No Reconstruction Possible Without Imported Workers, Says Daily
ZAGREB, 15 January, 2021 - Reconstruction in areas hit by the devastating earthquake in Sisak-Moslavina County will not be possible without importing workers from Asia or Ukraine, the Večernji List daily said in an article on Friday, noting that contractors in Croatia are warning of a critical labour shortage.
The construction sector is one of the few sectors in which the number of workers increased last year, by about 7,000 from the same period in 2019.
Currently there are about 124,000 workers in the construction sector, the third largest in the country, after the manufacturing industry and retail. However, all stakeholders in that sector say that manpower will be the main obstacle to reconstruction in the earthquake-hit areas.
Even prior to the latest earthquake companies in the sector had up to 5,000 vacancies that they could not fill even with workers from foreign markets. In 2020 contractors employed about 23,000 foreign workers while Mirjana Čagalj, the vice president of the construction sector in the Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK), expects they will all remain and that contractors will have to hire another 10,000 imported workers.
Recently channels were opened to hire workers from India and other Asian countries as well as Ukraine.
The Employment Service has decided to enhance its programme to hire the long-term unemployed for public works in Sisak-Moslavina County, its initial plan being to employ about 500 people. Should there be further interest or need, that number can be increased.
Workers in these jobs are earning a minimum wage which amounts to HRK 3,400 net a month, in addition to travel allowance. Social Democrat MP Davorko Vidović, who is from Sisak and has for years been working with the HGK on issues related to the labour market, is confident that that programme could provide a social component but that it will not resolve the problem of labour shortage in the construction sector, the daily says.
PM Says Croatia Marking Anniversary of Int'l Recognition With Pride, Gratitude
ZAGREB, 15 January, 2021 - Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said on Friday, on the occasion of the 29th anniversary of Croatia's international recognition and the 23rd anniversary of the peaceful reintegration of its Danube region, that Croatia was marking the two anniversaries with pride and gratitude to its defenders.
"The anniversaries of Croatia's international recognition and the peaceful reintegration of the Danube region are important dates in the country's history. We are marking them feeling proud of all our accomplishments and grateful to Croatian defenders and all others who sacrificed themselves for Croatia's freedom and independence," said Plenković.
He recalled that Croatia, a UN, NATO and EU member, was today a relevant partner in many global and regional organisations.
In the first half of 2020, Croatia chaired the Council of the European Union for the first time, in what were unprecedented circumstances in Europe and the rest of the world, he said.
"By continuing to strengthen Croatia's international position, the government is committed to achieving the two remaining strategic goals - accession to the euro area and entry to the Schengen area," said the PM.
Commenting on the coronavirus pandemic and the devastating earthquake that hit Croatia at the end of 2020, Plenković said that the Croatian people had shown unity, resilience and strength in the most difficult circumstances, and he thanked the numerous countries and organisations that had sent help to earthquake victims and shown solidarity with Croatia.
"We are embarking on a new decade with the ambition, despite all challenges, to continue making progress in terms of economic and social development and reforms, making the most of our increasingly strong international position and membership of the EU to the benefit of all citizens and with the aim of fast economic recovery," Plenković said in his message.
Croatia Reports 715 New COVID-19 Infections, 33 Deaths
ZAGREB, 15 January, 2021 - In the past 24 hours there have been 715 new COVID-19 cases and 33 related fatalities, the national COVID-19 response team said on Friday.
There are 4,653 active cases in the country, of whom 1,855 are people who are hospitalised, including 160 on ventilators.
Since 25 February, when the first case of the infection was reported, there have been 223,812 infections, including 4,550 fatalities. A total of 214,609 people have recovered from the disease, including 1,239 in the past 24 hours.
Currently 18,048 people are in self-isolation.
A total of 1,107,887 people have been tested for coronavirus, with 5,335 tests conducted in the past 24 hours, the response team reported.
Croatia Still Above EU Average in Terms of House Price Growth
ZAGREB, 15 January, 2021 - In Q3 2020 Croatia continued to record an increase in house prices that was above the EU average but it was also among the four countries where those prices fell compared to the previous quarter, shows a Eurostat report.
Real estate prices in the EU in Q3 2020 rose by 5.2% from the same period of 2019 and the same increase was also registered in Q2.
In the euro area house prices grew by 4.9%, just as in Q2.
Among the EU countries for which data were available, house prices grew the most in Q3 again in Luxembourg, by 13.6%, and in Poland, by 10.9%. Austria followed with an increase of 8.8%.
In Croatia, prices of real estate in Q3 2020 grew by 6.9% from the same period of 2019. They grew by 8.3% in Q2 and by 9.1% in Q1.
A year-on-year decline in house prices was reported in Q3 only by Cyprus and Ireland, of 1.4% and 0.8% respectively.
House prices in the EU in Q3 grew by 1.4% from Q2, when they rose at the same rate.
Among EU countries, real estate prices in Q3 grew the most on the quarter in Hungary, by 5.2%, according to preliminary statistics.
Hungary is followed by Denmark and Latvia, with quarterly increases of 4.2% and 3.7% respectively.
In Croatia house prices in Q3 were down from Q2 for the first time in slightly more than two years, by 0.6%. They grew by 1.8% in Q2 and by 2.7% in Q1.
The other countries that saw a quarterly drop in house prices were Cyprus (-4.8%), Romania (-2.6%) and Italy (-2.5%).
Moderate Quake Rocks Petrinja
ZAGREB, 15 January, 2021 - A moderate earthquake measuring 3.1 on the Richter scale was registered at 2.50 a.m. on Friday near Petrinja, the Croatian Seismological Survey reported.
The epicentre of the quake was 11 kilometres west-northwest of Petrinja.
Since midnight on 15 January another eight tremors measuring between 2 and 3 on the Richter scale were registered in the area, which was hit by a 6.2 magnitude earthquake on 29 December which claimed seven lives and caused extensive material damage.
Minister Says HRK 12 bn Secured for Post-Earthquake Reconstruction
ZAGREB, 15 January, 2021 - Construction Minister Darko Horvat said on Thursday that around HRK 12 billion had been secured through the EU Solidarity Fund, World Bank loans and the state budget for the reconstruction of areas hit by last year's earthquakes.
Speaking in an interview with the HTV public broadcaster, Horvat said that clear rules on how to organise reconstruction would be published in the Official Gazette within a month from the earthquake that hit Sisak-Moslavina County on 29 December.
He added that the government still did not have a complete financial framework for reconstruction but that so far HRK 12 billion (€1.6 billion) had been secured.
"Some sources are known and some we are still trying to secure. Around HRK 12 billion has been secured - through the Solidarity Fund, World Bank loans, the budget. As part of the National Recovery Plan we will also seek.... grants as well as loans," the minister said.
The Croatian government earlier on Thursday formulated amendments to the Act on Post-Earthquake Reconstruction, originally intended for the City of Zagreb and Zagreb and Krapina-Zagorje counties, hit by a 5.2 magnitude quake on 22 March 2020, to make the law refer also to the post-earthquake reconstruction of Sisak-Moslavina and Karlovac counties.
The reconstruction of buildings destroyed in the 29 December earthquake in Sisak-Moslavina and Karlovac counties will be fully financed by the state.
Bosnian Croats to finance reconstruction of one institution, houses
Leaders of the Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina said on Thursday they would finance the reconstruction of one state institution as well as build family houses in the quake-hit areas of Croatia.
This was agreed at a meeting in Mostar between the leader of the HDZ BiH party, Dragan Čović, and local officials from a number of towns and municipalities in the neighbouring country and visiting Croatian state secretaries Zvonko Milas and Nikola Mažar.
Solidarna foundation raises HRK 8.4 mn for quake-hit area
The Zagreb-based Solidarna foundation earlier this week reported that it had raised more than HRK 8.4 million (€1.12 million) for Sisak-Moslavina County.
Some of the donations paid into the foundation's 5.5 Fund have already been used to buy consumables for people affected by the earthquake and the foundation also plans to participate in the long-term reconstruction and recovery of the quake-hit county.
The 5.5 Fund was established by the Zagreb Earthquake Relief civic initiative and the Solidarna foundation after the 22 March 2020 earthquake in Zagreb. At the time, the foundation raised HRK 1.5 million for earthquake victims. It reactivated its fund after the earthquake in Sisak-Moslavina County and its fund-raising campaign is still underway.
July 2020 Parliamentary Election Costs HRK 8.5 mn Lower Than 2016 Election Costs
ZAGREB, 15 January, 2021 - The July 2020 parliamentary election cost HRK 101.5 million (€13.53 million), HRK 8.5 million less than the election held in 2016, shows the final report of the State Election Commission (DIP) on the cost of last year's vote.
The lower election costs are a result of savings made on allowances for the work of election bodies, owing to changes in tax rules.
Material costs, amounting to HRK 22.3 million, were close to two million kuna higher than in 2016, due to measures introduced to prevent the spread of the coronavirus infection.
Explaining why the final report was being published only now, DIP said that it adopts final reports on election costs only after the polling committees of the country's 12 constituencies have covered election costs in their constituencies.
U-21 Croatia Football Team to Play Euro Group Stage in Koper
January 15, 2021 - The U-21 Croatia football team will play their group stage matches of the European Under-21 Championship in Koper.
HNS reports that the European Football Federation (UEFA) has announced the final schedule of the European Under-21 Championship, which will also feature the young Croatia national team.
The U-21 Euros will be played in two parts. The first part, the group competition, is scheduled from March 24 to 31, and the knockout phase will be played from May 31 to June 6.
The young Croatia side will play all matches in Group D in Koper. In the first match on March 25 at 9 pm, they will face Portugal, followed by matches against Switzerland on March 28 (6 pm) and England on March 31 (6 pm).
The two first-placed teams from the group will advance to the knockout phase of the competition. The quarterfinal matches will be played on May 31 in Budapest, Szekesfehervar, Maribor, and Ljubljana, the semifinal on June 3 in Szekesfehervar and Maribor, and the final on June 6 in Ljubljana.
Euro, U-21, Group D match schedule:
March 25:
Koper: CROATIA - PORTUGAL
Koper: ENGLAND - SWITZERLAND
March 28:
Koper: CROATIA - SWITZERLAND
Ljubljana: PORTUGAL - ENGLAND
March 31:
Koper: CROATIA - ENGLAND
Ljubljana: SWITZERLAND - PORTUGAL
Recall, after a turbulent but successful journey through the qualifications, the Croatia U-21 side secured a spot at the 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.
After a huge victory against Lithuania in Pula (7:0) and Greece’s victory against Scotland (1:0) back in November, the young Vatreni won second place in the qualifying Group 4 for the European Championship, and the results in other groups allowed them to place among the five the best runners-up.
Before the final round, Croatia was in a difficult, almost hopeless situation. After they played 2:2 in Scotland and the Czech Republic defeated Greece, it was clear that Croatia lost their chances for first place.
The only hope for qualifying for the Euros was to get through among the top five runners-up. However, coach Igor Bišćan's side did not depend only on themselves, but on other matches' outcome.
In the end, it all came together.
To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page.
Vili Beros on Relaxing Measures in Croatia: Magic Number Is...
January 15, 2021 - Health Minister Vili Beros spoke about relaxing measures in Croatia on February 1 and the magic number needed to get there.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Headquarters has successfully avoided giving a heads up of when something will open or close.
However, Minister of Health Vili Beros knows best about what will open, when, and what we can hope for and revealed that magic number to RTL Direct on Thursday night.
The magic 14-day incidence rate is 300 per 100,000 inhabitants.
"More precisely, we are at 344 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants over 14 days, so we are not below 300 yet. This is why our epidemiologists avoid this famous traffic light. Precisely because the number of newly infected is not the only parameter. It’s not the same if you open in the winter or summer, it’s not the same if you have a mutated virus in the environment, it is not the same if the incidence is different in the environment and it is growing in some neighboring countries. Therefore, there are a number of parameters," Beros said.
However, the main epidemiologist Krunoslav Capak stated that something would change when the number falls below 300.
"Insisting on a certain orientation number, it is around 300, but at the moment, caution is needed above all. This good epidemiological situation offers optimism, but it is also encouraging the path we must take. The situation in Europe is not good, the virus mutation is not good, all these are factors that we must take into account when deciding on relaxing measures," Beros said.
The question remains when the measures will be relaxed. This is of particular interest to parents whose children are athletes.
"We have been saying since the beginning that it is necessary to monitor the epidemiological situation from day to day and make decisions. Therefore, at this moment, I cannot say that we will relax measures on February 1. This will depend exclusively on the epidemiological situation and several other factors that will be relevant in those days. If we do relax measures, it will be gradual, at this moment, we still do not have an order," said Beros and added:
"We can say that this will be one of the first activities, especially if these activities take place outside, in conditions that are epidemiologically satisfactory."
Croatia has the biggest decline in the number of new infections in Europe.
"We always say that it takes some time for the measures to take effect. There is also the responsibility of citizens, which is extremely important, and I think they increasingly realize that it is a serious disease that leads to death. Responsible behavior of citizens, as well as measures, have yielded these results," the minister said.
Vaccination in many countries is not going according to plan.
"Given that we are a small country, not so economically powerful, it is fortunate that we are a member of the European Union. It is on the principles of solidarity and fairness that ECDC has determined the dose for all EU countries using the Eurostat methodology. There is no dose war. We have a large number at our disposal, but the problem is that running in production is not easy. All producers have this problem, and later when it develops, it is a bit easier," Beros said, adding:
"Basically, I've been talking about spring, but it's more realistic to expect herd immunity by summer because 70 percent of the population needs to be vaccinated for it."
He also explained the course of vaccination, i.e., when young people should be vaccinated.
"We have seven priority groups in our plan. The seventh group is younger people who do not have any health problems, and, realistically, they will start getting vaccinated at the end of March and the beginning of April," Beros told RTL.
To read more about COVID-19 in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.
Flights to Croatia: Croatia Airlines Only Airline Offering London-Zagreb
January 15, 2021 - The latest news for flights to Croatia as Croatia Airlines is the only airline currently offering direct flights between London-Zagreb.
Croatian Aviation reports that Croatia Airlines is the only airline to offer direct flights between London and Zagreb in January and February this year.
After a new strain of coronavirus was found in the UK, there was a suspension of air traffic to and from this country. Thus, air traffic between Croatia and Great Britain was briefly suspended. At that time, two airlines were operating between London and Zagreb - Croatia Airlines and British Airways.
British Airways returned to Zagreb only briefly, during the holidays, and currently has no direct flights between London and Zagreb in January and February. The first flight available for booking on their official website is scheduled for Monday, March 1, 2021.
Given the development of the global pandemic, British Airways may further cancel said operations, but it is unwise to forecast a month or more in advance.
However, with the first days of 2021, the Croatian national airline started operating again on the route between London and Zagreb and offers direct flights between the two cities with a minimum weekly frequency, every Monday.
It is the only direct line from Croatia to London. Namely, other airports in the winter flight schedule do not have a direct line to this European metropolis, except for Dubrovnik, to which British Airways also operated in the winter, apart from this year.
From March 1, Croatia Airlines also plans to increase the number of weekly flights, but this will, as is the case with British Airways, primarily depend on the global pandemic and the demand.
Croatia Airlines operates A319 aircraft on the route between London and Zagreb, which have a capacity of 144 seats in the national airline's fleet. By the end of February, Croatia Airlines offers over 2,300 seats on direct flights between these two capital cities.
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