Croatia Travel Update: Answers to Recent FAQs, March 2, 2021
Last updated on March 2, 2021 - As Croatia announces another major change to the rules regulating entry to Croatia, we will continue to monitor the situation and include as much of the confirmed information in our FAQ. However, it's important to keep in mind that this article has not been fully updated with all of the currently relevant information.
The situation continues to change rapidly, but the questions and the confusion remain. In this article, we will try to provide clear answers to some of the most common questions asked in our Total Croatia Travel INFO Viber community.
One other major resource for additional information regarding travel to Croatia in 2021 is our main TCN Croatia Travel Update, updated with the most relevant information daily.
If you have any relevant information or experiences which can add to this resource or the TCN Croatia Travel Update, then please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Subject Update
1. Can I enter Croatia and do I need a test?
The answer to both those questions is "most probably".
You are allowed to enter Croatia if you're a citizen of the EU/EEA (EU 27 + Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, as well as Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, and the Vatican) or a non-EU citizen with an EU residence permit (or a member of their family, with documents to prove the kinship), no matter where you're arriving in Croatia from.
If you're arriving from the ECDC "Green list" region, and you can prove that you haven't stopped anywhere between that Green list region and Croatia and you show no symptoms of the disease and have not been in a close contact with an infected person you don't need a test. If you're arriving from a country listed on the so-called EU Safe List (as of October 22, 2020, the list includes Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Rwanda, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Uruguay, and China + Hong Kong and Macao), and you can prove that you haven't stopped anywhere between that Green list region and Croatia and you show no symptoms of the disease and have not been in a close contact with an infected person you don't need a test.
Everyone else (there is a list of exceptions, which mostly includes those in transit, leaving Croatia within 12 hours, persons traveling for necessary family or business reasons and patients traveling for urgent health reasons) needs to present a negative PCR test, not older than 48 hours (from the time of sampling until the time at the border crossing), or get tested immediately upon arrival in Croatia (at the travelers expense), and self-isolate until they receive a negative test result (up to 10 days).
Third-country nationals (non-EU, including the UK) will be allowed to enter Croatia under the same rules if they're arriving from the EU/EEA region, but need to show the reason for entering Croatia if they're arriving from a third-country. Seafearers and persons travelling for urgent personal/family reasons and business reasons or other economic interest will be allowed to enter if they present a negative PCR test, not older than 48 hours (from the time of sampling until the time at the border crossing), or get tested immediately upon arrival in Croatia (at the travelers expense), and self-isolate until they receive a negative test result (the self-isolation measure is issued for the period of 10 days). Passengers in transit from the third-countries will not be required to show a negative test result.
On December 14th, it was publicly announced on the Croatian police website that the travellers who can prove with the medical documentation that they've had COVID-19 in the last three months are allowed to enter Croatia without having to take a PCR test or self-isolate.
PLEASE CONSULT OUR ARTICLE WRITTEN ON NOVEMBER 30 FOR MORE DETAILS.
For more details read the comprehensive Total Croatia Travel update.
2. Does it have to be a PCR test?
Yes.
There is no age exemption from testing by Croatian authorities, all kids have to have a negative test. Croatian Border Police will accept your results via e-mail too, not just hardcopy. They'll provide the exact e-mail address for you to use at a border crossing. They'll insist on hardcopy if the test is from Serbia or Bosnia and Herzegovina because of many forgeries.
For more information on where to get PCR tested internationally before coming to Croatia, please read our article.
3. What if I cannot get the test in time before I leave?
If you arrive at the Croatian borders without a negative test, you will be given an official self-isolation measure, for the next 10 days. You can either go straight to your place of stay in Croatia and wait the 10 days out while self-isolating, or you can take the PCR test for SARS-CoV-2, at your own expense, in Croatia.
As of December 10th, 2020, once you have the negative result, you will have to send the results to the Croatian Border Police station which issued your self-isolation order (not to the epidemiologist in charge, as was the case before this most recent change). The border police will then remove you from the self-isolation list, and you are free to travel.
4. Where can I get tested in Croatia?
https://www.total-croatia-news.com/lifestyle/44737-get-tested-covid-croatia
>For any additional info regarding testing in Croatia, you can find the list of contact numbers on official koronavirus.hr website.
5. Is a Domovnica enough to allow me to enter Croatia without a test?
As of December 1st, there are no exceptions for Croatian citizens regarding the rules of entry into Croatia - the rules for the Croatian citizens are exactly the same as they are for any other EU citizens. So, having Croatian documents won't allow you to enter without a test. It might help if you're a third-country citizen (in addition to having Croatian domovnica), so have it handy if possible).
Domovnica is proof of your Croatian citizenship, so you can enter Croatia unconditionally any time, but it is in Croatian and it is not a travel document. We have had several success stories with this. One thing that seems to work is a confirmation letter of your Croatianness from your embassy or consulate, in English to corroborate the Croatian text of the document.
6. Who needs to show proof of booked accommodation?
Rules applied as of December 1st don't mention anything about booked/paid accomodation. Answers 6&7 will get updated when more information becomes available.
All arrivals who are not EU/EEA/UK or non-EU citizens with EU residence permits. Important note: if one member of the family is EU/EEA/UK or non-EU citizens with EU residence permits the entire family is allowed to enter, no matter what passports others have. It is crucial you're able to prove legal status, by showing a marriage certificate and other supporting documents for family members.
7. If proof of booking acceptable, or does it have to be proof of paid accommodation?
In most cases, proof of book is acceptable, but the official wording is proof of paid accommodation. To be on the safe side, book, and pay for at least one night.
8. Who needs to fill in the entercroatia.mup.hr form?
Filling in the form is NOT mandatory, but it is recommended to all non-Croatian residents. Its purpose is to process the border as quickly as possible and to enable the authorities to contact you in case of an outbreak, Special Enter Croatia lanes have been introduced at some borders. The average processing time if you have filled the form is 30 seconds, and about 5 minutes if not. Many in the community comment on the lack of documentation checks when they arrive in Croatia. This is because the police can see all the information when they scan your passport or ID you entered on enterCroatia.mup.hr. Learn more about the form.
If several family members are traveling together, you should create just one form for all of them. One person should submit the form, while the rest of the family should be added under "additional passengers".
9. We plan to stay in Croatia in different locations, changing addresses. Do we need to edit the form? What if our plans change while we're there?
It is critical you enter your first location correctly, and your estimated time of arrival and departure (not longer than 90 days from entry). Once you're in Croatia, there is no need to update dates and/or locations if something changes, or you just move around Croatia. That is also true if you decide to stay longer than you estimated when you originally filled out the form - there are other systems in place, and you don't need to worry about your entercroatia.mup.hr form.
10. Can I self-isolate at my accommodation? What are the rules of self-isolation and how are they enforced?
Yes, but if you are given an official self-isolation measure by the epidemiologist or border police, you have to provide proof of paid accommodation for the duration of the period, because you have to stay in one place for the entire self-isolation time. Official self-isolation epidemiological measures advise that you stay in your accommodation ALONE or in a separate room with separate toilet, to isolate you from the others, since you are presumed to potentially carry the virus. So you are not supposed to leave your premises at all (except for the testing purposes, but strictly only if wearing a mask) – food and other necessities have to be delivered to you, without contacts. It also means police will check from time to time are you self-isolated at the address you gave them; if they don't find you there, they can fine you (around 1000€).
11. Can I transit flying from the USA and other countries outside the EU through a Schengen country?
Yes, but you must have a ticket for a connecting flight to the final destination in Croatia in order to transit Frankfurt or Amsterdam for example. When possible, you should have a printed ticket for your connection to facilitate transit. If you do not have an onward ticket to a connecting flight, German federal police will not let you enter the country. You will not be permitted to leave the transit area of the Frankfurt airport, no matter how long your layover may be. It is also important to make sure your bags are checked all the way through the final destination at the starting airport. If not you have to have some notify them to get your bags for you ahead of time at the connecting airport as you can not do that yourself.
We now have confirmation from our community that it's possible to transfer through the Frankfurt, Copenhagen, Zürich, London, Warsaw, Amsterdam, and Istanbul airports on your way to Croatia. At Amsterdam and Istanbul airports you can also get a PCR test done, while in transit. Transfer through CDG Paris is also possible, but as of July 27 they are requesting a COVID-negative test, not older than 72 hours, even for transit passengers (click here for more information in English). Find out more about the conditions at the Warsaw Airport by clicking on this link.
12. Which documents do I need to present when traveling from any third-country (including the USA and Canada) to various officials, from the boarding agents at different airports to the Croatian Border Police - how do I do my homework right before traveling to Croatia?
Well, you really should come prepared - with both the paperwork and patience! From what we've been able to gather from our Total Croatia Travel INFO Viber community, your biggest obstacle might be to convince the boarding agents in your home country that you are, in fact, allowed to enter Croatia. Having a printout of the IATA guidelines will certainly help, as will the confirmation of paid reservation in Croatia. If you have Croatian citizenship, make sure you have proof of that at hand as well (domovnica or any other similar document), especially if you're traveling without valid Croatian passports. If only some members of the family are Croatian or EU/EAA, bring with you the marriage certificates and/or other documents proving relationships with other members of the family, to make things easier for them. If you've decided to announce your arrival through http://entercroatia.mup.hr form, make sure you have a printout of their confirmation mail. If you contacted bit.ly/CroatiaTravel or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., the printouts of their response might help as well. Of course, if you've gotten tested, have the results or any type of confirmation that you've taken the test handy as well.
The members of our Viber community shared with us that the e-mail address for the police at Frankfurt airport is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and that they're very responsive and helpful - so if you need some help in Frankfurt, you should probably write to them.
Good luck! And let us know how it went in our Viber Total Croatia Travel Info group!
13. There are PCR testing facilities at Schengen airports. Can I do my test there?
If you are already in the EU and flying from those airports, YES you can. But, if you are in transit from an international flight and not allowed to enter Schengen countries (pls check Re-open Europe to see if you are allowed to enter) then NO. Make sure you check all these details with the airport and facility. Let us know if it works!
For example, US citizens are not allowed to enter Schengen for time being, but Canadians might be - so the US citizens can not test in transit, but Canadians just might be able to do so!
We can now confirm that the US citizens can get tested at Amsterdam airport, as well as at Istanbul airport.
14. Can I enter an airport and get a hotel in a Schengen-zone airport if I have a long stopover?
If you are not permitted to enter the Schengen area, then NO. Check details for every EU member country on REOPEN EUROPA site https://reopen.europa.eu/en. For overnight layovers, there is one hotel in the transit zone in Frankfurt, for example, the My Cloud (+49-69-69030380, https://www.mycloud.de/en/home/ ).
15. Can I stay in Croatia for 14 days and then move on to some EU Schengen country?
Schengen is closed to US citizens, but open for citizens of 9 countries right now (Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Rwanda, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Uruguay, China + Hong Kong and Macao). The situation is, again, changing very rapidly, and rules everywhere are getting stricter, so before travelling make sure you check the details for the country you are interested in on the REOPEN EUROPA site https://reopen.europa.eu/en. Germany has placed several Croatian counties on their high-risk list, which means that all travellers arriving from those counties need to either self-isolate or get tested. The German authorities seem to be very responsive (especially Franfurt airport border police: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) - this is the feedback from our Viber community so join and see others' experiences. Click here for more info about the conditions for entering the EU countries, as well as the links to their official websites. Austria has placed Croatia on their "high-risk" list, meaning that, in order to enter Austria, you must have a negative PCR test (not older than 72 hours), or self-isolate until you're able to get tested there, within 48 hours of arrival.
16. What is the epidemiological situation in Croatia?
Obviously, it's very fluid. In our TCN Croatia Travel Update, we bring you the latest numbers as they get reported every day. You can follow the situation on the official koronavirus.hr website, as well as on the CroatiaCovid19.info tracker, where you can see the cases by region. To compare the Croatian situation with what's going on in Europe at any given time, please follow the ECDC COVID-19 situation update.
If you have any relevant information or experiences which can add to this resource or our main TCN Croatia Travel Update, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Subject: Update
For the latest travel info, bookmark our main travel info article, which is updated daily.
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Split Airport Expecting 2 Million Fewer Passengers this Year, Dubrovnik Remains Optimistic
July 17, 2020 - Business troubles caused by the coronavirus will bring considerable annual losses to airlines, and 2020 will be remembered as “the worst year in the history of the aviation industry”. The crisis has not bypassed Split Airport in Kastela, where it is estimated that this year's losses at the end of the year will reach 2 million fewer passengers compared to 2019, when more than three million passengers landed at that airport.
Slobodna Dalmacija reports that the first 6 months of this year, Split Airport had a turnover of 108,000 passengers, while in the first half of last year, 1.2 million passengers were recorded. If we compare the month of June, the decline is about half a million passengers. This year, 26,000 passengers were realized, while last year, 513,000 passed through Split Airport.
"Until July 13, we had a turnover of 55,000 passengers, and by the end, we expect another 65,000, which at the end of the month will amount to a total of about 120,000 passengers. In the first 6 months of this year, we recorded a loss of about a million passengers, and we will lose that much more in July and August. So we are in the red about 2 million passengers," said Mate Melvan of Split Airport.
When it comes to companies that fly to Split Airport, the situation is somewhat better, but the problem, they point out, is that there are no passengers.
"Unlike last year when we were connected with about 58 global companies, this year we are connected with 30. I must emphasize that only ten of these thirty companies last year accounted for 90 percent of our total turnover last year. I think we are well covered in this regard, but the problem is that there are no passengers. People just don’t travel by plane and that’s where the whole problem lies. Last weekend, our port had the highest traffic, there are all the main carriers and there are no obstacles and problems," concludes Melvan.
It is interesting to note that in April this year, there were only six passengers, and in the same month last year, the traffic was more than 156,000 passengers.
Vienna, Warsaw, Madrid, Oslo, Paris, Rome, Frankfurt, Riga are just some of the twenty or so airports that are currently connected to Dubrovnik. However, the "real season" should start soon, when flights from Great Britain begin. British Airways (from London - three times a week), Jet2.com, EasyJet and others are establishing lines with certainly the most important tourist market for Dubrovnik. Low-cost carrier Ryanair is already flying on a route to Dublin, Ireland, and other airlines have decided to resume in an attempt to at least partially recoup losses in recent months.
Despite everything, by the end of July, Dubrovnik should be connected with more than 30 European cities. Compared to the current situation, traffic is expected to triple by the end of August. Thus, according to the announcements, there should be as many as 140 landings and take-offs at Dubrovnik Airport on the first weekend of August.
"It all depends on the epidemiological situation both in our country and in the countries from which our guests come. Most of the airlines we have worked with before are coming back, new ones are coming, and some have failed due to the corona crisis. We have to be optimistic because the situation is moving as we predicted," says the director of Dubrovnik Airport Frano Luetic.
Despite the unprecedented crisis for air traffic around the world, the airport is proud to highlight this week's agreement on the intercontinental connection of Dubrovnik and Dubai with Flydubai, and the start of flights from new destinations in Kyiv, Ukraine, Budapest, and Vilnius in Lithuania.
However, even with such an increase, the airport will find it difficult to achieve 30 percent of last year's traffic in July and August, which is mostly at the level of total air traffic worldwide. Namely, this year, up to thirty international planes a day will land at the airport in Cilipi during July and August, while in the same period last year there were even more than sixty.
The semi-annual number of passengers at the end of June last year was 1,059,684, while this year's number was 87,026 passengers in the same period, which is just over eight percent. Also, in June 2019, there were 415,876 passengers, while this year there were 10,592, which means that with the greatest optimism this year, it is difficult to expect more than half a million passengers at the airport.
"The Dubrovnik area and everything that gravitates to our airport are much smaller than the often mentioned area of Split and their airport, which currently has more planes and passengers than us. One should know that Split gravitates to more than half a million local people, and their tourist capacities range from Zadar to the Neretva, and from numerous islands to the deep hinterland and Medjugorje. Our area is cramped and has less than a hundred thousand people, without the roads that Split has and with less tourist capacity. We are also oriented towards guests of higher purchasing power given that we have a lot more five-star hotels. And that is the reason why low-cost carriers opt more for Split because such is the offer and the purchasing power of passengers," says Luetic.
Last weekend, 3870 passengers passed through Zadar Airport. Compared to last year, the turnover is lower by 70 percent, and judging by the forecasts, these figures will be transferred to all of July. Namely, the expected weekly traffic in July is about 60 commercial aircraft, or 120 rotations, while during August, 70 commercial aircraft or 140 arrivals and departures are expected.
"Although it is difficult and ungrateful to give any forecasts at the moment, we expect about 33,000 passengers in July, and about 60 thousand in August. By the end of the year, the total traffic should reach the number of about 150,000 passengers, which is 19 percent of last year's result," said the management of Zadar Airport about the season which, if corona had not happened, should have been a record.
Last year, the traffic at Zadar Airport increased by 30 percent compared to 2018, and they welcomed the end of the year with more than 800,000 passengers. On the wings of these results, which were the best in the history of Zadar airport, this summer was greeted even more ambitiously.
This is best illustrated by the projections of the largest low-cost carrier in the world, Ryanair, which announced in early 2020 that it will carry a total of 670,000 passengers on 30 lines and its base in Zadar this season, 50 percent more than a year earlier. Instead, Ryanair currently flies on only ten routes, and the base, which was supposed to house three aircraft with staff for eight months, has been postponed until the summer of 2021.
In addition to Ryanair, whose share in traffic is by far the largest with almost 70 percent, ten other airlines are currently flying to Zadar Airport, connecting Zemunik with 29 European destinations.
Whether that number will be maintained or increased next season, no one currently wants to predict. Because it’s hard to say what will be next month, let alone next summer.
For the latest travel info, bookmark our main travel info article, which is updated daily.
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Flights to Croatia: Transavia Alters Croatia Schedule, Air Explore to Split
July 17, 2020 - The latest news from around Croatia’s airports for flights to Croatia with updates from Split, Dubrovnik, Pula, Zadar, and Rijeka.
Croatian Aviation reports that Transavia, a low-cost airline with subsidiaries in France and the Netherlands, has made some changes to its flight schedule to destinations in Croatia.
At the end of June and the beginning of July, the company launched lines to Croatia, as many as 8 of them, and continues to operate on them through August.
The Paris Orly - Split route operates 3 times a week, but the company previously planned to increase it to as many as 6 weekly flights. This will not happen due to low demand. From August 13, the number of weekly flights will be reduced to 2.
The Rotterdam - Split line runs 5 times a week, and the same number of weekly flights is announced in August (every day except Monday and Wednesday).
The Nantes - Dubrovnik line continues to operate twice a week, as was announced earlier.
The Paris Orly - Dubrovnik line operates 3 times a week, and the company planned one more flight a week through August, but will keep the same number of operations (Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays).
The Rotterdam - Dubrovnik line continues to operate according to plan and through August, 2 times a week (Tuesdays and Saturdays).
The Rotterdam - Zadar line will hold three weekly flights in August (Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays).
The Rotterdam - Pula line will increase the number of weekly flights, from 3 to as many as 5, every day except Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout August.
The Eindhoven - Rijeka line will continue to operate 3 times a week in August (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays), which is one flight less per week compared to the 2019 season.
Furthermore, Croatian Aviation reports that the Slovak airline, Air Explore, announced its first scheduled flight to Croatia.
So far, the company has operated to Croatia on charter lines, mostly in the summer months, but will now launch the first regular line between Bratislava and Split.
The Bratislava - Split line will be in operation from Sunday, July 19, twice a week until the end of September this year. The line will operate twice a week, on Wednesdays and Sundays in the afternoon on B737-800 aircraft.
This is the first, completely new route introduced by the airline since the coronavirus pandemic.
For the latest travel info, bookmark our main travel info article, which is updated daily.
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Luka Modric Assist Leads Read Madrid to 34th Spanish Title
July 17, 2020 - Croatia national team captain and Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric played an essential role in the victory that confirmed the new champion of Spain.
Real Madrid mathematically confirmed the Spanish title with a 2-1 victory against Villarreal on Thursday night.
Karim Benzema scored both of Madrid's goals in the match, and Luka Modric assisted the first. Iborra scored for Villarreal.
Real took the lead in the 29th minute. Casemiro found Modric, who pushed the ball into the penalty area with a timely lay off for Benzema, who scored for the 1-0 lead.
Real increased their lead in the 77th minute thanks to a penalty won by Sergio Ramos. Real's captain stepped up to the penalty spot and cunningly played Benzema, who scored, though his goal was disallowed as he entered the penalty area before Ramos touched the ball.
A repeated attempt was made by Benzema, who hit accurately for 2-0.
Villarreal reduced Madrid's lead in the 83rd minute, and could have scored again had Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois not saved Real on several occasions.
Marco Asensio scored for 3-1 in added time, though the goal was called back due to handball.
??? ¡La foto de los CAMPEONES de @LaLiga 2019/20!#34Ligas | #RealFootball pic.twitter.com/k0Ss0xk6Kw
— Real Madrid C.F.⚽ (@realmadrid) July 16, 2020
One round before the end, the Royal Club has an unattainable seven-point advantage over Barcelona, who lost at home to Osasuna (1-2).
Osasuna took the lead through Arnaiz in the 15th minute, Messi equalized in the 62nd minute, and Roberto Torres shocked Barcelona in added time and resolved all doubts about the new champion.
This is Real Madrid's 34th Spanish title. Real won their last title in 2017, also under the leadership of Zinedine Zidane. The Madrid club came to the new title thanks to a fantastic defense that received 23 goals in 37 league games and with only three defeats.
One of the key players of Blancos was again Luka Modric, who led the team with his brilliant play, especially after the championship resumed after the break caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Since the continuation of La Liga on June 14, Real have recorded nine victories, thus leading ahead of Barcelona. Eibar, Valencia, Real Sociedad, Mallorca, Espanyol, Getafe, Athletic Bilbao, Alaves, Granada and Villarreal.
This is Luka's second Spanish championship title since joining Real Madrid in 2012. Luka Modric and this Real Madrid generation are now the second most celebrated group of players in the club's 118-year history.
To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.
Lepoglava Wants to Change its Image, But in What Way?
As Darko Bicak/Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 16th of July, 2020, although Lepoglava developed as a religious and scientific centre from its very inception back during the Middle Ages, all the way up until the middle of the 19th century, the decision of the Austro-Hungarian authorities in 1854 was to turn a former monastery, which was a university for a long time, into a prison. That event is remembered and marked in this small, typically overlooked town in Varaždin County to this very day.
There is almost no significant Croatian politician in the past hundred years who has not been imprisoned in Lepoglava (which says a lot), the most famous among them are certainly Franjo Tudjman and Alojzije Stepinac.
As the Lepoglava Penitentiary is a large system, it has a significant impact on the economy of the town, due to the workshops within the prison, but also due to the rehabilitation of convicts put to work in the city before their release.
However, in the City of Lepoglava, they want to move away from such a view of their area and make strong efforts to make it a desirable place to invest, and thus create economic prosperity and a better life for its residents.
The central tool for this should be the Lepoglava Business Zone, which already sees the work of about ten companies with about 200 employees in total, and over recent days, the arrival of an Italian manufacturer of construction materials, Ediltec from Modena, Italy, which should start its styrofoam production in Lepoglava, has been announced.
As Hrvoje Kovac, the deputy mayor of Lepoglava, explainsed so far, the Italians, Turks, Germans and a couple of potential Croatian investors have come to the zone to examine the possibility of investing in Lepoglava.
''Potential investors were mostly looking at facilities that could be reactivated in an entrepreneurial sense. The last one who came to us has very serious intentions to turn the space of old Zagorjeplet into a production plant. The company Modil, based in Modena, which is engaged in the production of styrofoam, became the owner of the facility and, according to the executive director, next year, after the adaptation, they would start the production of styrofoam. If everything goes according to plan, it will mean the creation of new jobs and the employment of between 20 and 30 workers, from unskilled workers to workers with higher education. We hope that this time, the potential brownfield investment will be realised in full,'' said Kovac.
He added that the revitalisation of that "brownfield" part of the Lepoglava Business Zone would have a significant social and economic effect through new employment, but on the other hand it would also open the doors for potential new investors because the reference of the zone with a renowned investor from Italy, and with existing companies there, advantage could be taken in the sense of those looking for fully communally equipped land that is very competitively priced.
City grants and incentives…
''This brownfield investment in Lepoglava is a kind of economic flywheel of our local community and we're looking forward to it coming to fruition. The more jobs, the better things are for Lepoglava and those living there. The Lepoglava Business Zone has been systematically developing for many years and a lot of money and effort has been invested in it, so that today, it can offer potential investors communally fully equipped plots for immediate business start-ups. It covers 53.50 hectares of regulated land on which there are currently a dozen businesses employing 186 people. There are currently eight more plots available for new investments in the zone, for which we have a constantly open public call. The primary purpose of our zone is to attract investors from the production and service industry who could employ the local population,'' Kovac added.
He is also aware that Lepoglava is not immune to the challenges of the modern age that are coming to be as a result of the current global economic crisis.
"Small towns like Lepoglava always have a problem with the increasing departures of young people, with an aging population and with poorer transport connections, which is primarily seen in the weakening of economic activity. However, through various forms of support, incentives and involvement of the private and economic sector in planning the development of the local community, we try to respond to these challenges and offer various solutions to make Lepoglava economically active again and to work and live from it,'' he said, concluding that in Lepoglava, they no longer want to watch the departures of young families and Kovac believes that through such investments and a proactive approach to finding similar ones, they can respond to all challenges.
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When Can Croatia Expect Access to Cheaper Coronavirus Tests?
There has been a lot of talk lately about the availability of cheaper coronavirus tests for residents of Croatia, given the fact that they currently come at a somewhat hefty price tag that not everyone can afford to throw away on such an item. Just when can Croatia actually expect to have access to these cheaper tests?
As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 16th of July, 2020, fter the Minister of Health, Vili Beros, announced that Croatia could get its hands on cheaper PCR tests for coronavirus at the end of this week, the director of the Croatian Institute of Public Health explained at a recent conference of the National Civil Protection Headquarters when we might realistically expect them.
"I can't answer you in detail. The price was set in agreement with HZZO at the moment when these tests became available, it was the first [type of this] test in the majority of Europe. At that moment it was difficult to get a platform, reagents, get everything together and organise it all, we had a price on the PCR device agreed for other virus tests, and agreed on the whole hundred euros price. Later on there came other tests, the price of the reagents changed, and everyone was ready to talk to reduce that price. The price will be adopted very soon, I expect it to happen next week,'' said Krunoslav Capak, adding that there will be a meeting at the Ministry of Health on Friday to discuss it further.
He added that the Croatian Institute of Public Health had already conducted a public tender for the reagents they needed.
"HZJZ spent five million kuna, it was a crisis situation, we conducted public tenders for everything we needed. I guess that's how all institutions work. I don’t know who the suppliers are, I don’t even know about my institution in that regard. I don't know all the suppliers, but I know that by law, we conduct public tenders,'' added Capak.
For more on coronavirus in Croatia, follow our dedicated section.
Pula Film Festival Delayed Until Beginning of September
Another (at least temporary) victim of the coronavirus pandemic is the much loved Pula Film Festival, which has had to create a several week delay until the beginning of September.
As Morski writes on the 15th of July, 2020, after the Civil Protection Headquarters of Istria County made a decision to cancel the Pula Film Festival, or more precisely to delay it quite significantly.
A meeting on the subject was held on this topic in the presence of the Mayor of Pula, Boris Miletic, the Deputy Prefect of Istria County, Fabrizio Radin, the Director of the Public Health Institute of Istria County, Aleksandar Stojanovic, the Chief of the Civil Protection Headquarters of Istria County, Dino Kozlevac, the Head of the Administrative Department for Culture of Istria County, Vladimir Torbica, and the Director of the Pula Film Festival public institution, Gordana Restovic.
It was concluded that the 67th Pula Film Festival would need to be postponed until the beginning of September this year. It is everyone's wish that the continuity of the Pula Film Festival goes on without fault and that this year's selected production is presented in a high quality manner, just as it has been every other year. The institution, together with its artistic director, will propose to the Festival Council, in accordance with all of the anti-epidemic measures, a new look for the Festival and the schedule of the expected screenings, and an appropriate decision will then be made.
In the hope that epidemiological conditions will allow for it by the time September rolls around, the film-loving audience in the gorgeous Istrian city will still be able to enjoy the Pula Film Festival and the celebration of films.
The Pula Film Festival public institution also informed the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Croatia about the conclusions of their meeting.
For more on events in Croatia in the coronavirus era, follow our dedicated lifestyle page.
Minister Bozinovic Reveals How Long We'll Need to Wear Masks For
As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on July the 16th, 2020 - Decisions, as they state from the National Civil Protection Headquarters, must be respected. A recent guest of RTL Danas (Today) was Minister Bozinovic, who further clarified the latest anti-epidemic measures.
''You know that our approach is oriented towards raising people's awareness. At this time when science is confirming something to us, and science knows about the issue of masks, given that we know that this is a virus we're up against, initially, the World Health Organisation gave two interpretations, but now it's consensually accepted that masks do protect us, especially if they're worn indoors
Our goal is for people to accept this fact as something that can protect them and others from them when it comes to coronavirus transmission. We'll do everything so that we don't have to come to a situation where people are being punished. However, if someone consciously doesn't want to wear a mask, which is obligatory and not wearing one endangers people's health indoors, then it's likely that the competent authorities will need to take some additional actions,'' said Minister Bozinovic.
He also described what it would look like if someone didn’t have a mask on, yet wanted to obtain some sort of service, such as going shopping or needing to visit various administrative institutions.
"In that case, they mustn't receive that service, it's now the responsibility of the institution to which the person came and the counter officer to help someone who could endanger their own health. There are legal solutions for those situations as well,'' Minister Bozinovic said.
He also explained the laws under which offenders will be punished.
"There's also the Law on the Civil Protection System, the Law on the Protection of the Population from Infectious Diseases, so, what you're saying goes towards a violation against public order and peace. But let's leave it to life, and I hope that life will teach us in this new normal that masks will need to be worn by everyone because it's actually good for everyone,'' Minister Bozinovic explained.
He also said how long the masks will have to be worn in Croatia for.
"Until a solution is found for this virus is found, and if the scientific community doesn't change its mind [on the issue of masks], then it will last until the end of the epidemic is declared," Bozinovic concluded.
For more on coronavirus in Croatia, follow our dedicated section.
Vuckovic: Ministry Is Monitoring Situation, Will Meet with Dairy Industry
ZAGREB, July 16, 2020 - The Ministry of Agriculture is following the situation in the dairy sector and will soon meet with representatives of leading dairy industries, Minister Marija Vuckovic said on Thursday, commenting on a decision by the Meggle company to phase out its production in Croatia by the end of the year.
After Meggle Croatia announced that it would phase out its production in Croatia, the ministry has been following the situation, and very soon it will meet with representatives of leading dairy industries to ensure the continuation of milk production at dairy farms that sell their milk to Meggle, the minister underlined.
According to her information, this concerns 340 dairy farms with a total production of 26 million kilograms of milk or 6% of the total quantity of milk that is delivered to Croatian dairies each year.
The Ministry of Agriculture will conduct all the necessary activities and invest all its efforts to preserve milk production at farms that are associated with Meggle, Vuckovic said.
The Croatian Agriculture Chamber (HPK) considers Meggle's decision to be yet another blow to local milk production.
"This decision will be a new blow to milk production in Croatia given that this sector has continually recorded a fall in milk production over the past 13 years. A large number of farmers have given up and Croatia's milk self-sufficiency has fallen to 40%," HPK underlined.
HPK said that it is important for the Agriculture Ministry to take action and find an alternative solution for 200 small farms that sold their milk to Meggle.
HPK also announced that it would call for an urgent meeting with the ministry and relevant institutions so that potential dairies take over buying milk from Meggle's associates in time before farmers give up and stop their production.
Beros: Patients Need Not Worry, We Will Resolve Issue with Drug Wholesalers
ZAGREB, July 16, 2020 - Health Minister Vili Beros on Thursday expressed confidence that the government would find a solution with drug wholesalers regarding the debt which amounts to more than HRK 4.2 billion, claiming that patients need not worry in that regard.
As a result of the debt which is currently more than HRK 4.2 billion, drug wholesalers allegedly will suspend delivering medicines and medical material as of Monday and are seeking at least HRK 1 billion of that debt to be paid.
During a press conference by the national COVID-19 response team, Beros said that as a responsible government they want talks in that regard.
He announced that the first meeting with drug wholesalers would be held on Monday and then again on Wednesday "and some sort of solution will be found."
He claimed that patients need not be worried. "We will do everything to settle debts and not to generate this kind of debts in the future," he said.
"Asking is one thing, possibilities are something else, but we will endeavour to find a compromise next week. We have to look for systematic solutions. Only in that way will we be financially sustainable in the future and be able to provide quality health services," he underscored.
Beros added that he had already put forward some proposals for a solution to the prime minister.
He underlined that the COID epidemic has caused an imbalance in payments. "While responding to the epidemic, the health system did not provide other services except emergencies. Today we are trying to respond in a different way but we cannot ignore the fact that the virus is still among us," he said.
He added that a lot of hospitals are shortening the waiting lists which emerged and they will continue to do so in the future. He said that the hospital sector is not the only segment that generates debts and that they occur in the primary sector too. "A serious reform of the health system awaits us," he concluded.
