February 23, 2021 - After being told it would take weeks by another bank, opening a Croatian business bank account in 46 minutes as a foreigner IS possible.

I ALMOST had the perfect day with Croatian bureaucracy last week. 

The mission was daunting. First stop, Raiffeisen Bank in Varazdin to sign a leasing contract for my new (not so new) car. Then to the notary to notarise the contract, which I then had to return. Then off to the heroes at FINA to collect the documentation for my new jdoo company. then on to my bank PBZ - where I have had a private and a Croatian business bank account for 18 years. My simple mission was to open a bank account for the new company, return a document to my FINA heroes, then pick up some chicken from the market, and there would be curry for lunch. You can see how I did in 'Beer to Go' to Celebrate a Morning with Croatian Bureaucracy.

As a spoiler alert, I didn't manage to open the bank account. I was shocked to be told that as a foreigner (they did not ask my nationality), opening a Croatian business bank account in Varazdin was not possible. I would have to travel to Zagreb for this.  Crazy, I thought to myself, as I headed to the market, the chicken curry now guaranteed. But not too inconvenient, as I would be in Zagreb two days later. 

My wife called ahead to make sure it was possible and to make an appointment. It was indeed possible to make an appointment, but the earliest available slot was on March 3, some two weeks ago. 

Let me get this right. Opening a Croatian business bank account as a foreigner (the PBZ rules are apparently different for locals) meant I would have to drive 160 km round trip and wait two weeks for the privilege?

In 2021?

My long-suffering accountant, Gordana, confirmed that this was indeed the case after she called the bank to check. A recent change of policy, apparently. 

This is nuts, I thought. So I posted on Facebook and LinkedIn, with a challenge to anyone working in the industry. Was opening a Croatian business bank account as a foreigner possible in one day? I even offered to write an article on TCN about the process, which I thought would be a good PR incentive. 

I was disheartened by the early feedback. Representatives of various Croatian banks were tagged by my social media followers, but none got in touch. And then someone said that I should try Raiffeisen Bank - you could even do most of the application online. 

Really?!?

We checked, my wife called, and it seemed to be true. Or I could do it in person, the very helpful Varazdin branch confirmed. I chose the latter. And I decided to time it. 

Arriving exactly at 15:00 my soon-to-be new best friend, Nenad, took my papers, passport and ID and inspected them. All was in order. This should not take long, he exclaimed in perfect English. 

A few questions, a few signatures, and all was done. Could I add my accountant to the account, give her online access and have all the bills sent to her?

Of course, replied Nenad. What is her name, perhaps she is already in our system? And there she was, young Gordana smiling out of Nenad's desktop. We got her on the phone and confirmed some details and all was set up. 

Absotulely painless. 

Timeline 46 minutes from start to finish with the opening process, including downloading the application and training on how it works. 

Today, I will get the number of the account and the online access codes, and we are ready to roll. 

Just 46 minutes in the bank rather than the anticipated hours of torture, leaving plenty of time for the finer things in llfe.

Nenad, I salute you, Sir. A lovely man, for a Liverpool fan. Masked up for the entire process, he did consent to a photo without a mask for this article. 

I don't know if Raiffeisen has an initiative for rewarding star employees, but my vote for a gold star and chocolate biscuit goes to this young man.

For more on the joys of Croatian bureaucracy, click here. 

February 23, 2021 - Croatia and Slovenia football legends will play a humanitarian match in Petrinja next month, during which UEFA will hand over a donation to the Croatian Red Cross to help the earthquake-damaged areas. 

Immediately after the earthquake rocked the Petrinja area on December 29, 2020, UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin spoke with HNS President and UEFA Executive Board member Davor Šuker about ways to help the earthquake-affected areas, reports HNS.

At their initiative, a humanitarian match between Croatia and Slovenia football legends will be played in Petrinja on March 13, during which the umbrella European football federation will hand over a donation to the Croatian Red Cross to help areas affected by the devastating earthquake.

"Our thoughts are with the people of Croatia in these difficult times. We hope that the help of the football family will help them overcome the challenges caused by this devastating earthquake and that it will contribute to the recovery of the Petrinja region," said UEFA President Alexander Ceferin.

On the same occasion, the Croatian Football Federation will hand over a donation to the Sisak-Moslavina County Football Federation, intended to reconstruct the football infrastructure in the earthquake-affected areas.

The co-organizer of the humanitarian match will be the Slovenian Football Federation (NZS), led by President Radenko Mijatović, who will also join the action with a donation.

"We are once again witnessing great solidarity and friendship within the European football family. I believe that UEFA's help will reach the right addresses through the Red Cross and that our help to the county federation will facilitate the return of football in the county.

I am convinced that football is one of the best ways to bring smiles back to people's faces, especially children, so let this game be a sign of a return to normal life," said HNS President Davor Šuker.

The friendly match between Croatia and Slovenia football legends will be played on March 13, starting at 13:00 at the Mladost Stadium in Petrinja.

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

February the 23rd, 2021 - There has been a lot of advancement when it comes to Croatian robotic systems and Croatian-made robots in general, with progress constantly being made and the eye on Croatia looking ever more strongly at what is being designed and produced.

As Poslovni Dnevnik/Suzana Varosanec writes, Dok-ing, a well known and now leading Croatian company in the field of the development and production of remote-controlled systems for humanitarian demining, underground mining and other types of crisis management, has delivered a unique command and communication centre with a multifunctional Croatian robotic system for crisis situations to the Ministry of the Interior (MUP).

This Croatian robotic system is already being used by the State Intervention Unit of Civil Protection Zagreb, and this is otherwise the first of three Dok-ing deliveries to the Ministry of the Interior, part of the project of the modernisation of the country's fire fighting capabilities, an undertaking worth a massive 218 million kuna. The aforementioned Dok-ing deliveries are scheduled for the months of April and August for the south and east of the country.

Once all three systems are completed, the Republic of Croatia will be able to meet its obligations under the European Union's Civil Protection System through assistance in the event of major disasters and disasters with nuclear, chemical and biological threats.

This Croatian robotic system has already proven its strength and overall capability during its involvements following various accidents in Russia and in several countries across Asia and Europe, and its delivery to two nearby countries, Austria and Montenegro, for their respective needs as nations, is now being thoroughly prepared.

For the latest travel info, bookmark our main travel info article, which is updated daily. 

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February the 23rd, 2021 - Croatian rental owners want to strengthen their own role as cogs of the machine of Croatian tourism, and get more of a say when it comes to decision making with local tourist boards.

As Poslovni Dnevnik/Marija Crnjak writes, this week, for the very first time at the initiative of private landlords of Kvarner, Istria and Zagreb, which started up last summer, the National Association of Family Accommodation was founded.

''The main goals of the association will be to strengthen the role of Croatian rental owners and the private/family accommodation sector when it comes to decision making, raising the development and importance of small businesses, and then attracting funds from EU funds for quality improvement projects,'' revealed Goran Prskalo, a Zagreb landlord and one of the initiators an association that should defend the interests of hundreds of thousands of Croatian rental owners.

"In a country where 50 percent of the tourist traffic is realised by family accommodation, this segment is not represented in decision-making bodies at all, no one asks us anything, although many of us have a lot of experience in tourism, we know what the needs of guests are, what sort of destinations they like, and what the problems we need to solve together are.

That's why we're wanting to change the laws that prescribe representation in the tourist councils of the tourist boards, which include representatives of sectors that have nothing to do with tourism, and when it does come to the representation of tourism, in turn, mostly hotel companies are listed,'' said Prskalo.

Prskalo provided the example of the Tourist Board of the City of Zagreb, in which even telecoms have a stronger voice than family accommodation providers, which in recent years has gained significant momentum in Zagreb, and attracted hundreds of thousands of guests.

Prskalo doesn't plan to run for president of this association, which should hold its founding assembly this week, because he believes that the association should be led by someone from the coast, since this segment of accommodation has the strongest tradition along the Adriatic coast and is most represented in Adriatic towns and cities.

"The goal is to have an association whose members will all be equal and that those from more remote areas will also get their vote. The association will have county committees that will deal with issues specific to their area, and everyone would have a voice in their county, while issues at the national level would be discussed at the assembly of the association,'' explained Prskalo.

The goal of this representative association for Croatian rental owners is to gather as much experience from the field and examples of projects as possible, as many of their project ideas have so far not been able to be realised due to lack of money for implementation.

''Thanks to the bringing together of a formal body, opportunities are opening up for some of these projects to apply for some of the EU tenders and secure co-financing, which has been impossible so far,'' Prskalo pointed out.

His opinion is that family accommodation and Croatian rental owners should be understood as small businesses, which is something which isn't often recognised in Croatia.

"Croatian rental owners generate significant revenue and make a very important contribution not only to tourist traffic in various destinations, but also to the local economy. Many suppliers of family accommodation, even down to the retailers of furniture and equipment for such apartments, have have weight on their shoulders during this crisis,'' added Prskalo, who advocates that private renters should finally be seen as entrepreneurs.

The association also plans to engage in the issue of minimum requirements for the categorisation of family accommodation, which still doesn't respect the laws of this segment of accommodation and mixes it with hotel requirements.

“For example, you can't get four stars in an apartment in the city centre if you don't change the towels every single day, and that's difficult now if have a guest who doesn't want to see you all week because of the worries surrounding passing on the coronavirus infection. Instead of that, other things should be turned to, for example, the obligation to install carbon monoxide detectors isn't prescribed anywhere, which is the very basis of security,'' explained Goran Prskalo, aware that there are still Croatian rental owners conducting this sort of business illegally, which the association also plans to fight against.

For the latest travel info, bookmark our main travel info article, which is updated daily. 

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February 23, 2021 - After a long absence, one of the writing stars of the early days of Total Hvar is back - Ivana Zupan on Hvar digital nomad life with kids, an emerging lifestyle.

Three years ago, after living on Hvar for 10 years full time, I decided that I had to leave. Coming and going to the island was a great way to cope with its many downsides, and it allowed me to enjoy all the good there was. I was able to take my vacation during the summer months, for example. What a no-go for many islanders...

Back then, being a mother of an unschooler, I came to realise that without a like-minded community, I will not be able to keep my lifestyle, so I opted for city life to see if this would work out. We were lucky to find a great community in Bratislava. Our home-schooling study group - DOBROdruzstvo is the warmest, coolest and most amazing place for kids. Its fundamental sense for creating and nurturing relationships between people, building responsibility in our children’s own education, and emphasis on cooperation and solution finding is something which means a lot to me and to my daughter. I feel blessed and grateful for being a part of it for the last year and a half. The study group has a base in Bratislava, with a nice 'school' building and an outdoor space. Allowing the kids to come together and interact in a respectful environment. So it was, until recently.

In today’s world, there is probably not a country, where COVID measures would not affect our lives. There are different approaches with different results, some countries tend to be more strict than others, and the effects of such measures have been much debated. Slovakia is one of the countries where measures can be easily described as a Nazi-like experimentation camp. Forced COVID-testing once per week, or you are not allowed to go to work, to the bank, to the post office, send your kids to school etc. Not to mention, that masks are mandatory outdoors.

When this testing-madness was introduced back in October last year, I felt so angry as I was watching democracy in my homeland taking this huge slap in the face. More so that people were being obedient and supported it by attending the mass-testing. Very few of us found the strength to rebel against this blackmailing approach. Not an easy task in such a suffocating atmosphere, I must admit. I managed to stay sane by focusing on keeping our little homeschooling community going. Feeling that by continuing to create something new, while the old system was crashing down was the best I can do, given the circumstances.

(A haven for kids to play hide and seek. Photo: Mgr. Daniela Bohata) 

Now we are back on Hvar. For two months now. I decided not to play along with the once-per-week-COVID-testing-or-you-are-not-allowed-to-live game. Back to unschooling. Looking for a small community with a few kids to join forces with other parents. Spending a lot of time outdoors with the kids. We are rediscovering the island and its hidden gems – like the Cliffbase in Sv. Nedjelja, where Katarina is slowly creating a digital nomad community. I hear there are still a few spots available.

The weekend trip to Cliffbase left me amazed about what a dedicated man can create at the end of the world. A wine cellar literally carved by hand in these huge rocks, just to name one. Miro Štec spent the last 20 years building this place. A lot of love and hard work went in.

(A sunset at the Cliffbase in Sv. Nedjelja on Hvar. Photo: Mgr. Daniela Bohata)

I am not a climber, but I imagine it must be a heaven for them too. Not to mention I wanted to be 10 again to be able to play there at all those big rocks and hidden caves. Swimming in February, sharing food and stories with other mums. The flow there was simply perfect.

{The steep path was a bit of a challenge for us, mothers, but the good old-fashioned cooperation helped, and we managed. Photo: Mgr. Daniela Bohata)

Daniela, the author of the beautiful photos came all the way from Makarska and now we are thinking about repaying her the visit and might be exploring Biokovo the next weekend. Let’s see how that one goes. In the meantime, you can find more about her work as a tour guide on her website.

If last year taught me something, it was not to plan that much. A huge lesson for me - the organised one. But, slowly, I am getting used to it - not knowing how this will progress, I am enjoying what I can while I can. So, here it is, a call to all digital nomads with kids out there. If on Hvar, get in touch.

If you are digital nomads with kids and planning on a stay on Hvar and would like to contact Ivana, email us on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Subject Hvar kids.

People from all over the world are already enjoying the Hvar digital nomad lifestyle.  Read more in Digital Nomad Life in Croatia: Jess and Thibaud, from San Francisco to Jelsa.

The Croatian government has now published guidelines on how to apply for the Croatian digital nomad visa.

Meet Melissa Paul, Owner of Croatia's First Digital Nomad Visa.

ZAGREB, 22 February, 2021 - The Documenta - Centre for Dealing with the Past and the Centre for Peace, Non-violence and Human Rights Osijek on Monday warned of the delays in trying war crimes, underscoring that those criminal proceedings are of special importance because they guarantee that victims will see justice.

The two NGOs underlined the problem of delays in trying war crimes on the occasion of European Day for Victims of Crime, and warned that in 2020 trial dates had not been set for numerous war crimes.

"This refers to criminal proceedings for war crimes and crimes against humanity at the trial stage. In most cases presenting evidence lasts two to three years and even longer. Due to statutory limitations, hearings are often re-started from the beginning and witnesses who have testified are subpoenaed to testify again," the NGOs said in a press release.

The NGOs listed a few procedures before Zagreb County Court and in one case only one hearing has been held while other trials are being adjourned.

The NGOs also underlined the retrial against Branimi Glavaš et al for war crimes committed in Osijek for which a retrial began in mid-2019 and by March 2020 only three witnesses had testified and to this day not one hearing was schedule after that.

The NGOs believe that this is an attempt to eliminate incriminating witness testimonies against Glavaš in the case dubbed Garage and that dividing the case is an attempt to eliminate testimonies by co-defendants who have testified against Glavaš in the case later dubbed Duct-tape.

The NGOs warned of criminal trials in Osijek County Court too for crimes committed in the Veleproment POW camp in Vukovar and the Serb POW camps in Begejci, Stajićevo and Sremska Mitrovica in Serbia and that not one hearing had not been scheduled in 2020 for that case as prescribed by law. 

"It is impermissible that judicial bodies allow procedures to take so long, too long, thus incurring significant costs and time as this does not only question whether these trials are economical but they also undermine the rights of defendants as well as the rights of victims and their families and raise the question of citizens' trust in the efficiency of the legal state and rule of law," the NGOs said in their press release.

ZAGREB, 22 February, 2021 - Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grlić Radman on Monday suggested that some space for dialogue with Russia should remain open, speaking ahead of a European Union Foreign Affairs Council meeting, with the latest developments concerning EU-Russia relations being one of the topics on the agenda.

"In any case, dialogue is very important, it is one of our instruments, and we must provide some space for dialogue on the issues pertaining to our interests," Grlić Radman said in Brussels ahead of the start of the council's meeting.

The meeting is expected to pave the way towards imposing sanctions on Russia over the detainment of the chief Opposition activist Alexei Navalny.

The European Union's High Representative Josep Borrell was quoted by foreign media as threatening Russia with sanctions again over the jailing of Navalny.

Measures are expected to be discussed at today's meeting of EU ministers of foreign affairs.

The European Union's member states are not unanimous in their position on this matter.

Eastern and Baltic countries demand very tough action against Moscow. However, Italy, Greece and Cyprus seem very lenient towards Russia, while the remaining members are in the middle between those two groups.

The meeting of the EU's foreign ministers will include a wide-ranging video conference with new US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

The talks with Blinken will refer to three issues: the diversification of energy sources, including the Three Seas Initiative, the integration of Western Balkans into European and transatlantic processes, and addressing the challenges in the Middle East, according to Grlić Radman.

ZAGREB, 22 February, 2021 - The heads of five Croatian northwestern counties agreed a list of projects worth HRK 10 billion (€1.3bn) at a meeting in Bjelovar on Monday.

The projects relate to transport infrastructure, education, health care, and tourism. The list was agreed ahead of the signing of a development agreement with the Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds.

The meeting in Bjelovar involved Bjelovar-Bilogora County Prefect Damir Bajs, Varaždin County Prefect Radimiir Čačić, Međimurje County Prefect Matija Posavec, Koprivnica-Križevci County Prefect Darko Koren, and Krapina-Zagorje County Prefect Željko Kolar.

They concluded that the development agreement was a key document that would enable them to apply for major development projects at the start of the new EU budget period and to further implement strategic projects in their respective counties.

"Without the 85% of EU funding, we would not be able to implement on our own strategic projects that are essential for our common development, and that is what this development agreement makes possible," Krapina-Zagorje County Prefect Željko Kolar said.