleksandra Rađenović from École Polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland and the research results are published in the prestigious scientific journal Small which specializes in nanotechnology.

Professor Ana Sunčana Smith's IRB team deals with molecular descriptions of chemical and physical interactions of ionic liquids (liquids that are not neutral but have either positive or negative electric charge) on various solid surfaces. The goal was to determine the impact of specific ions and specific surfaces. The appliance of this knowledge is in line with guidelines of the EU Green Deal, and the UN sustainable development goals", explained IRB in the official press release.

The press release added this knowledge is useful in storing energy, as ionic liquids in nanopores represent an alternative to batteries.

„In this research, starting from the principle of water solutions, we combine ionic fluids and nanopores of different geometric features and materials to secure new nanofluid functionalities. This solves some of the relevant issues in the understanding of basic principles of transports in space-limited ionic liquids and ensuring better control of the speed of translocating within an analyte“, explained Dr. Ana Sunčana Smith.

It's worth noting that dr. Sunčana Smith is one of the Croatian scientists that received support from the Croatian European Research Council (ERC) for a very prestigious project in researching biological membranes worth 1,5 million euros.

Energy efficiency is something IRB shows to be really dedicated to, as evident by the progress IRB researchers made in exploring materials for converting CO2 to methanol alcohol, and IRB's Rovinj Sea Research Centre that celebrated 130 years of existence this year priorities maritime ecology and its protection in its research.

Learn more about Croatian inventions & discoveries: from Tesla to Rimac on our TC page.

For more about science in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

ZAGREB, 28 May 2021 - At the beginning of his cabinet's meeting on Friday, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković sent a congratulatory message to the armed forces and the ground army on the occasion of Army Day and the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Croatian army.

"In the last three decades, the Croatian army with its origins among the people, gained huge experience during the Homeland War which it won, and it has developed into an efficient and modern armed force prepared to deal with all the tasks assigned to it," Plenković said.

After the the 1991-1995 war, the army underwent a successful process of the peacetime transformation, and only 11 years after the peaceful reintegration of its  Danube egion, Croatia became a member of NATO, the strongest military alliance in the history, the premier underscored.

Croatia's soldiers are highly-esteemed participants in a lot of international missions and operations worldwide, including those run by NATO and those run by the United Nations. All that is conducive to the international security and peace, as preconditions for any development and prosperity, he added.

In the present-day more and more unstable world, Croatia must be able to efficiently safeguard its territory and borders, control its skies and sea and ensure its stability and energy independence, and, if necessary, protect its won freedom, he said.

In this context Plenković noted that his cabinet pursued the course that accomplished the priorities of the defence and security policies.

The government has adopted a new national security strategy and the legislation on homeland security and increased defence outlays and made investments in the miltiary equipment and modernisation, he noted.

At the end of his speech on the modernisation of the army, PM Plenković revealed the decision of his cabinet to purchase 12 used French multipurpose fighter jets Dassault Rafale F3R for €999 million.

For more on politics in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated section.

ZAGREB, 28 May 2021 - Croatia will continue in June with job-retention measures for enterprises affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and those in earthquake-hit areas, and the criteria, enterprises concerned and subsidy amounts will stay the same, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said at a cabinet meeting on Friday.

He said that from March 2020 through 25 May 2021, the state set aside HRK 10.5 billion for job-retention subsidies, covering more than 680,000 workers in over 120,000 enterprises.

Plenković said that despite the extraordinary circumstances caused by the pandemic, the number of Croatian Pension Insurance Institute insurees was twice as high as in 2019 and 2020, and that the average net pay was over HRK 7,000.

"With further measures and activities, we will support the work and survival of our enterprises because employment and job retention is one of the most important priorities of economic development and recovery."

"We can be extremely satisfied with the result the measures have yielded so far. The labour market is stable, there has been no disaster as many predicted, which shows that the government's measures have succeeded," Plenković said, adding that relief for enterprises would last as long as the pandemic.

For more on news in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated news section.