ZAGREB, 3 February 2021 - Health Minister Vili Beroš said on Wednesday that Croatia was among more liberal European countries in terms of COVID-19 restrictions and that there was no room for easing the measures in place.

"People's yearning for the old way of life is understandable, but we must not make a wrong move. We are among more liberal countries in Europe in restricting different rights," Beroš told a press conference, noting that 17 European countries had imposed a curfew and 20 were in some sort of lockdown.

"There is no room for relaxing, we must continue to be cautious. There is no curfew, no lockdown, face masks are not mandatory outdoors, shops and services are open except for cafes and restaurants, cinemas, theatres, galleries, and museums. If we look at cultural activities and gyms, they are closed in more than 20 EU countries and cafes and restaurants in 24 countries," the health minister said.

Commenting on today's protest rally by business owners because they cannot work, the head of the national coronavirus response team, Interior Minister Davor Božinović, said that most of the businesses were operating now.

"In Croatia, there are 215,000 registered businesses, and approximately 18,000 are closed now, which means that a majority of them are open. We are doing all we can so that as many businesses as possible can reopen at a minimum risk," Božinović said, adding that the next moves would be considered before 15 February when the present set of measures expired.

He said that the criticisms addressed to the national response team were unwarranted given that Croatia had one of the most liberal epidemiological measures in Europe. "We are aware that people whose businesses are closed are in a difficult situation, but the decisions by the national response team are taken in consultation with professionals and can be compared to other countries."

The Director of the Croatian Public Health Institute, Krunoslav Capak, said that the number of new coronavirus cases had declined by 15% from last week.

To date, 59,064 people have been vaccinated against COVID-19, for which 87,929 doses of vaccine have been administered. 30,199 people have received one dose and 28,865 have received two doses. 535 reports of side effects have been reported for the Pfizer vaccine and 15 for Moderna's.

As for vaccine deliveries, Capak said that 19 boxes of the Pfizer vaccine were expected to arrive on 15 February and 20 boxes the week after that. Moderna will deliver 8,400 instead of 10,000 doses, while deliveries of AstraZeneca's vaccine should start on 9 February, with 156,000 doses expected to be provided in three tranches.

Capak said there were no obstacles to the Russian vaccine being registered in the EU following the publication of a study on its effectiveness. The approval procedure at the European Medicines Agency takes about two months.

February 3, 2021 – With heavy hearts, Rijeka's only electronic and underground music club Crkva announced its permanent closure today. It was a huge supporter of arts, culture, music and minorities for both the city and the region and will be greatly missed

While independent business owners and entrepreneurs took to the main square of Zagreb in protest at the perceived inequality in Coronavirus measures and their enforcement, 160 kilometres away on the Kvarner coast, the ban on operations for catering and entertainment venues was forcing a very hard decision.

Beloved Rijeka club Crkva today announced its permanent closure. The news will be taken with great sadness by not only the young people of Rijeka and the students who live there for university but to clubbers across Croatia and the many visitors who have passed through its doors. Within the nightlife offer of the vibrant city of Rijeka, Club Crkva was unique.

“Thank you for every dance, smile and happiness, thank you for every arrival and every morning we welcomed together. Thank you to all the artists who have performed here, thank you to those who have not, and yet they have filled our sacred chambers with their sound.” wrote club Crkva's Sasa Jovanovic in a clearly emotional Facebook post this afternoon.

Club Crkva was Rijeka's only dependable weekly club offering late-night electronic and underground dance music. Every major city in the world has at least one place like club Crkva, which puts it on the international music map. Now, Rijeka has none.

The club gave countless opportunities to young Croatian DJs and promoters, never dictating a style on the enthusiasm and ideas of the up-and-coming clubbing generations. It hosted house and techno, drum n' bass, breaks and any other style you might find in a big city's underground music club. After the closure of the irregular Hartera happenings, club Crkva was the only nightclub in Rijeka to regularly be visited by internationally-renowned DJs. It also played host to all of the biggest names of regional talent.

Club Crkva proudly and actively supported arts and culture programmes born in the local community, many of whom were simply independents who had a great idea they were passionate about. The club was due to host several key happenings in the Rijeka European Capital of Culture 2020 year until the pandemic put pay to much of the programme. Many will also remember club Crkva as a committed supporter of the city's gay and minority communities. It regularly opened its doors to members of the region's gay, lesbian and feminist movements who asked to throw parties there.

“Thanks to our stewards, all the staff and friends. We created beautiful memories and wrote a history of world-class Rijeka and regional clubbing, “ Mr Jovanovic continued. “What I regret the most is that we will not say goodbye at one last big party.”

“One thing is for sure, if this pandemic is a difficult path to a better, more honest and more advanced society, then let this Church of ours be sacrificed for it and let all the energy we have produced here for years be used for that purpose.”

All internal images © Club Crkva

ZAGREB, 3 February 2021 - The World Bank's Country Manager for Croatia and Slovenia, Elisabetta Capannelli, on Wednesday visited the city of Sisak to get an insight into the extent of the damage caused by the 29 December 6.2-strong earthquake.

During her visit, Capannelli expressed condolences on the deaths caused by the disaster and said she sympathised with local quake victims who also suffered an economic loss due to the quake.

We are here to see the state of affairs in Sisak. The World Bank has been authorised by the Croatian government to prepare a rapid damage estimate, including the estimate of what should be done, and this technical document is being drawn up to serve as the basis for an application for funds from the World Bank. We are working on the project that includes public buildings and schools, the WB official said.

Last week, the WB Director for Croatia and Slovenia visited Petrinja where she held a working meeting with Construction Minister Darko Horvat, who said that the World Bank would be the government's consultant for the second application for funding from the European Solidarity Fund for the reconstruction of the earthquake-hit parts of Sisak-Moslavina as well as Zagreb and Karlovac counties.

World Bank experts are expected to finalise the job of estimating the damage caused by the quake so that Croatia can apply for funding from this Fund before the deadline on 23 March.

During her stay in Sisak, Capannelli visited a local factory for the production of PVC windows and doors. The owner Tomislav Čubela informed the delegation about the company's business plan and of the difficulties local entrepreneurs were faced with.

He said that he was aware that in the wake of the disaster, the company would operate at a loss, and expressed hope that the government would help him. Čubela said that he had already informed the Economy Ministry of his intention and efforts to resume production in the factory in Sisak.

Sisak Mayor Kristina Ikić Baniček also informed the WB official of efforts being taken to bring life back to normal after the devastating earthquake.

ZAGREB, 3 February 2021 - Some of the parliamentary opposition parties on Wednesday criticised the appointment of former deputy prime minister Martina Dalić as the chair of the management board of the Podravka food company.

"Podravka today is a classic example of political appointment where it is not clear according to which criteria the chair of a management board is appointed," Social Democratic Party (SDP) MP Mišel Jakšić said.

Jakšić said he was unhappy because none of the company's people took its helm. "As if the people who have been building the company for 70 years know nothing about it and don't know how to run it," he noted.

Jakšić wondered if the prime minister had decided to become "the chief personnel officer" in companies in which the government had a stake and "why do we need pension funds that hold 52 percent of shares in Podravka?"

Jakšić said that Dalić had never worked in the food sector and that the decisive factor for her appointment was her membership of the HDZ party.

Dalija Orešković of the Centre party also criticised the prime minister for installing Dalić as Podravka's CEO despite the fact that the pension funds and other private owners held 75 percent of shares in the company.

"The power and role of the government in a company that is two-thirds privately owned can be seen on the package of its product Vegeta which displays the prime minister's image," launched to mark his visit to the company, she said.

Orešković concluded by saying that a country in which the government decides on who will run private companies does not have a free market.

Branko Bačić of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) said he was surprised that none of the opposition groups in parliament commented on a disgraceful incident that had occurred on Saturday when four Socialist members of the European Parliament attempted to cross the Croatian border outside a border crossing point in violation of Croatian law, thus trying to discredit Croatia and its police.

"It is regrettable that this attempt was made in consultation with the SDP. The question arises as to whose national interests the SDP is protecting," Bačić said, adding that he had expected that parties portraying themselves as sovereignist would react to this incident.

He went on to say that the opposition did not care about the reform of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce either because they would have proposed a more detailed amendment to the law than the "20-odd words" used by the Bridge party in its proposal.

February 3, 2021 - Thousands gathered at the Voice of Entrepreneurs Association protest held today at Ban Jelacic Square in Zagreb. 

Lifting discriminatory measures, regularly paying compensation for employees, canceling parafiscal taxes and mandatory membership fees, and the departure of Economy Minister Tomislav Coric were the demands heard at the protest organized by the Voice of Entrepreneurs Association (UGP) in Zagreb's Ban Jelacic Square.

Jutarnji List reports that between five and ten thousand people gathered at the protest today.

Although the UGP called for adherence to epidemiological measures, many did not wear masks, and it was difficult to maintain a distance.

Some of the banners read: "What is the plan?", "Why can't Croatia be economically strong?", "Andrej, it's enough!". 

Entrepreneurs and citizens from all over Croatia came to protest. As the executive director of UGP Dražen Oreščanin said at the press conference, several buses arrived from Dalmatia, Kvarner, Bjelovar, Varaždin, and Vinkovci, to name a few.

UGP President Hrvoje Bujas was not able to attend the protest because he tested positive for COVID-19. 

Oreščanin said that everything UGP does is out of any policy and that it is about advocating for a better life and entrepreneurs' rights, who in Croatia are, in his words, "second-class citizens."

"This morning I spoke to the Minister of Labor Josip Aladrović and suggested that all ministers and others from the public sector receive a salary of 4,000 kuna until the end of this year, to which he replied that it was a quality proposal and that he would consider it," Oreščanin said. 

He added that until the opening of the now-closed facilities, UGP asks the Government and the Civil Protection Headquarters for any compensation, even a one-time compensation, because "people literally have nothing to live on anymore."

His statements were accompanied by chanting and approval of those gathered at the Square, and when he asked them what they had to say to the Minister of Economy Tomislav Ćorić, it was mostly: "Resign!" and "Enough is enough!".

The slogan of the protest is "Enough is enough" and "Why Croatia?". The latter, Oreščanin explained, relates to entrepreneurs who are wondering why Croatia cannot be a competitive, successful and country of satisfied people, and said that the government and politicians should respond.

The representative of the catering segment, Ana Lisak, told Hina that they have recorded a drop in turnover of more than 70 percent and that it means nothing to them what they can deliver when only one percent of the business does so.

"Let everyone know that we are financially on our knees, but it is as if no one cares much about it because it is a pandemic, and we have to be patient. We are patient, we have not worked for almost a year, and many of us who have some funds pay workers and additionally above the state 4,000 kuna, because we do not want to lose them as well as our companies," said Lisak.

The president of the Independent Association of Zagreb Caterers, who attended the protest in front of the National Association of Caterers, Zaklina Troskot, told Hina that they are not satisfied with the measures of the headquarters and the government because they are "discriminatory and totally unfair."

"The Government's expectation that two activities - the catering and fitness industry, will save people from a pandemic, is completely unacceptable for us, and people are therefore desperate. If we do not get tax relief and any compensation, it will be difficult for us to work when we open because we will then face a lack of money to purchase, equip and pay the bills," Troskot said, adding that any help would come in handy.

At around 11 am, the protesters calmed and stopped chanting, but they did not disperse or intend to for the next few hours.

The caterers from the Square brought them "coffee-to-go" on trays. Some commented that no coffee, not even open restaurants, will help them survive this year without support and fair government measures.

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

ZAGREB, 3 February 2021 - The acting director of the Reconstruction Fund, Damir Vanđelić, said on Wednesday that he would not be the Croatian Democratic Union's (HDZ) candidate for Mayor of Zagreb in the coming local elections, stressing that post-earthquake reconstruction was a greater priority.

"I have decided what is a greater priority for the City of Zagreb. The biggest problem currently faced by residents is reconstruction, so my thoughts are focused on reconstruction and I am not thinking about anything else," Vanđelić said in response to questions from reporters after presenting the Fund's activities.

He said that the reconstruction process had the potential to speed up the national economy, adding that the reconstruction was expected to add one percent to the annual GDP growth. "That is very important and I think it is one of the most important things we can do for this city."

Vanđelić said that society lacked unity. "These difficult times require all of us to make extra effort to make it better for people, I don't know when if not now. What we now need is unity and not separation," he stressed.

As for his candidacy for Mayor, he said it was not gentlemanly to discuss private conversations, adding that he would not respond to further questions about his candidacy.

Media have speculated that Vanđelić might be the ruling HDZ's candidate for Mayor of Zagreb in May's local elections. Prime Minister Andrej Plenković has said that the HDZ will decide on its candidates in local elections in the coming weeks.

Jutarnji List daily said on Wednesday that the party's leadership was not inclined to give in to all his demands. The newspaper learned from sources in the party that Vanđelić wanted to enter the mayoral race with free hands, notably to be allowed to pick his future associates by himself and have a final say on any post-election coalitions, ruling out any cooperation with the incumbent Mayor, Milan Bandić.

Citing sources close to Vanđelić, Jutarnji List said that he wanted a completely new policy, wondering if the Zagreb HDZ was capable of delivering that, considering fears that many of local HDZ officials secretly supported Bandić.

ZAGREB, 3 February 2021 - In the last 24 hours, Croatia has conducted 7,023 coronavirus tests, and of them 730 (10.4%)  have returned positive, while there have been 17 deaths linked to COVID-19, the country's coronavirus crisis management team reported on Wednesday.

Currently, there are 2,926 active cases, including 1,222 hospitalised patients of whom 99 are placed on ventilators.

Croatia's COVID-related death toll has climbed to 5,088.

Since the outbreak of this infectious disease in Croatia in late February, 1.2 million tests have been performed, and 233,637 persons have tested positive.

To date, 225,623 people have recovered from COVID-19, including 323 recoveries in the last 24 hours.

A total of 13,782 people are self-isolating.

February 3, 2021 - On Wednesday at 10 am, a protest of entrepreneurs and caterers will be held at the main square in Zagreb. Voice of Entrepreneurs President Hrvoje Bujas and Executive Director Dražen Oreščanin on why you should attend the Zagreb protest. 

The Voice of Entrepreneurs Association initiated the action. It was planned to warn of the inequality of epidemiological measures and insufficient economic measures for companies affected by the corona crisis. It gained an extra dimension after the repression of several entrepreneurs and caterers who opened their premises in protest on Monday, culminating in the detention of gym owner Andrija Klarić.

Index.hr asked the key players of Voice of Entrepreneurs why they think people should come to Ban Jelačić Square on Wednesday at 10 am.

Oreščanin: The main reason for coming to the protest are the statements of Plenković and Ćorić
UGP Executive Director Dražen Oreščanin says that the key reasons in recent days have been given by the Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and the Minister of Economy Tomislav Ćorić.

"I think the main reason why every citizen should come to the Square could be heard in recent days from Prime Minister Plenković and Minister Ćorić. The way they talked about UGP, a citizens' association, and the way they talked about political opponents shows that they have no understanding of what democracy is and that they have no understanding of the people, to whom power belongs in democratic regimes."

"We don't know if we should laugh or cry; we can understand their statements as a threat."
He once again referred to the statements of Ćorić and Plenković.

"One does not know whether they should laugh or cry at their accusations. Minister Ćorić's statements last night during Otvoreno and Prime Minister Plenković's statements can be read as an open threat. The first concrete action to show that the threat is serious is the arrest of gym owner Andrija. It is a serious derogation from democratic principles; we as a nation must fight for our rights," Oreščanin said.

"We are fighting for a country of happy citizens that will not be held hostage by politics."
"We are fighting by absolutely legal means for the rights of entrepreneurs, employees, all citizens, and for Croatia 2.0, a country of happy citizens that will not be held hostage by politics," he added.

Several thousand people are expected to protest.

"Over 3,200 people signed up on Facebook, over 1,200 through official registrations, and at least 800 caterers and about 200 people from Rijeka should arrive. It is realistic to expect from 1,000 to 5,000 people, and maybe more," says Oreščanin.

An appeal to all who come to protest
He appeals to everyone who comes to the Square to adhere to epidemiological rules and general rules of conduct.

"It is necessary for everyone at the Square to adhere to epidemiological measures and for everyone who will make a statement to be polite, to express their opinion in a dignified manner. It is essential to keep in mind that people may be involved as provocateurs even after these threats from the top authorities. That is why we appeal to people not to fall prey to any provocations," he noted.

"Andrija Klarić said he would come and invited everyone to come."
He said that the detained gym owner was also coming, who was released last night.

"Andrija Klarić said that he would come and he invited everyone to come, we will help him in the legal battle," said Oreščanin.

"We believe that it will be the day when the government will finally start listening to the citizens and working in the interest of the citizens."

He sent a clear message ahead of the protest.

"Our message is in the entrepreneurial sense that there must be no discrimination, that people should be fairly compensated and that measures should be fair, but it is also broader than that. The message to Plenković is that we are not a small group of instigators; there are people in this country who have the right to rule. In democracies, the government is there to serve its people, not to humiliate, insult and drive them into pens like sheep. We believe that tomorrow will be the day when the government will finally start listening to the citizens and working in the interest of the citizens," Oreščanin concluded.

Bujas: It is crystal clear that staying at home or acting on Facebook has not achieved anything all this time
Index also asked the President of the Voice of Entrepreneurs, Hrvoje Bujas, the same question - why does he think that people should come to the protest at Ban Jelačić Square?

"It is crystal clear that nothing has been achieved by staying at home or acting on Facebook all this time. We have not received any adequate economic measures or a clear plan when it comes to epidemiological measures.

We demand that others who are on their knees and who have a large drop in traffic be compensated, but also that the implementation of all this is far, far more efficient. It is up to two, two and a half months late with the compensation of 4,000 kuna, which is actually paid to the employees," Bujas said.

He said that their message was much broader than economic measures for the corona crisis and aimed at changing Croatian society for the better.

"All of you who dream of a fairer Croatia - come to the square."
"We are looking for key reforms; we can't say it doesn't matter because we are all very concerned. Let all the people who come to the Square say what they think, we will set up a camera, and everyone will have thirty seconds to say what they have. Let the government see that there is a Croatia that is thrown to its knees that does not know what will happen tomorrow. We expect from the government a clear plan for vaccination and measures, which we never received, and we expect reforms.

All of you who want to hear a clear plan, who are looking for efficient economic measures, who dream of a fairer Croatia, come to the Square," Bujas said.

He says they have been treated as enemies by the authorities in recent days.

"It is not clear to me why Plenković tolerates Ćorić, who is the main reason for the failure of the negotiations."
"The Voice of Entrepreneurs has been giving a hand to those in power since day one, which is normal if we want to achieve some changes, but we cannot be manipulated, and it bothers them. I can even publicly praise most ministers, except one - Tomislav Ćorić. He never answered our email, he did not want to be found, and de facto interrupted the negotiations that were going in the right direction. My question is why Plenković tolerates Ćorić. I can't figure it out. We remain persistent in demanding Ćorić's resignation. We are looking for a man who can give a solution, not deepen the crisis. The direct culprit for the termination of negotiations and for our taking to the streets is Minister Ćorić. In a way, we are also endangering our health, although everyone at the Square will adhere to all measures. I received a positive rapid test for COVID-19, and I will certainly not come to the Square tomorrow to endanger anyone's health, but that is the only reason I will stay at home. I call on everyone who comes to adhere to epidemiological measures and to be responsible people; I understand the frustration, but let us show an example of how to behave in a public space and how to keep healthy," Bujas told Index.

"There are two Croatias. In one Croatia, people go to the stock market, and in the other, everything is fine, and salaries are still rising."
But he says that doesn't mean people at the protest shouldn't say what they think.

"Say everything that is on your mind because they obviously live in another Croatia, where everything is fine. There are two Croatians. In one Croatia, people go to the stock exchange, and in the other, everything is fine, and salaries are still rising. Why don't they hear that there is also that Croatia where everything is not right, where people are on their knees? Who are we insulting when we tell the truth? " Bujas wonders.

"Any repression at the protest would be the twilight of democracy."
He hopes there will be no problems with the police at the protest, which reacted rather repressively on Monday when some entrepreneurs and caterers opened their facilities in protest.

"Any repression at the protest would be the twilight of democracy; these are people who want to say everything they think."

Mate Janković: Why will I be at the Square? Because I don’t want to play under these rules anymore
The famous chef Mate Jaković, who has been cooking in Banija with other volunteer chefs in recent weeks, also announced his arrival at the protest.

He explained why he was coming to the protest.

"Why will I be at the Square on Wednesday at 10.00? It has nothing to do with Covid or the measures. The business climate in this country was bad before Covid. We were backward, corrupt, and a bad society before, and there is a huge chance that we will stay that way after Covid. That's the main reason I'm coming. Nothing in my life has motivated me enough to go out on the road and express dissatisfaction, but grumbling on Facebook is no longer an option. I can no longer stand by and act like I don't care because it's just not true. I've had enough. I'll either try to change as much as possible, or I'll go to another country and build my life there. But under these rules, I don't want to play anymore," Janković wrote.

The protest announcement 
The Voice of Entrepreneurs Association previously published an announcement of the protest in which it explained its reasons for the protest.

"If entrepreneurs and workers are banned from working, which is a constitutional and human right, they should be adequately compensated. Why is Croatia not a country equal for all, for those in the public and those in the private sector? Why are entrepreneurs second-class citizens who are not cared for by their government? It is time to hear the voice of the people, the voice of reason, and the voice of entrepreneurs! We invite all entrepreneurs, craftspeople, employees, and citizens to join us. Each of them will say, from 10 am on the Square, one by one, and through live stream: Enough is enough! Enough bad crisis management! It is enough that entrepreneurs and employees in the private sector are second-class citizens. Why is Croatia not a country of equals?" reads the beginning of the protest announcement published by the Voice of Entrepreneurs.

"The Government of the Republic of Croatia and the National Civil Protection Headquarters have been destroying micro, small and medium enterprises for months with inconsistent, discriminatory, and bad decisions. Many entrepreneurs have had their constitutional right to work revoked without any compensation. Unlike many European countries, Croatia has not taken a single step to compensate entrepreneurs. If the right to work is prohibited, it should be adequately compensated. However, the Government of the Republic of Croatia does not seem to want to understand that. Entrepreneurs care about their health and respect the government's decisions, even when they are illogical and discriminatory. But this action is a painful cry with which we want to say: The Government of the Republic of Croatia, you have forgotten those who feed you. Recall, job preservation measures are helpful for workers, not for companies. Fixed costs will be reimbursed in just two months to those who are formally closed, while for all others, some of which have a drop in turnover of more than 90 percent, no one cares, not even our Ministry of Economy. If this continues, there will be no jobs to be saved at all," they write.

They added that they had enough of the highest taxes in Europe.

"Well, we have had enough of the injustice that entrepreneurs have suffered since the beginning of the crisis, we have had enough of the highest taxes in the European Union, we have had enough of double standards, and we have had enough of discriminatory decisions. We believe that we have everything we need to be a prosperous and competitive country. Still, it is time for the Republic of Croatia's Government to listen to experts and entrepreneurs finally.

For these reasons, we are organizing an action to show that citizens are dissatisfied with the poor management of the crisis and to make their voices heard. Entrepreneurs and their employees in times of greatest crisis seek help to survive from a system that they have been financing for decades and in which they are paying billions of kuna. It is time for that same system to start taking care of them in an adequate way.

We see the crisis as an opportunity to reset a system that has not served society for years. It is also time to abolish the hundreds of parafiscal taxes that burden the citizens of this state. Also, we believe that now is the opportunity to abolish the payment of mandatory membership fees in the Croatian Chamber of Commerce and the Croatian Chamber of Trades and Crafts, which are just another in a series of taxes for entrepreneurs," the statement said.

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