International Medical Corps' Donation Delivered To Croatia
ZAGREB, June 3, 2020 - A HRK 1 million donation of the International Medical Corps from the USA was presented to Croatia's Health Ministry on Wednesday by the head of the Croatian office of that global humanitarian organization, Ivana Petkovic.
The donation, delivered to the Croatian civil protection directorate's logistic centre in Jastrebarsko, consists of 70,400 KN95 ventilator masks, 12,000 face shields, and 18 pulse oximeters. The donation is aimed at contributing to the protection of Croatian medical staff against the coronavirus.
Seeing that Zagreb and its environs were struck by the March 22 devastating earthquake which put some of the health institutions and medical equipment out of use, the International Medical Corps made this donation in an effort to relieve the consequences of the earthquake, the civil protection directorate informed.
In attendance at the donation-delivery ceremony was US Ambassador to Croatia William Robert Kohorst, Croatian Assistant Interior Minister Damir Trut, and the director of the Croatian Emergency Medical Service, Maja Grba Bujevic.
The International Medical Corps is a global, nonprofit, humanitarian aid organisation dedicated to saving lives and relieving suffering by providing emergency medical services, as well as healthcare training and development programs, to those affected by disaster, disease or conflict.
Croatia has intensified its cooperation with the USA in the area of civil protection over the past five years particularly with the Minnesota National Guard in the segment of disaster response preparedness through exchanging the know-how in the prevention and participating in exercises in the field.
Some of Croatia's Fish Face Extinction Thanks To Invasive Species
June 3, 2020 — Invasive species drawn by waters warmed by climate change may endanger many of the Adriatic's signature dwellers.
It has been several years since divers first warned of the chaos that reigns in the underwater world. First, they began to notice that sponges were dying out in the Adriatic. Then, in some central Dalmatian locations, mussels disappeared.
Then the noble pen shell clam, a beautiful, elegant Mediterranean species, began dying, with literal hit the fields of the clam turned it into tombs. All this is accompanied by records and expert evidence of amateurs and professionals about elevated sea temperatures.
In Istria, the leader of Umag's fishermen, Danijel Kolec, told Slobodna Dalmacija that the sponges in the Adriatic bear no resemblance to their ancestors. They're now full of acid.
"There can be so much acid that people now have to wear gloves because blisters come out of their hands when they come in contact with [the sponges," he said. "In addition, we lost sea urchins, and seaweed, but the population of crabs has increased significantly. Especially Armaron or Tenkista as we fishermen call him, because of the characteristic strong red-pink pliers."
All this knowledge only builds on what researchers and locals have been noticing for a long time. It is an influx of new fish species, which due to their aggressiveness and toxicity pose a specific threat to the fauna of the Mediterranean. They are led by several of the most deadly, for example, the blue-spotted trumpeter, which is also called the Lessepsian sprinter due to its rapid conquest of the Mediterranean. It is among the 100 ‘worst’ invasive species in European waters.
Prominent Croatian researcher Dr. Jakov Dulčić, head of the Laboratory for Ichthyology and Coastal Fishing of the Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries in Split, said the last census of fish from 2000 found 664 species classified in 156 families in the Mediterranean.
"This number has certainly changed over the last 15 years so that now it could already be around 772 species," he told the paper. "The biodiversity of ichthyofauna or fish stocks of the Mediterranean Sea has undergone dizzying changes in the last few decades. There have been a number of migrations."
Climate change has warmed the Adriatic, enticing thermophilic fish who prefer warm waters.
Where did these fish come from? Most of the new species came to the Mediterranean from the Red Sea, via the Suez Canal. They are accompanied by those from the Atlantic Ocean.
There is a smaller number of those who migrated through ballast water, escape from aquaculture and aquariums.
"The Mediterranean Sea, one of the most complex marine ecosystems, inhabits rich and diverse wildlife, disproportionate to its dimensions," Dr. Dulčić said. "Currently, this world is under the influence of various pressures, mainly caused by human activity such as climate change and bioinvasions."
The Mediterranean's location makes it sensitive to climate change, he added.
The opening of the Suez Canal, and then the construction of the Aswan Dam, created a convenient path for foreign marine species to enter the Mediterranean Sea. Tropical fish entered, including the so-called Lessepsian migrants resembling blue-spotted trumpeters. Or species of Atlantic origin. As a result of the warming trends of the Mediterranean, as well as the increased intensity of shipping, they are spreading rapidly throughout the Mediterranean basin.
Over 100 foreign, exotic species now roam the Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas. One of the most significant threats is the blue-spotted cornetfish, a distinct predator that feeds on many important fish species. Therefore, its impact on the food chain is very high.
The peacock fish, for example, arrived in the Mediterranean from the Indian Ocean through the Suez Canal. It was first spotted in 1991 in Israeli waters. In 2012 it was caught in Lebanon and has been spreading north ever since.
Dulčić said that fortunately there are no finds in the Adriatic yet, but there are in Italy, near the Gulf of Taranto, and in the Ionian Sea, near the islands of Kefalonia and Corfu, and in Greece, and may reach Croatia's coastal waters in due time.
The same fish caused an extremely high mortality of benthic organisms along the American and Caribbean coasts since the 1980s when it ‘escaped’ from a Florida aquarium.
The predator reduced the numbers of 40 species of coral fish by about 65 percent in those waters. At the same time, the catch of certain species of fish decreased, primarily from the family of barbed wire.
A peacock sting can be deadly. The large number of this species, primarily in the entire Levant, leads to fears that the same scenario is being prepared in Mediterranean waters.
"The sea peacock species spread quickly, has high fertility, and grows faster than other fish. If this species reaches the Adriatic Sea, then the temperature could be a limiting factor for its northern parts in the first place, especially in winter when sea temperatures are low, as it has been so far for some other foreign species," Dulčić explained.
The key question is what awaits us, what kind of future is in store for us? The Mediterranean climate is expected to become warmer and drier, with increasing year-on-year variability due to extreme heat and drought.
The warming trend experiencing the Mediterranean is also affecting the distribution of its indigenous species. How this will affect the very sensitive Mediterranean Sea is still unknown.
'Enough Of Robbery' Political Platform Established To Fight Corruption
ZAGREB, June 3, 2020 - Leaders of the political platform organised under the name "Enough of Robbery" led by the Human Shield and Let's Change Croatia parties announced on Wednesday their committed fight against corruption and called on citizens to support them in the upcoming parliamentary election.
The coalition will run in the election under the slogan "No Compromise", and it supported by Vesna Balenovic of the Whistleblowers Association and several non-parliamentary parties and associations.
Warning that a difficult economic situation awaits in autumn, Human Shield leader Ivan Vilibor Sincic said that the country had to brace itself for that and had to fight for its future, soul and heart. "Croatia must group into two camps. Our camp is the one that wants to fight corruption and wants reforms, and the other camp - organised around the HDZ and SDP, wants the status quo," he said.
Leader of the Let's Change Croatia party, Ivan Lovrinovic, said that they were combining youth and activism with knowledge and experience to put an end to the current unbearable state, adding that capillary corruption had spread all over Croatia.
UNICEF Donates HRK 480,000 For Upgrading Distance Learning
ZAGREB, June 3, 2020 - UNICEF Croatia has donated over HRK 480,000 for upgrading the infrastructure needed for secure distance learning, its officials said on Wednesday.
The procurement of a new data storage system enables a secure and quality implementation of online education in Croatia, a press release said.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the amount of data in CARNET (Croatian Academic and Research Network) systems increased multifold in a short time, so UNICEF has invested in tape libraries so that all data and contents can be safely stored.
This step, it was said, has long term effects on education also as children will use virtual classrooms and online learning tools also after returning to school.
Science and Education Minister Blazenka Divjak said distance learning in Croatia was a pioneering endeavour thanks to which education was ensured for students in extraordinary circumstances due to the pandemic.
"Thanks to the curricular reform in schools, we equipped them in time, creating the prerequisites so that this type of teaching could be possible," she said, thanking the donors.
"Since distance learning began, half a million teachers and students daily have been accessing numerous apps, services, and tools via their electronic identity in the AAI@EduHr system," said CARNET director Goran Kezunovic.
The head of UNICEF Croatia, Regina M. Castillo, said education was not just the right of every child but the biggest opportunity they could be given.
UNICEF has also worked on providing tablets and SIM cards for needy children as well as on the preparation of guidelines and advice on COVID-19 so that children, parents, and experts are informed in time and correctly, she added.
(€1 = HRK 7.58)
Austria Opens Borders to Neighbours Except Italy, Croatia Not On List Yet
ZAGREB, June 3, 2020 - Austria is lifting all restrictions on cross-border travel with its neighbouring countries, except with Italy, as of Thursday, and restrictions are still in place for travel from Croatia, Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg was quoted by Reuters as saying.
The abolition of restrictive measures introduced due to the coronavirus pandemic also refers to the abolition of mandatory quarantine for persons coming from abroad and of health checks of persons coming from seven countries - Germany, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Slovakia, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, and Hungary.
The measure of quarantine and the obligation of having a negative test result for the coronavirus have been lifted for all travellers returning to Austria from abroad.
Health Minister Rudolf Anschober told reporters that he had not ruled out the possibility of opening borders to Italy mid-June, given the fact that the coronavirus situation in many Italian regions is similar to that in Austria's neighbouring countries.
As Minister Schallenberg said, Austria decided to ease restriction measures earlier than planned because it wanted to do it at the same time as Germany, which allowed entry to citizens of 29 European countries as of Wednesday.
Asked about travel to countries like Croatia and Greece, popular holiday destinations among Austrians, the foreign minister said that the government in Vienna would decide on it next week.
Negotiations are ongoing with the government in Rome to allow travel to those Italian region deemed safe.
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Flights to Croatia: Lufthansa Boosts Traffic to Croatia, Smartwings to Split and Dubrovnik
June 3, 2020 - The latest news from around Croatia’s airports for flights to Croatia with updates from Zagreb, Split and Dubrovnik, and Zadar.
As we announced earlier, Lufthansa will fly from Frankfurt to Dubrovnik and Pula from the end of June. However, Croatian Aviation announced today that the company published a modified flight schedule to destinations in Croatia, according to which Lufthansa normally operates in the summer flight schedule.
In addition to the reintroduction of the Frankfurt-Dubrovnik route, Lufthansa will operate again on the Munich-Dubrovnik route from June 20, once a week, every Saturday. A larger number of weekly flights is expected from the beginning of July when the company could fly on both routes (from Frankfurt and Munich) daily to Dubrovnik.
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Lufthansa is returning to Split Airport, connecting this city with Frankfurt and Munich.
From June 20, the line Munich - Split will be introduced, once a week, every Saturday, and from June 27, the line Frankfurt - Split, also once a week, on Saturdays. As is the case with Dubrovnik, a number of weekly flights to Split Airport is expected from July.
On routes to Split and Dubrovnik, Lufthansa will use aircraft from the A320 family (A319, A320, A321) in accordance with the demand and booking on each flight. Smaller aircraft will be used on the route from Frankfurt to Pula.
Likely, the company will not launch other routes to Croatia (Zadar and Rijeka) in June, while the Munich-Zagreb route will most likely be launched by Croatia Airlines, with which Lufthansa has a code-share agreement.
Furthermore, Brussels Airlines previously announced that it would not fly to Zagreb and Zadar this summer season, but has retained the option of launching flights to Dubrovnik and Split.
Croatian Aviation reports that the airline announced a plan to resume regular operations to European destinations from June 15, and from June 27, the destination network will include the Brussels - Dubrovnik line.
The company will operate on the Brussels - Dubrovnik line twice a week, every Tuesday and Sunday, on an A320 aircraft with a capacity of 180 passengers in the fleet of this carrier.
The company plans to introduce regular flights on the Brussels - Split route from July, and at the beginning of next month, the company will increase the number of weekly flights to Dubrovnik (probably to four weeks). The flight schedule of this company for July has not been finalized yet, and when it is confirmed, we will publish the details.
Croatian Aviation also reports that Spanish airline Iberia has announced the resumption of its flights to destinations in Europe as well as those in the US. Among others, the company has included the Madrid-Dubrovnik route in its schedule.
The company normally operates to Zagreb, Zadar, Split and Dubrovnik from Madrid in the summer flight schedule, but in July, according to current announcements, it will only launch a line to Dubrovnik.
From mid-July, Iberia will operate on the Madrid-Dubrovnik - Madrid route 3 times a week, and announces daily flights from the beginning of August. The company has previously announced larger aircraft, the wide-body A332, but, likely, this type of aircraft will not be used on the route to Dubrovnik Airport this summer season, given that demand will be lower than planned before the pandemic.
The route will be operated by A321 aircraft, which has a capacity of 200 passengers in the Iberian fleet.
The company confirmed to us that the flight schedule for July has not yet been finalized, so the possibility of introducing lines from Madrid to Zagreb and Split is left, while the line Madrid - Zadar is expected from August.
Finally, Avio Radar reports that Czech airline Smartwings announced the resumption of flights on June 10. The first flight announced that day is from Prague to Split. The flight to Split will be followed by the launch of other routes, mainly to Greece and Bulgaria.
The Prague-Split route will run twice a week in the first week, on Wednesday and Saturday. The second week of traffic will see an additional flight introduced on Monday, and from June 24, the line will operate daily. The Prague-Dubrovnik line has been announced from July 1, every day. From Poland, lines from Katowice and Warsaw to Split are on offer once a week, on Thursdays, from June 18.
Charter lines are also planned, namely Ostrava-Split, on Saturdays from June 13 and Polish destinations Gdansk, Katowice, Poznan, and Warsaw to Dubrovnik from June 25 once a week, on Thursdays.
Boeing 737-800 aircraft will fly on the routes, and smaller Boeing 737-700 aircraft or larger Boeing 737-900s can also fly.
PM Says Croatia Today Better Than In 2016
ZAGREB, June 3, 2020 - Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said on Wednesday Croatia today was certainly a better country than in 2016, when his government came to power, adding that "We are going after a vote of confidence for the second half."
Speaking on Croatian Radio, he said that in the first half, since 2016, the government worked on four promises made to citizens - political stability, legal certainty, economic growth, and social solidarity.
Plenkovic reiterated that during his government wages increased, the average pay by HRK 1,150, that pensions increased, that Croatia had a sound economic growth, a budget surplus for three years, that the public debt was reduced and that the country came out of the excessive budget deficit procedure.
He said his HDZ party aimed to win 61 seats in parliament, as it did almost four years ago.
He said the July 5 election would be particularly because the right of centre was the HDZ, the Homeland Movement and Bridge, and on the other end a coalition which he said had no solutions. He underlined the importance of preventing a repeat of the dissipation of votes on the right.
FDI In Croatia In 2019 Highest Since 2014
ZAGREB, June 3, 2020 - In 2019, foreign direct investments in Croatia totaled €1.24 billion, up 19% on the year, and that was the highest annual amount of FDI since 2014.
The highest amount (€286 million) came from Luxembourg, followed by Austria (€257M), Slovenia (€140.8M) and Germany (€135M).
A major outflow was generated with Switzerland (€157.8M).
From 1993 through 2019, Croatia received €31.8 billion in FDI. In that period, banking accounted for over 22% of FDI, followed by investments in wholesale (9.3%) and real estate transactions (6.9%).
Last year saw a major annual increase in direct ownership investments in real estate and manufacturing, notably the car and food industries.
Raiffeisen Bank analysts say a major problem Croatia continues to face and which obstructs FDI is an unfavourable business climate.
Coric: Wind Park Decision Annulled After Consultations With State Prosecutor's Office
ZAGREB, June 3, 2020 - Environment and Energy Minister Tomislav Coric on Tuesday commented on the wind park scandal, saying that after consultations with the Chief State Prosecutor's Office (DORH), it was decided to annul a decision on a new acceptability estimate for the Krs-Padjene wind park, thereby unblocking the project.
In May and June 2017, before I took the minister's office, consultations began with DORH on the matter, after which we embarked on annulling the decision from March in order to protect Croatia's interest and defend ourselves from potential lawsuits, Coric told reporters in Karlovac.
A potential lawsuit could have been filed by the investor to sue Croatia for damages that could have been incurred by the failure to realise the project, he said.
Staff from the ministry's legal and environmental protection departments consulted the deputy chief state prosecutor in July before a commission was established and the decision was annulled, Coric said, adding that in the meantime he exchanged e-mails with the then chief state prosecutor Dinko Cvitan and his deputies.
Asked why his predecessor Slaven Dobrovic did not do that, Coric said the reason was that during his 18 months in office, Dobrovic "did nothing about environmental protection and energy."
He added that Dobrovic's decision of March was subject to a lawsuit. He said the goal of the commission established in July 2017 was to protect Croatia's long term interests in this case.
Asked if it was customary for the executive authority to consult DORH, Coric said that in this case, it was necessary.
Given that the direction could have been problematic for Croatia, we contacted DORH. If we hadn't, I doubt I would have made such a decision, he added.
Coric went on to say that he met with the investor in the Krs-Padjene wind park, Milenko Basic, several times at the ministry in the company of his lawyers and that Basic informed him about his intentions.
I did not see that as pressure because, as the investor, he only presented his legal positions, Coric said, adding that he never discussed the project with Josipa Rimac, a former state secretary at the Public Administration Ministry arrested last week as part of a probe into the wind park project on suspicion of corruption.
Speaking of the Krs-Padjene wind park project, he said: "It's been completed, I don't know if entirely. I suppose incentives have started too." He added that it was private investment.
How Can Foreign and Croatian Sailors Cross Croatian Maritime Borders?
June the 3rd, 2020 - The coronavirus crisis has wreaked havoc with the global travel industry. With many questions surrounding border closers, re-openings, flights and accommodation, the pandemic has caused many issues. As Croatia's formerly stringent anti-epidemic measures are now loosened, just how can seafarers cross Croatian maritime borders and what must they ensure is done?
Let's take a look at the official Decision/Decree (Odluka) on what needs to be done when crossing Croatian maritime borders which has now been entered into the Official Gazette (Narodne Novine), which I have translated into English in full:
Regarding the application of the Decision on the temporary prohibition of crossing the border crossings of the Republic of Croatia (Official Gazette No. 32/20 and 48/20), and the Decision on the amendments [made] to the same decision on the 9th of May, 2020, and following the previously published recommendations by the Croatian Institute of Public Health, we will provide additional clarifications and instructions:
Crossing the state border for foreign and Croatian sailors/seafarers:
Croatian sailors/seafarers who are returning to the Republic of Croatia after having been docked in any country in the world no longer have to go into mandatory self-isolation, but they still must respect epidemiological controls, and have an obligation to comply with both the general and special recommendations issued by the Croatian Institute of Public Health.
The latest changes enable the embarkation of all foreign nationals on ships of the merchant navy and yachts that are in berths in the Republic of Croatia.
After boarding a vessel, foreign nationals and crew members of a vessel or a yacht also don't have to go into self-isolation when aboard the vessel, but they still must respect epidemiological controls, and have an obligation to comply with both the general and special recommendations issued by the Croatian Institute of Public Health.
Foreign nationals who are members of the crews of ships and yachts already in the ports of the Republic of Croatia will be allowed to cross Croatian maritime borders in accordance with the regulations governing state border surveillance.
Maritime agents, who, after disembarking in the Republic of Croatia, are organising the return of sailors/seafarers from third countries back to their respective homelands, are recommended to ensure the needs surrounding longer-term visas in advance. When organising travel, they are obliged to take into account possible restrictions in all transit countries so that the return is completed in the shortest possible time.
The Decree amending the Decree on Border Crossings of the Republic of Croatia (Official Gazette 38/2020) of the 30th of March, 2020, which, for the protection of the health of the population of the Republic of Croatia during the epidemic of the COVID-19 disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, closed permanent border crossings for international passenger traffic (maritime) remains in force.
These include: Umag, Porec, Rovinj, Mali Losinj , Korcula and Ubli. The opening of seasonal border crossings for international maritime passenger traffic referred to in Article 27 of the Regulation, has been temporarily postponed. In this sense, and while this Regulation remains in force, border control in seaports cannot be carried out at the aforementioned border crossings.
The arrival of foreign citizens who own yachts and boats located in the Republic of Croatia:
This instruction applies to yachts and boats on which accommodation and multi-day stays are possible.
Foreign nationals who own yachts and boats in the Republic of Croatia, except for citizens who are exempted from the obligation to prove the reason for their entry (Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovenia, Germany and Slovakia) in accordance with the amendment to the Decision on the temporary prohibition of crossing the borders of the Republic of Croatia of the 28th of April, 2020, foreign nationals can cross the Croatian maritime border with the presentation of documentation proving the ownership of a vessel and documentation proving that they are the user of the vessel (a lease agreement).
Along with documentation proving the ownership of the vessel, it is necessary to submit a berth contract and/or a confirmation of the nautical tourism port at which the vessel is located.
For vessels owned by a legal entity, foreign nationals who can prove that they are the owners or that they are the persons made responsible for the vessel shall be considered the owners of such vessels in regard to the above instructions.
In addition to the owner of the vessel, members of their immediate family may also cross the state border. When, in addition to the owner, members of the vessel owner's immediate family are on board the vessel, in addition to presenting the documents listed above, it is necessary to present the completed list of crew and passengers of the yacht or personal boat attached to this instruction.
The arrival of other foreign nationals:
Renting a charter boat, ie using accommodation services provided on ships, yachts and boats is considered an important economic reason for entering Croatia. This can be proved by presenting the list of names of the crew and passengers entered into the eNautika system by the charter company or the owner of the vessel themselves.
Entry and navigation in the Republic of Croatia:
All Croatian and foreign boats and yachts are allowed to enter the Republic of Croatia. In order to avoid unplanned crowds, the owner or user of a foreign boat or yacht is recommended to submit their data before entering Croatian territory on the appropriate website. You must enter your planned sailing route, planned berths, a mobile phone number and an e-mail address via which you can be contacted.
International cruisers carrying more than forty (40) passengers are prohibited from entering Croatian seaports and inland ports.
When the vessel is docked in a Croatian port which is open to public traffic and/or in nautical tourism ports, it is necessary to prevent the transfer of guests and crew members from one vessel to another.
Upon entering the Republic of Croatia, all Croatian and foreign citizens are obliged to follow the general and special recommendations and instructions of the Croatian Institute of Public Health issued for Croatian and foreign citizens crossing the state border and entering the Republic of Croatia from the 9th of May 2020.
More information on coronavirus and the measures to reduce the risk of spreading the disease can be found on the CNIPH's website, or by making contact with selected a physician and/or the epidemiologist responsible for the area of Croatia you're in.
For all vessels that do not have built-in automatic identification systems (AIS) or some other electronic navigation tracking system, it is recommended that records of all landings from the beginning of navigation to the end of navigation are kept.
All Croatian and foreign citizens in Croatia are obliged to comply with all of the epidemiological measures published by the Croatian Institute of Public Health.
Croatian nautical tourism ports, charter companies and boat owners organising multi-day maritime travel are obliged to adjust their work and their provision of services to the specific recommendations issued by the Croatian Institute of Public Health.
For more on Croatian maritime borders, land borders and all other types of travel, follow this page.
