ZAGREB, 9 February 2021 - Last year's Croatian presidential and parliamentary elections cost the government nearly HRK 177 million (€23.6m), the State Electoral Commission says in its annual work report.  

The parliamentary election, held in July 2020, cost HRK 101.5 million (€13.5m), HRK 8.5 million (€1.1m) less than the election held in 2016, as a result of savings made on allowances for the work of election bodies following changes to tax rules.

Material costs were nearly HRK 2 million (€266,660) higher than in 2016 because of the costs of coronavirus protective gear and sanitiser for nearly 7,000 polling committees.

The presidential election cost HRK 75.3 million (€10m). The first round of the vote was held on 22 December 2019 and the second round took place on 5 January 2020.

February 9, 2021 - The latest news for flights to Croatia as Lufthansa plans Zagreb routes from Frankfurt and Munich in March.

Croatian Aviation reports that Lufthansa plans to resume traffic on two routes from Germany to Zagreb Airport.

Namely, Lufthansa intends to resume traffic to Zagreb Airport from March 1. Recall that Lufthansa suspended traffic on the Frankfurt - Zagreb - Frankfurt route during the global pandemic and has not operated on it since March 2020.

However, as of March 1, the airline plans to resume traffic on that line. The second Lufthansa line, between Munich and Zagreb, was also suspended in October 2020, and there has been no direct connection between the two cities since.

The airline intends to resume traffic on the routes from Frankfurt and Munich from March 1, 2021, with the caveat that the cancellation of certain flights may occur due to low demand caused by strict epidemiological measures.

The Frankfurt - Zagreb - Frankfurt route will operate daily until the end of March (with an early afternoon departure from Zagreb), and smaller-capacity aircraft. The Canadair Regional Jet 900 has been announced on the route, with a capacity of 90 seats.

Traffic on the Munich - Zagreb - Munich line is also being re-established. This route should also operate daily until the end of March, with the same type of aircraft as on the route from/to Frankfurt, and an increase in the number of weekly flights on both routes is expected from the beginning of the summer flight schedule (end of March).

Lufthansa is a carrier that has flown to Zagreb Airport for more than 50 years, and given that 2020 was the worst year in aviation history, it was not too much of a surprise that the airline temporarily withdrew routes to Zagreb Airport.

Lufthansa will certainly have a good result on the routes to Zagreb in the spring and summer, while in March, there may still be cancellations due to the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic.

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ZAGREB, 9 February 2021 - President Zoran Milanović on Monday commented on Gender Equality Ombudswoman Višnja Ljubičić's criticism of his statements about sexual harassment, calling Ljubičić a "so-called ombudswoman" who is not doing her job.

"After carefully pondering for two days, the so-called gender equality ombudswoman, known for sailing into the office for a second term just before the last parliamentary elections, spoke. In 2011 she sailed into the office for her first term during which she never made a statement," Milanović said in a Facebook post in response to Ljubičić's comment in which she criticised him for his statements about victims of sexual harassment and violence.

"I think that publicly expressed views of public figures, especially the president, should indicate support and understanding of all initiatives aimed at protecting all victims of sexual harassment or rape, without questioning possible manipulation, 'appropriateness' or co-responsibility of victims, because that is statistically negligible and it perpetuates common gender stereotypes of expressing distrust of victims," Ljubičić said.

Last Friday, Milanović was asked by reporters to comment on accusations of sexual harassment at university faculties and the public television service and he said that one should fight against it at all times.

But he also said that when "such cries come from Hollywood actresses who do not get out of bed for less than five million dollars" he does not see it as something he should pay attention to, but  "the problem is when this is done by working women, clerical workers, mothers and academy students because it is common knowledge how one can advance in those systems."

In his latest Facebook post, Milanović says Ljubičić's comment on his statements is "as sophisticated as a tax form", "as if downloaded from the website of some association."

Apart from Ljubičić's latest reaction, Milanović also resents her failure to respond when MP Dalija Orešković a few months ago described people who frequented a bar owned by former JANAF oil pipeline operator CEO Dragan Kovačević, charged with corruption, as "prostitutes and criminals." 

"That cruel statement was not sufficient to end the ombudswoman's hibernation... Since she is not doing her job at home, how many times in these nine years has she personally taken part in the work of the renowned, Brussels-based Equinet? Does she know what that is?" Milanović says in the post.

February 9, 2021 - BIRD Incubator, the first Croatian incubator for teams and projects related to artificial intelligence, machine learning and data analytics, officially opened its doors on February 9, 2021, and the first startup teams began incubation in late 2020.

As of today, the Croatian technology scene is richer for a new startup incubator that specializes in projects based on the development of artificial intelligence. The BIRD Incubator was started by the company Poslovna inteligencija at Petračićeva 4 in Zagreb, where a visually impressive new space of 450 square meters is located. The official opening was organized online due to the coronavirus pandemic and due to the participation of a large number of international partners, some of whom even come from India.

"We are very happy that we have officially launched the BIRD Incubator. Since the initial idea in April last year, there has been a lot of preparation, especially around arranging the new space. Now that everything is in place and the teams are selected, we can’t wait to see the first results. We believe we launched the Incubator at the right time. The community gathered around the association CroAI - Croatian Association for Artificial Intelligence, initiated a large number of activities which resulted in greater interest of the wider community in the field of artificial intelligence. Thus was born the idea of ​​starting an incubator that would receive not only Croatian, but also regional, European and world startups that have artificial intelligence at the core of development. We see this as our contribution to the movement that will place Croatia on the European map of artificial intelligence,” said Dražen Oreščanin, President of the Management Board of Business Intelligence and one of the initiators of the BIRD Incubator.

At the official opening, the first seven startup teams were presented. Those teams were admitted to the Incubator after going to through the application process and the interviews with the board members of the Incubator, composed of key people from Business Intelligence and mentors. The teams, most of which started the incubation process at the end of 2020, come from Croatia, while the international note is given by an experienced team from India, Marksman digital, which is developing a platform for selling and annotating large data sets such as images that will train algorithms and models of artificial intelligence. Teams from Croatia are: AI-zyme who, with the help of artificial intelligence, are looking for new sequences of proteins and enzymes for use in medicine and industry; Merity, which automates employee data collection and satisfaction measurement, and provides advanced analytics with recommendations for improving business processes; NeolightAI which creates a system for managing guest satisfaction in tourism and communication with a virtual agent; Platepay which allows payment by car license plates and geolocation marketing based on analytics; SciBiz, which is building an advanced platform for the sale of innovative materials and connecting scientific institutions and businesses, and TriCor, whose product uses technology and sensors from clothing to prevent cardiovascular disease.

“We filled the capacity of the BIRD incubator very quickly. Startup teams that recognize the great value of what we offer and that create products related to artificial intelligence, machine learning and data analytics, regardless of the business area, are free to contact us via the website https://bird-incubator.com/apply/. The incubator works on the principle of hop-on / hop-off system. When a team worth entering the Incubator appears and if there is room, we accept it for six months for the duration of the program in which the team creates a product from the initial idea or prototype ready to receive investment and / or enter the market,” said Incubator Manager Željko Krizmanić.

Startup teams will achieve the greatest value through a relationship and work with the incubator's mentors, from whom they will be able to "pick up" a large number of tips on their entrepreneurial journey. These mentors include pioneers of the technology and startup scene from Croatia and the world, as well as people with extensive experience in the fields of marketing, law, investment and finance.

Through the opening program, certain groups of partners were presented as they have been key to this success and achievement of goals. These are corporate partners, Atlantic Group and United Group, for which BIRD will be an "external" center for generating innovative ideas. There are also partners from the scientific community, FER, FOI and FSB, faculties of technology whose students will work on project assignments of corporate partners, and this cooperation will be evaluated as a diploma thesis. Other important partners include two IT communities, CroAI and CISEx, with which the BIRD incubator plans community events, and "friend incubators", Algebra LAB and the Krapina-Zagorje County Entrepreneurship Center, with which startup teams and educational programs are "shared". The technology is taken care of by two technology vendors, IBM and Vertica, and there is a principled cooperation with Microsoft and Google.

As it is important for all startups to be recognized by investors, and at the same time the ultimate goal of incubation is the willingness of investors to invest in a particular project, the Incubator has signed cooperation with WC funds from Croatia, Europe and the world. Investors who will monitor the development of the teams are: Fil Rouge Capital, Feelsgood Captial, South Central Ventures (Croatia), Day One Capital, Eleven Ventures, LAUNCHub Ventures, Next Road Ventures (Europe), Hitchikers Ventures (Canada), Batalla Family Office (US) and Spring Up Capital (India).

The founders additionally point out that social responsibility has been built into the philosophy of Business Intelligence from the beginning. Business success is viewed through contribution to the community. The incubator is the latest in a series of projects by which Poslovna inteligencija wants to help the technology community grow. By doing so, they want to influence the environment in Croatia in which young people can see the future.

February 9, 2021 - As the number of digital nomads rises globally, some are choosing to spend some of their time in Croatia. Continuing our TCN series meeting international digital nomads calling Croatia their temporary home. Meet Megumi Hosogai, from Hawaii to Opatija.

Tell us about you and your work.

I was born in Japan and I grew up as a Japanese Expat kid in Hawaii. I went back and forth twice and had to learn Japanese and English twice. My parents realized my personality wasn’t fit for life in Japan and decided to stay in Hawaii. I went to college in Los Angeles and New Orleans and settled in Los Angeles until 2017. I’ve worked as an actress, then a commercial real estate agent until I founded my sunglasses brand MEGUMI-O. MEGUMI-O drop ships from California. In February 2016, I flew to Milan to attend Mido, an optical expo and I fell in love with Milan. I moved to Milan in April 2017 and traveled all over Europe.  

How did you choose Croatia and specifically Opatija?

In summer 2019, I did my bus tour of Croatia starting from Dubrovnik finishing up north in Pula. As soon as I saw Opatija, I fell in love with it and decided to spend the month of January 2020 in Opatija to see if I would still like it during the coldest month. Having a dog that’s too big to fly in the cabin, Opatija is convenient since I can take a train from Milan to Trieste and have a driver pick me up there. I loved Opatija last January so I booked a month from July to August. The Covid situation is far worse in Milan and I was having such a great time with my new friends I ended up staying. I bought an apartment from an Albanian man who I communicate with in Italian. Being one of two Asians and one of two Americans in Opatija, I’ve become a bit of a local celebrity. I was discovered by FoodyTV a streaming service in the US on Instagram and I started filming my travel series “According To Megumi.”

Pros and cons of working remotely? 

Pro, I can shoot “According To Megumi,”  invest in real estate, and promote MEGUMI-O from anywhere in the world. Pro, the cost of living in Croatia is cheap.  Another reason beyond Covid that keeps me from rushing back to Milan, is the US Dollar is low now and the Kuna is much cheaper than Euro. Con, Opatija and Europe outside of Spain and France are not exactly entertainment industry countries so I can’t just call a friend to shoot and edit me. A camera person or editor who doesn’t speak English as a first language doesn’t understand my humor and timing. Pro, I could dropbox my videos to my friends in the future to make the edits tighter. 

What’s important for a destination to offer to be compatible with a digital nomad lifestyle, apart from good WiFi? 

A community of English speaking people and Amazon. Without Amazon, I have had to live without many things. Mall.hr is NOT Amazon. If you’re ethnic like me, it would be best to be in a city where you can find decent ethnic cuisine. While I will always summer in Opatija, I Google sunnier winter locations constantly to see if they have an Asian population. As soon as I’m vaccinated, I will fly to Budapest to eat Escargot at the French Institute and Pho. Brussels also has great Vietnamese food and a Michelin star sushi place.  

What’s your view on the future of remote work?  

Covid has made the world super friendly for remote work. A classmate who saw According To Megumi is trying to move to Opatija. He’s now based in London with a Japanese corporation and he’s trying to get them to agree to let him leave London since he’s just been working from home for the last year. If you can make money in a high currency and live in a country with a low currency, you can live very well without grinding so much.

Do you have any advice for people looking to make the transition to digital nomad life? 

Save money before making the move. Be flexible and learn at least a second language. I communicate with a lot of people in Italian in Opatija. The owner of a fast-food restaurant I frequent is a Spanish man married to a Croatian woman and he speaks Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and German. Off-season, you can find yourself in situations where the workers of a certain restaurant or store are no longer the young ones off from school who spoke English. Before making the move, search Google in the country where you’re considering the move, to see if you can buy things you MUST have. Even if a country has Amazon, Amazon and eBay don’t offer the same things throughout the world. 

You can follow Megumi Hosogai's adventures on her official website.  

Are you a digital nomad in Croatia who would like to be featured in this series? Please contact us on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Subject Nomad

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

February 9, 2021 - A delightful journey into the past with a wonderful tour of the Croatian capital as it once was - meet Zagreb in 1930.

One of the most engaging tours I have been on in recent years was a historic tour and quest of the upper town of Zagreb by Iva Silla of Secret Zagreb. From the moment we met, she was in character as the Black Queen, who wakes up from her slumber once every 100 years.

She took us up the funicular to the upper town, wondering how things had changed, as there used to be three classes of carriage in the short ride. We would really enjoy the view from the top, she assured us - the cornfields in the distance were very beautiful, just past the city limits of the Croatian National Theatre. 

The Black Queen was horrified by what she saw and how Zagreb had changed while she had been asleep. The kids were hooked - a truly brilliant and engaging tour guide and an excellent tour, about which you can read more in Secret Zagreb, a Masterclass in Innovative Tours, Engaging Guiding.

The tour prompted me to look out for old footage of the capital as it used to be, and I came across this rather excellent video snapshot of Zagreb in 1930, when the city looked stylish indeed. It is also the first time in my life that I have seen the Zagreb cathedral not under construction as well... 

Continuing our look at how Croatia looked in the past, here is Zagreb in 1930. If you have any video links to different parts of Croatia (outside the main hot spots perferred), along with a brief explanation about the year and the content, then please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Subject Old Videos. 

For more on the latest of life in Zagreb today, follow the dedicated TCN section. 

February 9, 2021 - Marin Čilić and Petra Martić have been eliminated from the Australian Open after the first round, while Borna Ćorić and Donna Vekić have advanced to the second. 

Marin Čilić was quickly eliminated in the first Grand Slam tournament of the season. The finalist of the 2018 Australian Open ended his performance in the first round this year, and was convincingly defeated in three sets by the 18th seed, Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov - 6:4, 6:2, 7:6 (5).

Marin had only four breaks during the match and used only one in the eighth game of the third set. At 5:3, he even served to win the set, but Dimitrov did not allow him to get back into the game. Marin had four aces (Dimitrov 19) during the match and recorded a first-serve percentage of 58 percent.

Fortunately, there was a good start for Borna Ćorić at this year's Australian Open. The 24-year-old from Zagreb (22nd-seed) knocked out Argentine Guido Pella (ATP-44) in the first round without losing a set - 6:3, 7:6 (5), 7:5. Borna had the most problems in the second set in which Pella had a 2-0 lead, and in the tie-break of the same set, he was only two points away from making the match even (5:3). However, Borna remained strong enough and, in the end, managed to win 3:0.

He recorded 23 aces with a high first-serve percentage of 70 percent during the match and used four of the 11 breakpoints in the match. It was their second meeting and the first victory for Ćorić, whose next opponent will be American Mackenzie McDonald, the world's 192nd best tennis player.

It took Donna Vekić two hours and 40 minutes to pass the 1st round of the Australian Open; after a great fight and three sets, the Osijek native managed to find a winning combination against Chinese rival Yafan Wang (WTA-98) - 4:6, 6:3, 6:4.

Donna started the match well, led 3:2, but then lost her serve twice and fell behind in sets. Wang took the lead in the second set with 2:0, and it seemed that she was surely stepping towards victory, but Donna turned around and took the second set.

In the decisive set, which was played for more than an hour, Wang had a 3:2 advantage, but Donna ultimately won with a final break in the 10th game.

In the second round, she will face last year's Roland Garros semi-finalist, Argentine Nadia Podoroska, currently the 45th best tennis player globally.

Petra Martić finished her time at the Australian Open and was surprised by the Serbian qualifier Olga Danilović (WTA-183) - 7:5, 3:6, 6:4. Petra lost the first set, but by winning the second, she was back in the match. She even led 3:1 in the decisive set but managed to win only one game until the end of match.

Danilović took a 4:3 lead, Martić equalized at 4:4, but no longer had the strength for the victory.  

Source: HTS

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

ZAGREB, 9 February 2021 - The leader of the Croatian Sovereignists party, MP Hrvoje Zekanović, said on Monday that his motion for the parliament to discuss their proposal for a law on protection of life had been supported by only ten MPs, the required number being 30.

Speaking to reporters in Split, where he announced that his party would have a mayoral candidate in local elections to be held in May, Zekanović said that his proposal for the parliament to discuss a bill on protection of life was supported by himself and three other Croatian Sovereignists MPs - Željko Sačić, Marijan Pavliček and Marko Milanović Litre, Bridge party MPs Nikola Grmoja  and Zvonimir Troskot, independent MPs Karolina Vidović Krišto and Milan Vrkljan, MP Zlatko Hasanbegović of the Bloc for Croatia and MP Stephen Bartulica of the Homeland Movement.

"We have now exposed all fake Christian Democrats who pay lip service to protection of life, but when something needs to be done about it, they won't lift a finger. The Croatian Sovereignists are different, they are credible, unlike those who like the votes of Christian Democrats and who like taking pictures of themselves with priests and bishops but when life needs to be defended in the parliament, they are nowhere to be seen," said Zekanović.

The Croatian Sovereignists had started gathering signatures for their motion at the beginning of this month. Their proposal for a law on protection of life says that human life starts at the moment of conception. Under the proposal, an abortion would be possible only if pregnancy poses a threat to the pregnant woman's life, the focus being on education, counselling and prevention.