Bernardic: Decisions Immediately For Key Issues That Should Have Been Resolved
ZAGREB, May 27, 2020 - The Social Democratic Party (SDP) Restart coalition on Wednesday presented its election platform "Agenda for a Start' for the 5 July parliamentary election with SDP leader Davor Bernardic saying that they are the only true force for a change and a restart.
"It's time for a new policy, a policy of courage, sincerity, and trust. An election awaits us. The choice does not seem to be that difficult. Order or chaos. Honesty or corruption. Justice and equality before the law or protection for the privileged," said Bernardic accompanied by his coalition partners - Silvano Hrelja, leader of the Croatian Peasants' Party (HSU), Anka Mrak Taritas of the Glas party, Goran Aleksic of the Snaga party and leader of the Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS) leader Kreso Beljak.
He announced that the Restart coalition government would make decisions on key issues in its first week in power that should have been resolved prior to the election.
"We will extend job keeping measures through a law on shorter working hours. We will adopt a law on a one-year moratorium on loan repayments, a decision on providing loans by financial institutions for small and medium-sized enterprises and a set of measures for the socially most vulnerable citizens who count for more than a million and we will send the bill on Zagreb's post-quake reconstruction on the fast track to parliament," Bernardic said while listing the first steps if they won the election.
He said that in the past five years not one serious reform has been conducted in the country.
The attempted pension reform failed. The education reform does not exist and we will remember the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) term in government for a wave of strikes and resistance by the entire education community, said Bernardic.
Taking stock of the current government's term, Bernardic said that today, Croatia had more than a million people living on the verge of poverty, half of them being pensioners. The health system is burdened with scandals and amassed debts of HRK 9.1 billion.
Our objective, he said, is to increase pension allowances by introducing guaranteed pension allowances of 70% of the average wage, increase the minimum wage to HRK 4,000, and increasing the level non-taxable income to HRK 5,000 which will immediately lead to a wage increase for more than 700,000 workers, he said.
Germany Donates €85,000 Equipment To Croatia To Mitigate Quake Consequences
ZAGREB, May 27, 2020 - The German government has made a donation of technical equipment valued at €85,000 to Croatia's Civil Protection in its efforts to deal with the consequences of the March 22 earthquake in Zagreb and its environs
The donation has come from the German Technisches Hilfswerk (THW) civil protection organisation controlled by the German federal government and Germany's Ambassador to Croatia, Robert Klinke formally presented the donation to Assistant Interior Minister Dami Trut at the civil protection logistics centre in Jastrebarsko, on the outskirts of Zagreb.
The equipment consists of ten light balloons and one hundred diesel heaters used in tents. Ambassador Klinke said that the equipment can be used to address to quake consequences and for other civil protection activities.
The diplomat mentioned the fact that as a result of the two strong earthquakes that struck Zagreb on March 22 during restrictions imposed because of the COVID-19 epidemic, many citizens can still not return to their homes before the comprehensive reconstruction of their buildings.
"The Federal Republic of Germany feels solidarity for its friend Croatia and has responded to the Croatian government's call and has donated this equipment to Croatia's civil protection organisation which can be transported and used day and night both during repairs and in rescue missions," Ambassador Klinke said and wished Croatia a lot of strength in the reconstruction of Zagreb and its environs affected by the earthquake.
Assistant Minister Trut expressed gratitude for the donation and described the permanent good cooperation between various institutions and organisations in both countries.
"In the past ten years we have been partners in 18 projects and now in another three and they are mostly conducted with Germany's THW as the greatest force in civil protection in Germany. In addition to this donation, we received support during the migrant crisis and during the COVID-19 pandemic we received tests and medical protective equipment," Trut said adding that Germany's greatest support to Croatia was in mine clearance valued at €9 million.
Ahead of World Multiple Sclerosis Day: Mirjam Jukić
May 27, 2020 - On May 30, World Multiple Sclerosis Day, put on an orange shirt, join hundreds and walk anywhere for the ones with Multiple Sclerosis.
Mirjam Jukić, a well-known name in the media world, is the organizer of the MS walk at Bundek. This year, due to COVID-19, everyone will be walking wherever they want. For those with MS, one can join by taking a photo of the number of steps, sending it to Facebook MS team Croatia, then sharing on your profiles with #HodamZaOneKojiNeMOGU #MSwalk2020 #SvakiKorakSeBroji.
As Mirjam picturesquely described MS for Živim.hr, having MS is like feeling when you sit cross-legged for a long time and then get up. "Your legs are numb, and you feel like they are not yours. Now imagine living with that feeling constantly," said the 44-years-old president of MS Tim Hrvatska.
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system, meaning that inflammatory damage can affect the cerebellum and cerebellum, brainstem, and spinal cord. It affects women twice more than men.
"I felt the first symptoms back in 2001, one year after I gave birth to my first child," says Mirjam, who is now a mother of three. "But I was diagnosed with MS in 2014 when my sight worsened."
Depression and anxiety are often coming along MS. Not everyone can accept another diagnosis when they struggle with realizing they already have MS. "Talk about your problems, move, exercise, dance... Try to have a positive attitude. We have to look ahead," says Mirjam, who also had a hard time accepting the diagnosis. "But don't give up! It is up to us to bring consciousness to people, explain what is going on in our bodies. So, wear this orange t-shirt proudly on May 30, and join us!"
Aladrovic: Agreement Reached With Public Services, Holiday Bonus To Be Paid Out
ZAGREB, May 27, 2020 - Croatian Labour and Pension System Minister Josip Aladrovic said on Wednesday that an agreement had been reached with public sector unions on an annex to the basic collective agreement and on holiday allowances being paid into citizens' accounts rather than through the Cro Card.
"We have reached an agreement with public sector employees, they accepted the earlier offer by a majority. We have taken the position that we will pay the HRK 1,500 holiday allowance as we have so far - into citizens' accounts," Minister Aladrovic said after a meeting with public and government sector trade unions.
He underscored that government negotiators had been under the impression that union members were not pleased enough with the Cro Card idea and that they would continue negotiations with government employees on Friday, adding that he believed the talks would have a positive outcome.
Asked if it was a success when six out of eleven trade unions rejected the government's offer, Aladrovic said it was a compromise.
"I am glad we have reached an agreement. The rejections, these are things that are resolved within and between trade unions, and I, as part of the government, would not wish to interfere in their relations," Aladrovic said.
He stressed that paying holiday bonuses directly into citizens' accounts had the same financial scope as payments through the Cro Card.
"Whether it goes to the Cro Card or is paid into users' account makes no difference to us. We wanted to achieve an indirect effect on the economy, but we believe that everything we payout as the holiday allowance will still end up in the domestic economy," Aladrovic said.
He added that the cost of holiday allowances amounted to about HRK 300 million.
Health sector unions underscored as an issue the non-payment of overtime pay, and the minister said they had defined this three to four weeks ago.
"That problem has been partially solved, there is the problem of the past, but that is in the domain of court proceedings, and I would not comment on it further," Aladrovic said.
Education And Government Sector Unions Accept Government's Offer
ZAGREB, May 27, 2020 - Unions of employees in the education and government sectors on Wednesday accepted a government's proposal on an annex to the basic collective agreement, underscoring that this was a matter of responsibility and solidarity and that they also managed to negotiate the payment of holiday allowances in cash.
"Five public sector trade union federations, which encompass 55 members operating in the public sector, have accepted the government's offer to sign Annex 2 to the basic collective agreement," Branimir Mihalinec, leader of the NSZSSH union of secondary school teachers, told reporters.
He added that they had managed to remove another obstacle in the talks, and that was concerning the payment of holiday allowances through the Cro Card, which the government had given up on.
"The reasons are responsible. The only thing that employees in public services have given up on are raises of the base pay. The base pay will be raised in 2021 as we have agreed," Mihalinec said.
He underscored that accepting the government's offer could be regarded as a clear message that both sides had considered their actions well and that common sense had prevailed.
"Giving up on the raise is a sign of solidarity with all the employed and citizens," Mihalinec said.
Croatian Teachers Union (SHU) leader Sanja Sprem said that 761 branches had taken part in her union's survey and that 88% of the members said they accepted the government's offer, while 11% were against it.
"The biggest stumbling block was the Cro Card, but we detected the issues today, and at my insistence it was requested that the holiday allowance be paid out, which the government accepted," Sprem underscored.
Police union leader Dubravko Jagic said they would present the government's new offer, which was "far more acceptable than the previous one", to their members for them to decide, and that they would know the results on Friday.
"Holiday bonuses won't be affected, there won't be a Cro Card and the bonuses will be paid into our members' current accounts. Christmas bonuses won't be touched, for the time being, there is time for negotiations in autumn. We won't give up on Christmas bonuses," Jagic underscored.
VIDEO: 'Shaq Life' Follows Basketball Legend to Croatia on European DJ Diesel Tour
May 27, 2020 - The new TNT docuseries 'Shaq Life', featuring basketball legend Shaquille O'Neal, follows the world's largest superstar to Croatia, the first stop of his European DJ Diesel Tour.
Whether you were a basketball fan or not, growing up in Southern California, you knew who Shaquille O'Neal was. The NBA legend played for the Los Angeles Lakers for eight years and brought the NBA championship to the Staples Center for a three-peat in 2000, 2001, 2002. Alongside Kobe Bryant, many consider the duo one of the NBA's best.
But Shaq wasn't just an entertainer on the court. Shaq's filmography takes him from playing a 3,000-year-old genie in 'Kazaam', to voicing his own character in 'The Lego Movie.' He was the face of Pepsi and IcyHot, appeared in professional wrestling events, and even tried his hand in rapping during the1990s.
While his days on the court may be over, his days as an entertainer are just beginning.
Most recently, the 48-year-old four-time NBA champion and MVP is a dubstep DJ, which brings us to why he was in Croatia last summer.
Namely, under the stage name DJ Diesel, Shaq performed at the famous party-beach Zrće, Noa club, as part of the inaugural Pow Wow festival. It was also the first stop on his European DJ tour. TCN wrote all about it here.
In what Fanbuzz calls an "exclusive, no holds barred look into how the world’s largest superstar lives his life" the new 'Shaq Life' docuseries centered around Shaquille O’Neal's life follows the basketball legend on his Croatian journey.
Narrated by Samuel L. Jackson, which certainly adds to the excitement of the show, Shaq Life debuted on April 9, and aired every Thursday on TNT.
If you haven't already seen it, you can catch a clip of Shaq's Croatian adventure below:
To read more about lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.
Health Sector Unions Refuse Gov't Offer
ZAGREB, May 27, 2020 - Health sector unions on Wednesday did not sign an annex to the collective agreement for public sector employees, expressing disappointment with the government's offer and noting that they had enabled the relaunching of the economy and the reopening of borders and were against the restriction of their rights.
Considering the crisis caused by coronavirus pandemic, the government had proposed that the planned 2% base pay increases in June and October, and the holiday allowance for public and government sector employees be suspended.
"Most public sector and government employees' unions have said that they will accept the government's annex. We are against it. The doctors' union, the nurses' union, the independent union of healthcare and social workers, the Preporod teachers' union, and some of the government employees are against signing such an annex," HLS doctors' union leader Renata Culinovic Caic said.
She added that the unions could not agree to any restriction of previously agreed entitlements.
"I particularly want to warn that the government has completely forgotten about medical workers, it has forgotten that we were the ones who created conditions for the relaunching of the economy, the reopening of borders and for salvaging tourism," she stressed.
The leader of the nurses union, Anica Prasnjak, said that nurses had asked to be rewarded rather than see their rights restricted.
The leader of the SSZSS independent union of healthcare and social welfare workers, Stejpan Topolnjak, said that the government's offer was unacceptable while the leader of the Preporod teachers' union, Zeljko Stipic, said that his union was the only teachers' union to refuse the government's offer.
"There are 11 representative unions of public sector workers, six did not accept the government's offer and five did. According to the law on representativeness, this is a borderline result but sufficient to have the offer accepted. One should consider finally amending the law on representativeness," said Stipic.
He added that the government would pay the holiday bonus to all public and government sector employees as had been the case so far.
Teachers', Health Sector Unions Against Gov't Proposal For Base Pay Rise Suspension
ZAGREB, May 27, 2020 - Unions representing workers in the health and welfare sectors said on Wednesday, ahead of a meeting with government officials, that their members were against a government proposal for the suspension of planned base pay increases of 2% in June and October and of the holiday allowance.
Renata Culinovic Caic of the HLS doctors' union told reporters that it was owing to the work of medical and social workers that the relaunching of tourism and economy after the crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic had been made possible and that given the circumstances, doctors could not accept the government's proposal.
The Preporod union of school employees said earlier in the day that most of their members were against the government's proposal while a representative of the NSZVO union of employees in the science and higher education sectors said the union's central body had accepted the government's offer.
Talks between government negotiators and union representatives about the signing of annexes to collective and basic collective agreements for the public sector and government employees continued at the Labour and Pension System Ministry today.
The negotiations will be held separately with representatives of public sector unions, unions of employees in the science and higher education sectors, teachers and high school employees, and unions of government employees.
Coronavirus: Traffic Restrictions in Croatia and Other European Countries
July 1 2020 Update - We've worked hard to keep this article updated with all the changes that have been happening regarding travel in Europe. Now that the thing have drastically changed on July 1st, the information in this article will no longer be updated. To get the latest border information, please follow our main travel info article (especially its 'Border' section), which is updated daily.
Which borders are open, which are closed, what are the restrictions? If we had a euro for each time we had this question... well, we wouldn't be doing this job. These are the questions on everyone's lips as borders begin to reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic. As HAK writes on the 8th of June, 2020, there are clear answers to be had from both EU and non-EU European countries amid the fog.
The European Union's external borders (plus those of the EEA countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland) remain closed. Please note that the UK is in its transition period, and therefore remains included within the EU's borders.
The measures introduced at the EU level apply to all non-EU citizens who will not be able to enter the EU if they don't have a long-term address in one of its member states, if they're not family members of EU citizens or if they're not diplomats. Two-way transport and doctors working in the EU and living in border areas in one of the non-EU European countries will continue to be admitted.
Borders
Croatia has opened its borders for tourists and businesses since May 11. Citizens of Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Austria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovenia, and Germany can now enter Croatia without restriction, it was announced on May 28.
While you wait for the answers from Croatian Border Police to check the real-life experiences of tourists coming to Croatia and get your questions answered in our Viber community, Total Croatia Travel INFO - you will need to download the Viber app. This Viber community has been an excellent source of information exchange, where tourist questions are getting answered in real-time. Here are 10 things I learned from the Viber community in the first days. If you have a question or some verified useful travel info to contribute, join us. Please make sure you read pinned message first before asking any questions.
UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND:
All those entering the United Kingdom must go into 14-day self-isolation.
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
Bosnia and Herzegovina has opened its borders for citizens of Croatia, Serbia, and Montenegro.
As of April the 2nd, at 07:00, based on the agreement between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina and with the aim of preventing the spread of COVID-19 virus, 20 border crossings with Bosnia and Herzegovina were temporarily closed. These border crossings were: Svilaj, Gejkovac, Pasin Potok, Bogovolja, Kordunski Ljeskovac, Licka Kaldrma, Bili Brig, Arzano Pazar, Dvorine, Cera, Jovica Most, Sebisina, Slivno, Podprolog, Unka, Vukov Klanac, Imotica, Slano, Hrvatska Dubica, and Gabela Polje.
SLOVENIAN MEASURES
The Slovenian border is open to citizens from the EU and the European Economic Area (EEA) if they have not stayed outside of the EEA in the last 14 days. Restrictions and mandatory quarantine remain in place for third-country nationals (including nationals of European non-EU, non-EEA nations like BiH, Serbia, and Montenegro) if they enter Slovenia with the intention of staying there.
In the case of EU citizens, their entry into Slovenia may still be denied if they develop symptoms of the new coronavirus.
In agreement with countries that have a favourable epidemiological situation (Croatia and other countries), Slovenia will agree on making border crossings easier for those nationals.
MONTENEGRO OPENS BORDERS
Montenegro opens its borders on June 1st, 2020. The countries with which it will open its borders are Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, Germany, Hungary, Albania, and Greece.
HUNGARIAN MEASURES
As of June 12, Hungary has opened its borders.
ITALY'S BORDER OPENING
From June 3, 2020, you can enter and leave Italy freely. All visitors to Lombardy are given a special warning. Tourist entrances to the country will also be made possible.
AUSTRIA TAKES UP MEASURES
Austrian borders are now open again to all EU countries except for the UK, Sweden, and Portugal. Travelers from these countries will not need to quarantine or provide a medical certificate.
SERBIA HAS OPENED BORDERS
Serbia has opened its borders and proof of a negative coronavirus test is no longer needed to enter Serbia. After entering the country, one does not have to isolate oneself.
GERMANY OPENS BORDERS
Germany has re-opened its borders on June 15 for citizens of 31 European countries.
SWITZERLAND HAS OPENED BORDERS
Since June 15, the travel between Switzerland and all European Schengen states as well as Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, and the United Kingdom has been allowed.
ALBANIA HAS OPENED BORDERS
Albania has opened all border crossings on June 1.
SLOVAKIA HAS PARTIALLY OPENED BORDERS
Slovak borders have re-opened for citizens of Liechtenstein, Germany, Switzerland, Croatia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Malta, Estonia, Lithuania, Finland, Latvia, Denmark, Norway, and Iceland on June 10.
CZECH REPUBLIC OPENS BORDERS
The Czech Republic allows its citizens to travel abroad for reasons other than business (they can also travel for tourism), if they are tested for coronavirus on return and then go into two-week self-isolation.
Currently, EU citizens can enter the Czech Republic and go through a 14-day quarantine or must show a negative test for coronavirus that is not older than four days. It has been announced that from June the 8th, the Czech Republic will relax its regime at its border crossings and allow entry into the country. Upon entering the country, citizens of most countries will have to show a negative test for coronavirus. This will not apply to citizens of Croatia, Austria, Slovakia and other countries that the Czechs assess as epidemiologically low risk. Therefore, Croatian citizens will be able to go to the Czech Republic without needing to present a valid negative test for coronavirus.
POLAND HAS A NEW REGIME OF ENTRY
As of Sunday, Poland will not allow entry to those who don't have a residential address in that country. All those who live in Poland and enter that country must be in a 14-day quarantine. Foreign citizens can come to Poland only in the function of business visits (upon presentation of documentation attesting to that fact).
THE NETHERLANDS OPENS BORDERS
The borders are open to EU citizens.
FRANCE OPENS BORDERS
France has re-opened its borders on June 15 for citizens of 31 European countries.
SPAIN OPENS BORDERS
As of June 21, Spain’s borders are open with the rest of Europe, excluding Portugal, but including the United Kingdom.
UKRAINE HAS OPENED BORDERS
Ukraine has also started the gradual process of re-opening its borders for foreigners.
For the latest travel info, bookmark our main travel info article, which is updated daily.
Join the Total Croatia Travel INFO Viber community.
For more on coronavirus, follow our dedicated section.
Jadrolinija's Summer Prices Remain at 2019's Levels, Islanders Disgruntled
If there is one bone of contention or thorn in the side, if you will, of Croatia's many island inhabitants, it is that there are either issues with maritime transport to the mainland and back again, or that the prices are too high. Islanders do get island cards and often pay lower prices to use the services of let's say, Jadrolinija, but this doesn't stop the complaints.
As Morski writes on the 27th of May, 2020, we have only got a few days to go until entry into force of Jadrolinija's summer sailing schedule, which has further upset the already irritated Croatian islanders who have been in isolation, separated from the mainland for months now.
The sore point for the majority of the islanders is the fact that Jadrolinija's prices will remain the same as they were last year, which as we all know, was a record year for Croatian tourism. That ship soon sailed, however, (no pun intended), with the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic which saw tourism across the globe grind to a very sudden halt. It isn't just the pockets of the islanders which have been hit, and this leaves them wondering just who will visit the central Dalmatian islands in such circumstances, when finances are tight?
HTV stated that Croatia's premier island of Hvar is empty. There are no yachts and no guests. The elite hotels that once boasted of their offers and their guests are closed.
Jadrolinija's summer sailing schedule should finally bring in a handful of guests from nearby markets, including domestic tourists, but the prices being the same as last year when Croatia enjoyed a record tourist year is unlikely to draw many people to the islands.
''I think the time has come for Jadrolinija to reconsider its prices and to help us simply get through this summer by reducing their prices to a level that would satisfy both them and us. Let it be 50 percent lower when compared to last year,'' said the president of the Hvar Craftsmen's Association, Katica Vucetic.
For more on Jadrolinija and travel throughout Croatia and its many islands, follow our travel page.
