ZAGREB, 22 March 2022 - Croatia on Tuesday marked the second anniversary of the devastating 5.5-strong earthquake that hit the capital city of Zagreb and northwestern parts of the country at 0624 hours on 22 March 2020 and killed a 15-year-old girl, while 27 people were injured.

The natural disaster caused extensive damage estimated at HRK 86.4 billion (€11.5 billion).

Croatia was granted €683.7 million for earthquake relief according to the provisions of the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF).

As many as 25,0000 properties were destroyed or severely damaged, including buildings housing hospital and schools in the city centre as well as Government House and Parliament Hall.

Although some headway has been made in the post-quake reconstruction, residents in the quake-affected areas and the general public are eagerly waiting for the reconstruction to be in full swing.

The Reconstruction Fund explains that that public procurement procedures and designing had taken more than than initially planned.

This spring, the reconstruction and retrofitting of over 120 blocks of flats and family homes are scheduled to start.

Also the repairs that do not include seismic retrofitting are to be done to roughly 500 residential buildings this year.

Furthermore the authorities have recently started disbursing the compensation to the owners who have already rebuilt their quake-damaged properties on their own initiative.

Majority of school buildings reconstructed

So far, most of the school buildings affected by the tremor have already been reconstructed.

The Medical School has been awarded HRK 377 million for the rebuilding and upgrade of its five buildings.

Also, the Croatian Parliament's building has been awarded HRK 87.6 million for its post-quake reconstruction.

€266m contracts inked for Zagreb health institutions' post-quake reconstruction

A total of 43 contracts, worth 1.98 billion kuna, have been signed so far for the post-quake reconstruction of health institutions in Zagreb and its surroundings, since the 22 March 2020  earthquake, according to the data provided recently by the Health Ministry.

€466m for renovation of historical and cultural landmarks, places of worship

The ministry of culture and media has reported that the contracts have been concluded on the reconstruction of 149 projects concerning listed building housing museums, churches and other important institutions, and HRK 3.5 billion has been put at the disposal by the Solidarity Fund for this purpose.

Year-long extension of deadline for using EU quake relief

Croatia will be able to use the relief granted from the EU Solidarity Fund (EUSF) for earthquake reconstruction in Zagreb until June 2023, which has been adjusted to the period for the use of the allocation for the 6.4-strong earthquake that hit the area of Banovina in Sisak Moslavina County on 29 December 2020 and progressive damage caused.

(€1 = HRK 7.5)

March 22, 2022 - The Višnjik Sports Center in Zadar is the new training ground for Ukrainian divers, who will also be allowed to compete at all Croatian national championships.

The National Sports Federations of the Croatian Olympic Committee (COC) continue to accept athletes who have fled war-torn Ukraine. Thus, Ukrainian divers arrived in Zadar, who will train at the pool in the Višnjik Sports Center, hosted by the Zadar Diving Club and the Croatian Diving Association, reports HRT.

"After the letter from the Ukrainian federation to admit their athletes, we immediately started with the organization. Zadar was the first option given the best training conditions in Croatia; 43 Ukrainians are now there, athletes, coaches, and support staff. All are housed in private accommodation. We will also allow them to compete at all of our national championships, which is the least we can do for them," said the secretary of the HSSV, Marina Novosel.

One of the strongest globally, the Ukrainian national team is led by the legendary Illya Kvasa, the 2008 bronze medalist in Beijing, and a five-time European and two-time world champion.

"We are happy because we came to a safe place. We have not trained for a month because of the overall situation in Ukraine and the ongoing war. The most important thing is that we are safe now and manage to dedicate ourselves to training again. I hope that the war will end soon and that we will return to our homes as soon as possible. I thank our hosts who have received us very well, are very kind, and are always there for everything we need," said Kvasa.

"We are glad that we managed to organize and accommodate our sports friends who have taken refuge here from the war in their country in a short time. We are here for everything they need," added the president of the Zadar Diving Club, Marko Nevešćanin.

To read more about sports in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

March 22, 2022 - The 2022 Dubrovnik summer flight schedule has been announced with flights to over 70 airports around the world. 

Dubrovnik Airport has announced its summer flight schedule for this year, which takes effect on the last weekend of this month. Thus, Dubrovnik should have direct flights to more than 70 airports this summer throughout Europe and the world, reports Croatian Aviation.

This summer, Dubrovnik Airport will be connected to more than 70 international airports, two of which are outside Europe (New York and Dubai) and only four domestic (Split, Rijeka, Zagreb, and Osijek). All other routes have been announced around Europe. 

It should also be noted that regular flights from Ukraine and Russia by several airlines have been announced in the summer flight schedule, which will certainly not happen given the war in Ukraine.

List of destinations and airlines:

Amsterdam (EasyJet, KLM),

Athens (Aegean, Volotea),

Barcelona (Vueling),

Bari (Volotea),

Basel (EasyJet),

Belfast (Jet2)

Belgrade (Air Serbia),

Bergen (Norwegian),

Berlin (Eurowings, EasyJet),

Birmingham (TUI, Jet2),

Bordeaux (Volotea),

Bristol (TUI, EasyJet),

Brussels (TUI, Brussels Airlines),

Bucharest (Blue Air),

Budapest (LOT),

Cardiff (TUI),

Cologne (Eurowings),

Copenhagen (SAS, Norwegian),

Cork (AerLingus),

Doncaster (TUI)

Dubai (FlyDubai),

Dublin (Ryanair, Aer Lingus),

Dusseldorf (Croatia Airlines, Eurowings, Condor),

Edinburgh (EasyJet, Jet2),

Frankfurt (Croatia Airlines, Lufthansa, Condor),

Geneva (EasyJet),

Glasgow (TUI),

Hamburg (Eurowings),

Helsinki (Finnair, Norwegian),

Istanbul (Turkish Airlines),

Katowice (Smartwings, Wizz Air),

Krakow (LOT),

Leeds (Jet2)

London Gatwick (EasyJet, TUI, British Airways, Wizz Air),

London Heathrow (British Airways),

London Luton (EasyJet, Wizz Air),

London Stansted (Jet2),

Luxembourg (Luxair),

Lyon (Volotea, EasyJet),

Madrid (Iberia),

Manchester (TUI, Jet2, EasyJet),

Marseille (Volotea),

Milan (EasyJet),

Munich (Lufthansa, Croatia Airlines),

Nantes (Volotea, EasyJet, Transavia),

Naples (EasyJet),

New York (United Airlines),

Newcastle (TUI, Jet2),

Nottingham (TUI, Jet2),

Oslo (Flyr, Norwegian, SAS),

Osijek (Croatia Airlines),

Paris CDG (Air France, Croatia Airlines),

Paris Orly (Transavia, EasyJet),

Poznan (Smartwings, LOT),

Prague (Smartwings),

Riga (Air Baltic),

Rijeka (Trade Air),

Rome (Croatia Airlines, ITA, Vueling, Wizz Air),

Rotterdam (Transavia),

Split (Trade Air),

Stavanger (Norwegian),

Stockholm (Norwegian, SAS),

Stuttgart (Eurowings),

Thessaloniki (Aegean Airlines),

Toulouse (Volotea),

Venice (Croatia Airlines),

Vienna (Austrian Airlines, Wizz Air, Ryanair),

Vilnius (Air Baltic),

Warsaw (LOT, Smartwings, Wizz Air),

Zagreb (Croatia Airlines),

Zurich (Croatia Airlines, Edelweiss).

According to the airline, Dubrovnik Airport is facing a very demanding season. Its biggest success is the fact that there will be a regular United Airlines line between New York and Dubrovnik, which starts significantly earlier and ends only in October.

For more on flights to Croatia and other travel announcements, check out our dedicated travel section.

March 22, 2022 - The Croatia national football team faces two friendly matches against Slovenia and Bulgaria in Doha. Brozović and Vrsaljko will not travel with the team to Qatar, while Brekalo has tested positive for coronavirus. 

Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić announced the tournament in Doha on Monday as the national team gathered in Zagreb for the first time since qualifying for the 2022 World Cup. Croatia will face Slovenia and Bulgaria in Doha on March 26 and March 29, reports HNS.

Dalić revealed that Šime Vrsaljko and Marcelo Brozović dropped out due to injuries, while Mile Škorić and Nikola Moro will step in instead.

"Brozović and Vrsaljko dropped out of the original lineup due to injuries, and I'm sorry about that. We gather in Zagreb, but five players come to Doha directly from their clubs. Our motivation is great in the upcoming matches to prepare for what awaits us in June. This will be a very good test for all of us to see what we can do, to prepare for the Nations League," said Dalić, who made it clear that he intends to use all players.

"We invited 25 players, and the idea is for everyone to play. We will give a chance to all the players, but there is no point in burdening them to the maximum. I want to try all the players. Our goal is for everyone to play. We will make two teams for those two games; the players are very busy in their clubs anyway. I think it will be good to relieve them a bit."

"We will play with three in the defense in both games; we will try that system to have another tactical addition. We will have two good games because the opponents are good. We will work on the unity of the national team," Dalić began and added:

"I am looking forward to this gathering and matches because the national team is together after four months. Unfortunately, Brozović and Vrsaljko dropped out due to muscle injuries, both of whom remained at their clubs to rehabilitate. That is why we activated the reserves Škorić and Moro." 

What happened with Petković?

"I do not want to write off Bruno Petković, and I did not write him off. I want him as he was in the qualifications. That is good for us, and I am waiting for him. I want him back in shape; I emphasize in the striker position because I see him there.

I hope that he will come back and that by June, he will be better and understand my message that he is not up to standard and that he can do much, much better. We do not have a more complete and better striker than Bruno Petković when he is in the right form. He has not been written off, and I want him on the national team. "

Who will be in goal?

"Livaković will defend one game, and one by Ivušić. That's the plan. Grbić has no right to be called if he does not defend at his club. The goalkeeper is not in the right condition if he does not defend. So we have no reason to fear, Livaković is defending well, Ivušić as well, and younger keepers are coming. There is also Lovre Kalinić, who is good in Hajduk," reveals coach Dalić.

Brozović and Vrsaljko dropped out, as well as Josip Brekalo

"Something always happens that we did not anticipate, and Brozović and Vrsaljko dropped out. We are following the others, especially the young players, surely some will come to the competition. First of all being Stanišić and Sučić, who are already with us.

There is also Šutalo, but all in good time. We have the basis of the team; we have the breadth because each position is filled with two or three players. We have a combination of experience and youth, new ones give energy, but without more experienced ones, it will not work. We are not in a hurry with the final conclusions; we will give everyone a chance. We follow young players who have an opportunity to jump in with good performances," said Dalić.

Last night, news arrived that national team member Josip Brekalo tested positive for coronavirus and will miss Croatia's first friendly match in Doha on March 26 against Slovenia. Depending on how the situation develops, he will compete in the second match in Doha on March 29 against Bulgaria.

Brekalo recorded 30 appearances for the national team and scored four goals.

To read more about sports in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

March 22, 2022 - 20,000 Ultra Europe tickets have been sold so far by buyers from 90 countries, confirming that Split will once again be the center of the electronic music world this summer. 

Hibernating and waiting for life to return to where it left off almost two years ago is over, said the marketing agency and event company MPG, best known to the public as the organizers of the Ultra Europe festival announced for the summer. MPG is celebrating 25 years of business. In its celebratory year, it reveals the return of the biggest live events and completely new experiences, based on innovations and rich experiences and adapted to all the challenges of the new decade, reports Poslovni.

MPG operates in 8 countries, has more than 500 permanent employees, over 4,000 part-time employees, offices in Zagreb, Ljubljana, Belgrade, and Skopje, and is a member of a strong European network of independent SSI agencies. Behind them is a collaboration with more than 250 multinational brands, numerous live events, festivals, concerts, sporting events, retail and digital marketing. The company points out that in the pandemic, the creative forces of MPG have become even more creative. As a result, the challenges have become new opportunities that have resulted in the introduction of new technologies and adapting and implementing projects that represent future marketing.

“The tectonic changes in the way we do business caused by the pandemic have been an incredible challenge for us in the global live industry. Despite everything, I am proud that MPG managed to keep most of its workers. This has been our priority because we have always invested in people, our employees, the greatest wealth this company has. I am thrilled that in the celebratory year, we can announce the return of our biggest event, the ULTRA Europe festival, which is returning to Split after two years. Our desire, mission, and vision are to create emotions and unique experiences, and we are happy to be able to return to what we do best, and that is to make people happy," said Joe Bašić, CEO and founder of MPG.

ULTRA Europe is the largest international event in the region, and after a two-year break, it will reopen its doors to more than 100,000 visitors. Just how eager people are for live events is also shown by the fact that 20,000 tickets have already been sold from more than 90 countries worldwide. This event creates one billion kuna of additional spending for Croatia and more than 35 million euros of marketing value, which brings a big and positive promotion of the festival and Split and Croatia as destinations, reminds MPG. The festival organizers added that they used the break to offer their visitors an even more special musical and production experience for the eighth edition.

For more, check out our lifestyle section. 

March the 22nd, 2022 - Bjelovar, known more recently as one of the most forward-thinking, anti-corruption, pro-transparency towns in all of Croatia, is set to explore its further hidden potential with a new project and a generous amount of Norwegian cash.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, after the Ministry of Regional Development approved the amount of 2 million kuna recently for the preparation of project documentation for a new geothermal well in Veliko Korenovo, even better news arrived for Bjelovar. The continental Croatian town also got the green light for the construction of the well itself.

The project, worth a total of 3.5 million euros, will be co-financed from the same source as the preparation of the documentation - from the "Energy and Climate Change" programme of the Ministry of Regional Development and EU funds, funded by the Kingdom of Norway, as reported by klikni.hr/click.hr.

''The total value of this project stands at 3.5 million euros, and the maximum amount that could be achieved through this tender is 1.5 million euros. We haven't yet received confirmation that we've been approved in the full amount, but given that very few projects have applied for this tender, and ours is highly rated, we're hoping for the best,'' said Bjelovar Mayor Dario Hrebak.

In other words, there is a possibility that Bjelovar itself will provide almost half of the money for the investment in this tender, and Hrebak added that he isn't afraid for the other half of the required amount. ''I believe that in the near future there will be more tenders for such projects, so I believe that we will find the required amount. This is a great investment, we'll definitely realise it,'' says Hrebak.

The project's realisation could end up going faster than anyone could have expected, especially in Croatian terms.

''The conceptual project is already being completed, and I believe that we could have a building permit by the end of this year. This means that the construction of the well itself could be completed by the end of next year, and we've already been contacted by some potential investors,'' announced Hrebak, who isn't bothering to try to hide his overall satisfaction with the realisation of this extremely important project for Bjelovar.

''It's important, especially in light of current global events when energy self-sufficiency is one of the key issues. The new well will be the foundation for the heating plant and the heating pipeline through which future spas should be heated, the business zone in Veliko Korenovo, the Bjelovar Fair and other facilities in that part of the city,'' said Hrebak, adding that estimates are being made on the savings this investment will bring over time.

''We already know that this is going to result in really huge savings. By comparison, the 10-megawatt geothermal power plant at Ciglena produces 130 million kuna worth of electricity a year. We're going to have a power of 4 megawatts in Veliko Korenovo, so we can also expect millions in energy savings,'' said Hrebak.

Bjelovar started a serious examination of the well in Veliko Korenovo a little over one year ago in cooperation with experts from the Hrvoje Pozar Energy Institute and the Geotechnical Institute. Initial tests have already indicated the enormous potential of the well and that the water temperature at this place is much higher than that which will be used for the nearby spas. To speak more specifically, a water temperature of 70 degrees was measured at that location.

''We have information that in other parts of the city there are underground springs where the water temperature is between 70 and 100 degrees celsius. Bjelovar has a great geothermal potential that we definitely plan to utilise,'' concluded Dario Hrebak.

For more, make sure to check out our business section.

March the 22nd, 2022 - Over the last twenty or so years, the gorgeous Vrana Lake has been experiencing some changes. Some of them are to do with the aging process, and a group of Rudjer Boskovic Institute scientists have been researching the goings on.

As Morski writes, cases of the influence of sea water have been recorded in Vrana Lake, which has led to the death of the lake's fish, but also the entry of marine organisms into Vrana Lake. An international interdisciplinary team led by researchers from the Rudjer Boskovic Institute have investigated how these changes in the balance of precipitation and evaporation, the prolongation of dry seasons and intensive irrigation affect microbial communities in coastal freshwater lakes.

Even with a slight increase in salinity in freshwater lakes, there may be a complete change in nutrients, which affects the growth and development of naturally occurring flora and fauna, or accelerate the aging process of coastal freshwater lakes.

Resident microorganisms are responsible for the role of energy transfer in aquatic ecosystems and act as a link between dissolved organic matter and organisms belonging to higher trophic levels. Their metabolic activity regulates the amount and shape of molecular carbon present in lakes and thus affects the global carbon cycle and the emission of greenhouse gases from biological sources.

Microorganisms are highly sensitive to changes in their environment and can therefore be used as indicators of change. In the coastal area of ​​Dalmatia, more and more frequent hydrological changes are being observed, which manifest themselves as prolonged periods of drought or intense showers in the wetter period of the year. Vrana Lake near Biograd na Moru is the largest natural lake in all of the Republic of Croatia, and together with local sources, it supplies the most agriculturally developed part of central Dalmatia - Ravni Kotari.

The aging process of the lake has been studied by Rudjer Boskovic Institute scientists

The level and characteristics of lake water in Vrana Lake all depend on the amount of precipitation experienced and the load of local springs used for field irrigation. In the last twenty years, periods have been recorded in which seawater affected the lake through a partially eroded limestone reef and a canal connecting the lake with the sea, causing fish deaths and the entry of marine species.

''We decided to investigate the seasonal changes in the microbial community of Vrana Lake because its stability is key to establishing balance within the entire lake. We wanted to determine if there's a link between the dissolved organic matter present in the lake, the phytoplankton community that produces it, and the bacteria that feed on it. We conducted sampling at two points in order to collect information on changes in the microbiological community that could be caused by potential salinisation and agronomic activity,'' explained Lorena Selak of the Rudjer Boskovic Institute in Zagreb.

While conducting this research, she added, they used a high-throughput method of sequencing environmental DNA.

''Based on the distribution of the dissolved organic matter and its molecular composition, we found that Vrana Lake is highly productive and doesn't depend on the intake of organic matter from external sources. The microbial communities of the water column(s) are interconnected by the native production of organic matter, which is highest in the summer months. Prolonged droughts and intensive irrigation have caused a precipitation-evaporation imbalance that has led to an increase in potentially harmful cyanobacteria on the one hand, and the entry of seawater and marine species within microbial eukaryotes and bacteria on the other,'' Selak stated.

''Using the results we obtained, we can say that there's a great need to deepen our level of understanding of the microbial community and its response to intense changes in freshwater ecosystems that are extremely rare and valuable sources in the coastal areas of the Mediterranean,'' concluded the head of the research team, Dr. Sandi Orlic.

In nature, this process goes on for thousands of years, but due to various environmental changes in the aquatic ecosystem and human impact, the process of eutrophication of the environment has been shortened to a span of only a few years. In the process of eutrophication of aquatic systems, algae grow intensively, the amount of oxygen decreases and animal species gradually die out, and aquatic ecosystems, usually lakes, change colour to dark green and brown.

Scientists from the Liebniz Institute in Germany, Hrvatske vode (Croatian waters) and the Faculty of Science in Zagreb all participated in the international research headed by Rudjer Boskovic Institute scientists.

For more, make sure to check out our lifestyle section.

March the 22nd, 2022 - Former Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic has claimed that she and Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is currently waging an unjustified and utterly bizarre war on neighbouring Ukraine, would ''talk for hours''.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, the former Norwegian Prime Minister will leave his position in the Defense Alliance next autumn after serving a period of eight years and become the governor of the Norwegian Central Bank, and it is speculated that he will be succeeded by a woman from an Eastern European country.

Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic didn't want to comment on a possible new position in NATO

In an interview with Dagens Nyheter, Index reports, former President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic didn't want to comment on any of the circulating media speculations that she could become NATO Secretary General, the competition for which includes former British Prime Minister Theresa May, Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid and former Italian Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini, but she did make sure to point out that she enjoyed working as Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy from 2011 to 2014.

"Most of the employees there weren't used to having a woman as an associate, but they didn't treat me differently because of my gender. Congratulations to those generals and others who worked hard and didn't protest when we worked hard to empower women,'' the former Croatian president told a Swedish daily.

Former NATO Secretary General and former Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, to whom Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic was an assistant in NATO until the end of his term back in 2014, commented on the upcoming election of a leading civilian official in the defense alliance:

"I think it would be good to choose a strong secretary general with good connections. What's happening in the world now means that NATO will play an even bigger role in the coming years. Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic is one of the possible candidates, but there are other rumours. I can't say anything more about it at the moment.''

They described her as a conservative Croat

Two Dagens Nyhetera journalists interviewed Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic back on March the 8th after her lecture was held at the Stockholm Business School, a prestigious economic higher education institution, at which Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson completed her education.

Apart from speculating on whether "a conservative Croat would step up to the position in the footsteps of a social-democratic, peaceful and wealthy Norwegian", and stories about growing up in Yugoslavia, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic's remarks about Russian President Vladimir Putin were particularly interesting given current times.

The former Croatian president immediately emphasised that she had been pointing out Russia's aggression against Ukraine for a long time and had previously warned of the possibility of a global crisis: "Unfortunately, this is exactly what happened. I think there was a certain naivety in people's thinking. What Putin wanted was quite clear in his 2000 political manifesto, which mentioned the restoration of Russia's economic power and position in the world. The events in Georgia and Crimea later made it known what would happen.''

However, unlike many international leaders who have described Vladimir Putin as a war criminal and lunatic because of his ongoing invasion of Ukraine; US President Joe Biden wondered if his Russian counterpart even had a soul; Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic chose her words carefully in response, Dagens Nyheter points out.

"He was normal and respectful"

“During my meetings with him, he was normal and respectful. We discussed bilateral issues, but also the regional situation across Southeastern Europe. We talked, among other things, about Agrokor, a company that was majority owned by Russian banks and was threatened with collapse and the creation of a crisis in Croatia. In that, but also in some other regional issues, Putin was constructive and provided a solution.

But there were areas in which we didn't agree, and on a very deep level, and that included, of course, NATO enlargement,'' said Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, adding that during numerous meetings with Putin, they'd talk for hours about various topics, including sport.

However, Dagens Nyheter didn't fail to mention that Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, while she was the Croatian president, during her visit to Moscow in 2018 during the World Cup, handed Putin a jersey of the Croatian national team with his name on it. The photos show them both smiling with the red and white jersey in between them, writes the Swedish daily, and reports Index.

For more, make sure to check out our politics section.