Archaeological Remains of Oldest Liburnian Port Discovered in Novigrad Sea near Posedarje
June 7, 2020 - Mato Ilkić and Mate Parica from the Department of Archeology at the University of Zadar recently discovered a much older port in the western part of the Novigrad Sea, 22 kilometers northeast of Zadar.
Zadarski List writes that numerous ports from the Roman Empire have long been located and partly explored on the northern Dalmatian Coast. They are distributed along the main maritime route of the time, which, among other things, includes navigation on the Vir Sea, Zadar and Pašman Channels. But Mato Ilkić and Mate Parica from the Department of Archeology at the University of Zadar recently discovered a much older port.
It is located on a hitherto unknown route that was very navigable in the period before the Roman conquests. The archeological remains of this port lay in the western part of the Novigrad Sea, opposite Posedarje, 22 kilometers northeast of Zadar. It was built by the Liburnians, and, for now, it is their only port for which the exact location is known.
"Examining aerial photographs, we noticed that along the west coast of the Novigrad Sea not far from Posedarje, and directly next to the huge prehistoric hillfort Budim, there are some dark rectilinear outlines. We went there to dive and on the seabed, we immediately spotted a structure pointing to an ancient harbor whose archaeological remains are approximately 3 meters deep. For now, it is the oldest port in Liburnia, and perhaps in the entire Croatian part of the Adriatic. This is evidenced by the radiocarbon analysis of wood from the port structure, a sample of which we sent to Miami for testing. We recently got a result from Florida that made us quite happy, because it indicates an older time than we had assumed. Namely, the so-called C 14 date indicates that the port was built between 371 and 199 BC. Thus, it belongs to the period of the late classical phase and early Hellenism," Ilkić reveals.
The port is quite large and is not layered with later interventions. It is built partly of large stone blocks and wooden beams. This very demanding and complex construction undertaking at the time could only be carried out by the well-organized and economically very powerful Liburnian community, which was obviously oriented towards maritime and trade, directly or indirectly with very remote overseas regions. This included North Africa, that is, Carthage, Numidia, and Hellenistic Egypt, from which a great deal of money reached Liburnia through Japodia.
For now, it cannot be argued how the Liburnians and Japodes were enriched, but it is possible to reconstruct the sea routes and land routes that ended up in their hands. The topography of the finds of numerous and diverse numismatic materials originating from very distant monetary centers suggests that merchant ships sailed into Liburnian waters near Molat. From that island, a route led to the Vir Sea and the Velebit Channel and further through Novsko ždrilo to the Novigrad Sea, where the newly discovered and for now the only Liburnian port from the period before the Roman conquests is located.
The Liburnians developed a trade network that included the Trans-Velebit hinterland. Namely, after the money reached the southern Liburnian coast by sea, its further land flow can be followed even easier. They found their way in the direction of southern Velebit, where they descended to Lika along its edge and over mountain passes. Here the traffic branched off into two main directions. The northern one led towards the Una river basin and deeper inland towards southwestern Pannonia. The second traffic route is directed to the northwest and led to the pre-Alpine area. But this trade, in which the Japodes also profited, would not have been possible if the Liburnians had not turned to seafaring, as is now witnessed by their spacious port next to the huge fort of Budim near Posedarje.
It is an extremely important and complex archeological site, which is indicated by the finds of very early amphorae, Liburnian pottery, but also those painted that originated in Italy. In fact, the port near Buda sheds a whole new light on the maritime role of Liburnia.
Archaeologists from the Department of Archeology at the University of Zadar have just begun researching this unique northern Dalmatian underwater site from the pre-Roman period, thanks to donated money from Alan Mandić from Turanj and logistical support from the Municipality of Posedarje. Their goal, for now, is to get to know the only Liburnian port, and perhaps the oldest on the Croatian coast, as well as possible, and document and protect it for future generations. The money invested in the research would be returned many times over, because by presenting fascinating and valuable archeological remains of the ancient port of Liburnia, the tourist offer could be enriched.
To read more about lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.
Flights to Croatia: Scandinavian to Split, Silver Air to Losinj from July
June 7, 2020 - The latest news from around Croatia’s airports for flights to Croatia with updates from Split and the island of Losinj.
Croatian Aviation reports that Scandinavian Airlines, better known as SAS, the airline of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, will soon launch two international routes to Croatia.
SAS is a long-time guest at Croatian coastal airports, so it is not surprising that it will be among the first after the corona crisis to launch two flights to Split Airport.
For the latest travel info, bookmark our main travel info article, which is updated daily.
Read the Croatian Travel Update in your language - now available in 24 languages
Join the Total Croatia Travel INFO Viber community.
The company has announced a flight schedule for June, while the schedule for July will be finalized soon.
From June 20, the company will introduce the Copenhagen - Split line, twice a week (Wednesdays and Saturdays), with the A320neo aircraft.
From the same date, the Oslo - Split route will be introduced, but only once a week (on Saturdays), with the same type of aircraft, the A320neo, which has a capacity of 174 seats in the fleet of this carrier.
In the summer flight schedule, SAS operates from numerous destinations in Scandinavia to Pula, Zadar, Split and Dubrovnik, but the company has so far announced only two flights for Split Airport.
Avio Radar reports that Czech airline Silver Air has returned to traffic in Italy and is flying again from several Italian cities to the island of Elba. Losinj is planned this year as well, but with only one line from Switzerland on offer. The Losinj - Zagreb line is no longer available, nor are the other lines from Losinj to Split and Pula, or other Italian destinations.
The Lugano - Losinj line is offered once a week, on Wednesdays, which is one flight less per week than last year. Traffic on this route is planned from July 8 to September 30 with the Let L-410 Turboolet aircraft.
Finally, Avio Radar reports that on Saturday,June 6, German low-cost carrier Eurowings increased traffic on two lines from Germany to Split. Namely, on the planned routes on this day, there will be two planes from Dusseldorf and Stuttgart to Split.
An even larger aircraft will come from Dusseldorf, the Airbus A320. Eurowings noted this change thanks to an increased interest in passengers.
Zadar's Hotels Predict Major Drop If Flights Stay Grounded
June 6, 2020 — Hotels on Zadar's historic peninsula are slowly starting to open their doors, but unfortunately, few guests are walking through them.
The Dalmatian town relies on small groups such as families or classmates, travelers from farther-flung corners of the world, or "city hopping" guests galavanting up and down the coast. There are none so far.
The small groups have suffered because of epidemiological measures limiting . Travelers making long trips have limited flight options. While "city hopping" has become a taboo issue, with isolation and social distancing remaining keys to staying healthy.
In short, Zadar's usual guests can't reach the city, or don't want to, according to Zadarski List.
The Boutique Hostel Forum started welcoming guests on May 15, making it among the first to open. Its occupancy has been about 10 guests per day.
"The number of guests in the hostel fluctuates greatly from day to day and depends on the day of the week, so it is difficult to draw a parallel with last year's figures, but from the opening on May 15 until today is about a dozen nights a day," said Frane Sklobar, the hostel's head of marketing. He added hostel guests often don't book well in advance, making it difficult to forecast the rest of the year. But if the planes don't start flying soon, things won't improve.
"Without air travel, there will certainly be no significant shift," Sklobar said. "Nevertheless, we believe that with the normalization of the overall situation and the introduction of air corridors, things will improve."
Bastion and Art Hotel Kalelarga have not yet opened, although they are ready and will likely June 15 and July 1.
"We will open the Bastion when the works on [the city's walls next to the hotel] near completion, when the access to the hotel is more or less decent, and the noise from the works is reduced," said Mladenka Štura, who runs Bastion and Art Hotel Kalelarga. "As far as reservations are concerned, it is very bad and at the moment there are no indications that there will be any positive shift."
Previous reservations have been canceled, by and large, she said, with guests from the United States and Brazil and other countries harder-hit pulling out the most. But Štura said she won't give up.
"Although the hotels do not work, we work constantly," she said. The hotels are promoting destinations and facilities, as well as sales. They've also put a premium on their epidemiological protection measures.
"We are only upgrading the standards, all in order to protect our workers and guests," she said. "Nothing is a problem, we are ready, but there are simply no bookings."
The situation doesn't merit too many price drops or sales, Štura added.
"I don't think prices play a role at the moment, but whether the borders are open, whether tests are needed, self-isolation upon returning home and so on. If we were to lower prices, we would have to lower the level of service, starting with the groceries for breakfast and so on in each segment onwards."
Vjekoslav Bobić from the Almayer Hotel sees a similar dire situation unfolding.
"We opened, we are ready, and the guests ... that's another story," he said. "A very large number of reservations have been canceled. Our guests are mostly from distant lands where epidemiological measures and travel restrictions are still in place."
The hotel's making adjustments, trying to reorient itself to other guests, locals and those to whom the borders are open and have the opportunity to travel.
"We need to fight, stay in the market, maintain the level of service," Bobić said. "We really don’t have some too much ambition for this season."
But Bobic's motivations go beyond a profit.
"There are our employees. They are more than workers, we are a collective of a dozen people on whom as many families depend," he said. "The hotel is a large system and has high costs even when it is not working. But we can't shut up for a year now, keep quiet until it's all over."
PM: Over HRK 12 BN Contracted As Part Of Slavonia Project
ZAGREB, June 6, 2020 - Prime Minister and HDZ president Andrej Plenkovic said in Pozega on Saturday that in the July 5 parliamentary election citizens would choose whether to vote for those who had ensured health, jobs and economic growth or groups which were an end in themselves.
He said over HRK 12 billion had been contracted as part of the government's Slavonia Project.
"In the last campaign, we announced the Slavonia Project as a priority. Over HRK 12 billion has been contracted. We are realising projects. The government and the ministers are present in Slavonia. I think voters, having learned from the presidential election, will think carefully about who to vote for. The choice is whether you will go for those for whom you know who they are, who have ensured health, jobs, economic growth," Plenkovic said in the Slavonian city of Pozega where he started his tour of eastern Croatia.
"Last night Fitch upheld Croatia's credit rating. That means they trust us, they see resilience, know-how, and trust to return, with the economic recovery measures, to the previous level as soon as possible."
Speaking of coronavirus, he said "Croatia took a very good position, which was no accident. The economic measures we provided were no accident. Specifically, more than 8,000 people in Pozega-Slavonia County received wages for March and April and will receive them for May solely because of this government's political will and the way to find the money for that."
"We are counting on the safe vote for those you can seriously count on in the next four years. You have those with whom you don't know what you will get, those whose topics have nothing to do with the future," Plenkovic said, adding that choosing those who were rational should not be too difficult, especially in Slavonia.
32,000 Seniors From 369 Secondary Schools Taking Matura Exams
ZAGREB, June 6, 2020 - The 11th season of exit exams for secondary school leavers in Croatia starts on Monday, 8 June, with 32,114 students from 369 schools taking those exams in the circumstances marked by the COVID-19 epidemic.
The first matriculation tests will be for the Croatian language on Monday, and the season lasts until 3 July.
A total of 7,000 teachers are engaged in supervising and controlling the implementation of the process of taking the tests.
The National Centre for the External Evaluation of Education (NCVVO), which organises state graduation exams, has reported that 110 authors have prepared the tests.
Students are supposed to pass the school-leaving exams in the Croatian language, Mathematics, and a foreign language in order to be given certificates on their graduation from high school.
There are compulsory and elective subjects at the state graduation exam and they are equal for all students and are taken at the same time.
The students taught in the language and script of the ethnic minority can take an exam in the minority language as a compulsory together with Croatian, and they can opt between mathematics and a foreign language as a third compulsory subject.
The compulsory state graduation exams can be taken at two levels: the higher level (A) and the basic level (B).
Apart from the COVID-19 epidemic that has made schools introduce stricter epidemiological measures in the classrooms where school-leaving exams are taken, the 22 March strong quake that damaged thousands of buildings in Zagreb and its environs, including some of the high schools, has additionally complicated the organisation of the process of taking the exit exams.
Ivan Rakitic Opens Up About Future with Barcelona, Croatia National Team
June 6, 2020 - Ivan Rakitic opens up about how he feels at Barcelona and whether we will watch him in the Croatia jersey at the Euros next year.
On this day five years ago, Ivan Rakitic lived some of the most beautiful moments of his football career. Namely, in the Berlin final of the Champions League, he scored the first goal in the 3:1 victory against Juventus, which was the crown of an excellent first season with the Catalan giant.
The 32-year-old Croatia national team member and assistant captain who has already collected 106 appearances and 15 goals, just like all football players in Spain, is counting down the days until the season continues.
During intense training, Ivan Raktitic found the time to sit down with T.portal to talk about everything going on in the famous footballer's world today.
First and foremost, football is back. How hard was it to keep fit in home isolation and then come to workouts, where there was to be no physical contact?
"It was hard; it was hard. At least, we all know we are in the same situation. It was especially difficult in the first 15, 20 days, because you had to find motivation, go to the gym, run, ride a bike. It was hard to motivate yourself when you were cut off, without a teammate. But I think I can say that I made great use of this time, I worked a lot, I feel fantastic and I feel it was maybe the best training in the past few years," he said at the beginning of the interview.
Despite all the problems due to isolation, did you make good use of your time with your daughters and wife?
"Yes, of course, because otherwise we players travel a lot, so we made the most of this time to have some fun, to be together. Although there were difficult and unpleasant days. Because for more than two months, we were not allowed to leave the house at all. Still, we hung out even more with the kids, and to me, it’s always a pleasure."
We know you speak Spanish, but did you perhaps teach your wife and daughters Croatian?
"My wife even speaks Croatian quite well, and she more or less understands everything. Especially when our famous society is together, when she relaxes, then she speaks. And the kids a little less, because they go to a French school, where they learn both French and English and German. Of course, Spanish is their first language, but they also know a lot of Croatian words."
You took them to Croatia, but were your daughters in Möhlin, Switzerland, where you lived as a child?
"They have been to Croatia several times already; I wanted to show them all the beauties of Lijepa Naša. We haven't been to Switzerland in a while, but we talked about it recently and when the opportunity arises, we would like to go again, to show them a lot of things because Switzerland also has a lot of beautiful places, completely different from those in Spain."
On this day five years ago, you scored a goal in the Champions League final in Berlin, in a 3:1 victory against Juventus. It was a magical end to the first season at the big club. This is probably one of your favorite goals in your career.
"Both that year and the year before, when I reached the Europa League title with Sevilla, were special. With that game and that goal, I put an end to a really great period. That trophy was something amazing and of course, I am extremely proud of that goal. But God willing, more games in the Champions League will be played this season, so let's try to reach that title again."
Unfortunately, five years later, the situation around your status at the club is not clear. We know you would like to stay, but what does the club think?
"More or less, since I’ve been here, the same situation is always presented and my status is talked about. Now everything is clear to me, because ten, fifteen days ago we talked very specifically in the club and the agreement is that we have nothing to talk about - I have a contract (until the summer of 2022) with Barcelona, and it is a club where I want to be and play. Also, I am in Barcelona with my wife and kids and it’s nice to live here, so I have no reason to think about other things. I’ve been training well these days, I feel good and I’m confident the Rakete will be in Barcelona for a while longer."
We know that no player is comfortable when he doesn't play as much as he thinks he deserves, and that happened to you during the first part of the season. Did any of your teammates call you and provide support?
"Of course. First of all, it’s not nice when you’re not playing. Especially when you don't understand why. And when they don't want to explain the reasons to you. Of course, I respect it if the coach decides on other players. That's why we are in a team sport, not an individual sport. The problem was that they didn't want to or didn't know how to explain the reasons to me. That was my fault. But that's why I had the support of my teammates, coach Dalic, which made it even easier for me to bear it all. And I am really grateful to them all. Because of all this, I feel overjoyed to have them with me."
At one point, you said that you don’t want the leaders of Barcelona to treat you like a sack of potatoes, that is, that you will find your own club if you need to leave.
"By that, I just meant that I could be talked to about everything. Because I never want anything by force. I want to deserve everything, let everything be as it should be. Because I always take the fair route, I don’t hide anything. I think I showed my character with that. I will never have a problem with that if we sit down, talk, find a common solution. I signed my contract with the desire to fulfill it to the end, but if for any reason it cannot be fulfilled or someone else has different thoughts, you just need to sit down and talk. And that was my only thought when I said that. But now it’s all settled, so I’m calm and happy. And I train more than ever."
Your position is clear - you want to stay in Barcelona.
"As you know, in football everything happens very fast, a lot of things change in a little time. So even now, this situation with the virus has changed a lot. I think the most important thing is to think about the present moment, and that means we are starting the championship next weekend. We must be ready for that too. With the years I have, I think I have proven that and that football is most important to me. I simply want to be happy and enjoy. And that means winning a lot more trophies with Barcelona."
Which is more important to you, Barcelona or Croatia?
"I have a lot of respect for my club, but the Croatia national team is more important to me. Of course, we all follow the rhythm of the clubs where we get paid. But of course, above all, Croatia is mine."
I ask that because if you stay in Barcelona, maybe you would have a season like at the beginning of this one, so you would be without adequate minutes, which would be a problem for Croatia.
"It doesn't have to be that way, does it? But if that happens, then I will analyze the situation at the right time. I never wanted to be selfish and think only about myself or what I would have to or what would suit me, but I always think about what is best for the national team and Croatia, and that is best for me. So there is no doubt about it, I am very calm. And I can’t wait to get together, to fight for our colors, our jersey, our people. It’s always special, different."
At the beginning of April, you did not want to confirm that you were going to the Euros, although we know that you love Croatia very much, and then you said that you had to talk to coach Dalic.
"When I said I wanted to talk to the coach, I said it because I have a very good relationship with him, we know each other well, we understand each other well. And I think there must always be some kind of communication between us. So there are no doubts, it is an honor for me to play for the national team and every time it is my first."
Have you perhaps talked to him in the meantime?
"Yes, we talk every now and then, about the whole situation, about all that. But now all of us are thinking about club events. Because, unfortunately, because of the corona, the Euros were canceled, the national team matches were canceled. The most important thing is that we are in touch, that we are all healthy, that we can train normally, because there will certainly not be too much of a break this summer. From one season we will very soon go to a new one. It will be a meaningful football summer, which is new for all of us, but I repeat, the most important thing is that we all do great."
So you're going to the Euros next summer, unless there are some extraordinary circumstances?
"I hope nothing will attack me in the meantime, ha, ha. There is no doubt because all of us from this great generation has shown that we have excellent communication. I must also emphasize that I have a very good relationship with the coach, we are open to each other and there will be no problems."
In an interview for T.portal before the World Cup in Russia, you left the possibility open that this could be your last national team cycle. But as you have already extended your term in the national team, perhaps it would be best to conclude it with the next World Cup, in Qatar in 2022?
"Ha, ha… Who knows, maybe it won't be until 2024. You never know. But the most important thing to me is that I can talk to the coach at any time, as I did after the World Cup in Russia. I also talked to my family, to my wife and I came to the decision that I wanted to continue. There are a lot of games ahead of us, we just need to enjoy so we continue to be real."
You can read the full interview here.
To read more about sport in Croatia, follow. TCN's dedicated page.
Croatian Tennis Stars Gather in Osijek for Humanitarian Tournament
June 6, 2020 - Humanitarian tournament Croatian Premier Tennis is taking place in Osijek, featuring many of the best Croatian tennis players, like Marin Cilic, Borna Coric, and Petra Martic.
Team A and Team B came to victories in the long and exciting first day of the Croatian Premier Tennis competition in Osijek on Thursday, which brought Croatian tennis players back to the courts after a three-month break. Team B celebrated in the first match with 4:1 against team C, with the victories of duos Borna Coric / Ivan Dodig and Iva Majoli / Matej Dodig in two of the three doubles matches and Donna Vekic and Borna Coric in individual matches. Team C took its only set thanks to Iva Primorac and Franko Skugor, who were convincing in mixed doubles against Tena Lukas and Ivan Dodig (6:1).
In the second match, which ended a few minutes after midnight, team A defeated team D 3:2 thanks to the individual victory of Marin Cilic and the duos Lucija Faj / Goran Ivanišević and Ana Konjuh and Nikola Mektic. On the other hand, points for team D were brought by the doubles team Duje Ajduković / Mate Pavic and Tereza Mrdeza in an individual clash with Jana Fett.
Weather conditions did not hinder the second day of the tennis tournament and matches were held without delay. Before the start of the second day, the players and organizers attended a formal reception with the prefect of Osijek-Baranja County Ivan Anusic.
A rare occurrence was the match between Ivo Majoli and Goran Ivanisevic, who played in doubles with young tennis hopes. The team Iva Majoli and Matej Dodig won 4:2 against Goran Ivanisevic and Lucija Faj.
They were followed by the victory of Marin Cilic and Nikola Mektic against Ivan and Matej Dodig, and the result was 6:3. In mixed doubles, Nikola Mektic and Ana Konjuh celebrated against Ivan Dodig and Tena Lukas 7:5.
Donna Vekic and Jana Fett played a true women's duel, in which Donna won 6:4. Marin Cilic and Borna Coric played a great men's match in which Cilic won 7:5. With this victory, Cilic brought an overall triumph to his team (Team A), which was the only one to achieve a 100% performance in the first two appearances.
The second part of the tournament started with a fight between Borna Goja and Duja Ajdukovic, and the result was 4:6 in favor of Borna. Tereza Mrdeza celebrated 6:2 against Lee Boskovic, and Jelena Kostanic-Tosic and Fran Kuna played against Goran Prpic and Nera Tesankic. Jelena and Fran won 5:4.
In the men's doubles, Duje Ajdukovic and Mate Pavic competed against Borna Goja and Franko Skugor, who won 6:3.
The last match of the evening on Friday saw Franko Skugor and Iva Primorac win 6:2 against Fran Pavic and Antonija Ruzic.
The remaining days of the tournament can be followed via the social media pages of Croatian Premier Tennis, and all spectators can support this humanitarian action called 'Croatia and tennis against COVID-19' by calling 060 9003 or donating to IBAN HR0823900011500174664. The goal is to raise funds that will be donated to KBC Osijek, as well as to raise funds that will go to Croatian scientists, who are engaged in finding a vaccine and medicine against COVID-19
Source: HTS
To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.
Hvar Suspends Introduction Of 5G Technology, Regulator Says It's Not O.K.
ZAGREB, June 6, 2020 - The Town of Hvar on the southern Adriatic island of the same name has suspended the introduction of 5G technology until an independent and impartial study proves that such technology has no negative impact on humans and the environment, the Town Council decided unanimously earlier this week.
The decision will be submitted to the government and the Croatian Regulatory Authority for Network Industries (HAKOM), which is required to distribute it to all relevant stakeholders operating in the Town of Hvar, the local authorities said on 4 June.
However, in the meantime, the HAKOM regulator has stated that it has not yet received the decision in writing and therefore it cannot comment on its contents of the decision.
Nevertheless, the regulator underscores that any restriction of the development of electronic communication infrastructure for public services is not in compliance with the regulations.
Based on this decision, the Town Council will set up a task force to look over the next six months into a possible causal link between all sources of radiation and cancer.
The decision was put on the Town Council agenda on the initiative of an informal group of citizens following the information that Hvar was included among 13 towns and one island for which HAKOM has issued temporary licenses to test the 5G network.
The decision made by the Town of Hvar took into account the results of a survey conducted by the World Health Organization, the fact that the environment minister for the Brussels-Capital region, Celine Fremault, blocked a 5G rollout in the region until it was shown how this technology affected human health and the environment, the European Parliament resolution on health concerns associated with electromagnetic fields, the Environmental Health Action Plan for Europe, and the Council of Europe resolution on the potential dangers of electromagnetic fields and their effect on the environment.
On the other hand, HAKOM warns that there are more and more "conspiracy theories" concerning this issue.
HAKOM recalls that it has requested opinions of researchers and experts from relevant institutions on the 5G technology's impact on the environment and the public health and in brief, the conclusions drawn from those opinions are that the impact of this state-of-the-art technology is similar as the impact of previous technologies.
HGK: Croatia Meeting Conditions For Entry To Euro Area As Planned
ZAGREB, June 6, 2020 - Findings of the ECB's assessment showing that all the major commercial banks in Croatia have met capital adequacy requirements and passed stress tests means that Croatia is a step closer to the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM II), the Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK) said on Friday.
Therefore we can expect the country to join the euro area in 2023, as planned, the HGK says in a press release after the Croatian National Bank (HNB) stated that the comprehensive assessment conducted by the European Central Bank showed that the five leading banks in Croatia are well-capitalized and resilient to shocks.
Zagrebacka banka (ZABA), Privredna banka Zagreb (PBZ), Erste & Steiermaerkische Bank, OTP banka Hrvatska and Hrvatska Postanska Banka (HPB), which were covered by the comprehensive assessment conducted by the ECB, do not face any capital shortfalls as they did not fall below the relevant thresholds used in the asset quality review (AQR ) and the stress test, the Croatian central bank reported earlier on Friday.
The findings are also the confirmation of the stability and good quality of the Croatian banking system, the chamber underlines in its comment.
This is also an act of recognition of our members from the banking system and of the whole economy, says the HGK.
The chamber reiterates some of the advantages of the membership of the euro area such as the access to funding through the European Stability Mechanism, the fact that the HNB would no longer have to maintain the stability of the kuna, and the consequent higher credit ratings for the country.
Banks covered by ECB assessment make up four-fifths of total banks' assets in Croatia
The five banks that fared well in the ECB comprehensive assessment make up 79% of the total assets of the banking system, the HGK notes.
Croatia sent its letter of intent to join the Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM II) to the ECB on 4 July 2019.
The finance ministers of the euro area's 19 member states and Denmark, the president of the European Central Bank (ECB) and a representative of the Danish central bank's governor discussed the letter at a meeting in Brussels, after which the finance ministers issued on 9 July 2019 a statement in which they "welcome the intention of the Croatian authorities to put in place the necessary elements for a successful entry into ERM II."
The euro area statement said then that the ECB could complete its assessment of Croatia's compliance with the commitments outlined in the letter of intent in about a year's time.
In case of a positive assessment, a decision would be made on Croatia's ERM II participation, a sort of euro waiting area where it should spend at least two years, which means Croatia could introduce the euro in 2023 at the earliest.
Croatia would simultaneously join ERM II and the Banking Union.
IDS Joins SDP-led Restart Coalition For Parl. Elections
ZAGREB, June 6, 2020 - The leadership of the Istrian Democratic Party (IDS) on Friday decided to join the "Restart" opposition coalition led by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the upcoming parliamentary elections which Croatia will hold on 5 July.
The IDS leadership said that the decision was made after a series of negotiations with the SDP which accepted all the conditions set by this regional party.
One of the conditions was that any future territorial reorganization of Croatia would preserve the autonomous status of Istria as a county.
Also, the IDS insisted on having its four candidates on the Restart slate for the constituency No. 8.
In the last parliament, the IDS parliamentary club had four lawmakers: three of whom were IDS members plus independent deputy Furio Radin as the representative of the ethnic Italian minority.
The IDS leader Boris Miletic, who is the mayor of the City of Pula, said after the leadership's meeting that he was not among those four candidates, explaining that now when the county was dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences, his duty would be to "remain here in Istria."
