ZAGREB, 12 July (Hina) - Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said in parliament on Monday, submitting a report on European Council meetings in the past six months, that he expected Croatia to enter the Schengen Area in 2022.

"I have publicly said a number of times that we expect it to be during 2022," he told Peđa Grbin of the opposition SDP.

Grbin asked Plenković if and when Schengen would be enlarged and what the position of the member states was, given Slovenian Interior Minister Aleš Hojs's statement that it was not certain that Croatia's accession would be on the agenda in the next six months.

Plenković said the new Schengen strategy, which the European Commission published early in June, clearly stated the Commission's position that the Schengen Area should be completed with the inclusion of Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania.

He said Hojs's statement was "generic in character" and that no country chairing the Council of the EU would put on the agenda a topic as sensitive as enlargement if there was no consensus.

"We will bring it to the Council when all the elements have matured. We'll bring it in partnership with the presiding country."

Step forward in Slovenian statements

Plenković told Grbin there was a "huge step forward" in statements by Slovenian premiers and ministers.

"When did you clearly hear, until this Slovenian government, from the prime minister, now even the president and the ministers, that Slovenia is 100% for Croatia's Schengen membership? That's key and that's what's essential."

Although the opposition mostly criticised the government's measures during the pandemic and the economic downturn, Nino Raspudić of Bridge commended it for not imposing too strict measures and a long lockdown.

Save your apologias for (the president), not the government, said Plenković.

July 12, 2021 - The Croatian Olympic Committee held a farewell ceremony in Zagreb for the athletes departing to Tokyo. 

As the first large group of Croatian athletes departs for the Olympic Games in Tokyo, the Croatian Olympic Committee (COC) traditionally organized a farewell ceremony for the Olympians and those who will become Olympians.

Slobodan Kadic

The ceremony was held on Monday, July 12, 2021, at 13.30 in the Crystal Hall of The Westin Hotel in Zagreb, the same hall where at the end of each year, the Croatian Olympic Committee proclaims and awards the country's sports heroes over the past 365 days.

Slobodan Kadic

In addition to athletes (Barbara Matić, Karla Prodan, Ivana Maranić, Damir Martin, Valent, and Martin Sinković, Šime and Mihovil Fantela, Elena Vorobeva, Toni Kanaet, Matea Jelić, Ivan Šapina, Kristina Tomić) and their coaches, the ceremony was attended by numerous sports dignitaries: Minister of Tourism and Sports Nikolina Brnjac, IOC member from Croatia Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, and Ambassador of Japan to Croatia HE E. Misako Kaji.

Slobodan Kadic

The host of the event is the president of the Croatian Olympic Committee, Zlatko Mateša, and the general secretary Siniša Krajač. Thanks to Sports Television (SPTV), sports fans from all over Croatia could see the event live.

After the official confirmation from the Croatian Athletics Federation (HAS) that high jumper Ana Šimić and discus thrower Marija Tolj have been included in the list of athletes who will perform at the Olympic Games in Tokyo (July 23 - August 8, 2021), the Office for the Olympic Program of the Croatian Olympic Committee (COC) published the final list of Croatian Olympic hopes.

The list includes 58 athletes from 15 sports. However, there is only one team among them - the water polo team, which has the right to register 12 players and one reserve.

The number of athletes for the Olympic Games in Tokyo is the lowest since the premiere performance of Croatian Olympians under their own flag - in Barcelona in 1992 when there were 41 of them from 12 sports. The record is still held by the London 2012 Games, with 107 athletes from 18 sports.

To follow the latest sports news in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

To learn more about sport in Croatia, CLICK HERE. 

July 12, 2021 - Works on Marjan hotel could begin by Rovinj's Adris Group already this September! 

By applying for a building permit on May 3 this year, which was completed on July 5 or became administratively filed, a new important step was made to prepare for the reconstruction of the Marjan Hotel, reports Slobodna Dalmacija.

These data were published in the information system of the Ministry of Physical Planning. Slobodna Dalmacija received confirmation from the owner of the unfinished building on the West Coast, Rovinj's Adris Group, who stated that "in cooperation with the City and relevant institutions, they have completed the necessary documentation for the reconstruction of Marjan, after which the works on the facility itself will begin." 

A few months ago, amendments to the location permit to reconstruct a building for catering and tourism purposes, i.e., a tourist facility with 285 accommodation units and a 5-star category, were obtained.

Boris Marelja, the head of the city's Administrative Department for Spatial Planning, Development, and Environmental Protection, said that an e-conference had been launched that will last 15 days, with the participation of public bodies, including HEP, Vodovod i kanalizacija and MUP to make any remarks before confirming the main project. After that part of the proceedings, the neighbors and other parties will have the right to inspect the file, also with a deadline of 15 days.

The speed with which the permit will be issued and become final depends on the possible objections. Of course, Marelja did not want to go into forecasts, and a rough calculation points to 45 days if there are no major objections. According to the information available, there should not be any, primarily because the documentation is well prepared, and it is not surprising if it is known that the Adris Group is a serious and reputable investor in the hotel and tourism industry.

According to the mentioned calculation of 45 days, the first works could follow in September this year. However, it should be reminded that this will not be construction, but the removal of "unwanted" or "superfluous" parts of the building.

Of course, Marjan will not be completely demolished as it was announced in the media, but according to the plans of former owner Željko Kerum and Jerko Rošin, there should be apartments. There is no doubt that the glass will be removed from the facade.

According to the announcement in September last year, the new hotel tower should have a height equal to the previous one after the planned project, but with one floor less as they will raise the individual floors. Raising the floors is logical and necessary to set up installations for various facilities, which did not exist when the hotel was built.

Zagreb-based architectural studio '3LHD' and renowned Italian architect and designer Piero Lissoni are working on the demanding project. In a Jutarnji List statement last year, Sasa Begovic briefly commented on the Marjan project: "We are doing a creative reinterpretation of the hotel built by Perković. We are also planning a smaller number of rooms and terraces with a view."

The designer of the first A deluxe hotel in Split, with 220 rooms, was, in fact, done by architect Lovro Perković. Built in 1963, Marjan soon became the pearl of Split tourism and one of the city's symbols.

In 1979, before the Mediterranean Games in Dalmatia, it was extended, and 10 years later, in 1989, it had its last reconstruction. Soon after the start of the Homeland War, displaced persons and refugees moved in. From 1998 until the beginning of the new reconstruction, it operated with only 30 percent of its capacity.

In 2005, Kerum bought it in a tender for 170 million kuna, three times more than the requested 57 million kuna. A period of big plans and optimism followed when, after four years, a 20-year franchise agreement was signed with Hilton.

However, the owner of the facility was soon elected mayor, and the work of building and renovating the hotel was suspended so that in 2015 everything would end with the bankruptcy of the "Adriatic" company. The bankruptcy lasted for several years, and in November 2019, Marjan was sold to an Istrian company for 324 million kuna.

The Adris group refrained from commenting and replied:

"This is a significant project for Split, but also the further development of the tourist part of our company. Namely, this is a demanding project that will contribute to Split's further tourist affirmation and confirm "Adris" as the leading Croatian company in luxury tourism. Furthermore, as the public knows, and your paper has written about on several occasions, we want to thoroughly renovate the Marjan Hotel and join it to the group of luxury hotels ("Grand Park Hotel Rovinj," "Monte Mulini", "Lone", "Hilton Imperial" in Dubrovnik."

For more on lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

July 12, 2021 - At the Barać Caves in the municipality of Rakovica, the construction of the 20 million kuna Speleon Underground Heritage Center has begun, which should open its doors to tourists next year to enable sustainable development in the Plitvice area.

As the director of the Barać Caves Public Institution for Management of Protected Natural Values and project manager Tihana Oštrina said, earthworks have been carried out on the site of the old school in Nova Kršlja, basements have been excavated, and the construction of foundations will begin next week, reports HRT.

This is one of the major investments in tourism for Karlovac County, which will create a modern infrastructure for various educational and recreational activities, and is expected to contribute to tourism development in the entire Plitvice region, which is mostly in Lika-Senj County.

The project is 85 percent co-financed by the European Union from the European Cohesion Fund. With NP Plitvice Lakes, their common goal is to disperse visitors and extend their stay in the Plitvice area, but not so that the pressure is only on the lakes.

The architectural curiosity of Speleon is a circular shape representing four themes of natural heritage: speleology, geology, archeology, and paleontology. The entrance will be made of large glass rocks, as an opening to caves, and the whole building will improve infrastructure and provide a unique, innovative, and attractive display of cultural and natural site values for all visitors, including those with special needs.

The circular building will cover 1,200 square meters, of which 850 will be intended for a permanent exhibition, all with scale models, replicas, LCD screens, displays on the so-called smart glass, through animations, multitouch screens, as well as sensory chambers.

The Visitor Center will also have a multifunctional hall, a showroom, a children's playroom, a speleological documentation library, catering facilities and a souvenir shop, and a parking lot. The works are performed by the Construction Craft Špelić from Slunj.

For more on lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

July 12, 2021 - The city of Split cycled an incredible 1.32 million kilometers over the last two years, continuously proving that the public bicycle system is a success!

Two years have passed since Split received its public bicycle system, which has proved to be a complete success. Since the beginning, public bicycles in Split have been used for 88,566 hours, and users have cycled an incredible 1,328,485 kilometers, over four times more in the second year than the first. The system has thus profiled itself as a fully accepted new mode of public transport that is faster, healthier, and cheaper to use and has become part of the daily lives of many citizens, reports Dalmacija Danas.

In its second year of operation, the system had a major expansion. From the initial 12, it reached 51 stations, which covered all city districts and all important institutions and increased the number of bicycles from 86 to 280 bicycles.

All this has resulted in a large increase in users and rentals. The system currently has 21,848 registered users, of which 80 percent are domestic. Since the beginning, a total of 240,784 rentals have been realized, of which almost 200,000 in the second year alone, which is over four times more than in the first year of operation.

Split Parking said that due to the increase in the number of users in the past year, they also worked on education, so BicikliSTički etiquette was issued, which is also available online so that all traffic participants can be informed how to use the system safely and correctly.

"We plan to continue with the development of the system, and when allowed, to expand it further and connect it with other units within the agglomeration, which we are already working on in cooperation with other partners. We are also thinking and working on developing new functionalities that would make use more enjoyable. For example, last year we introduced a new weekly subscription option, and the annual price for all users has remained the same and is the cheapest form of public transport. For 200 kuna per year, you have an unlimited number of free rides of up to 30 minutes. We believe that the development of cycling infrastructure will accompany the development of the public bicycle system to ensure that all users enjoy cycling as safe as possible," said Marko Bartulić, director of Split Parking.

"Work is also underway to install surveillance cameras at stations to prevent damage by irresponsible individuals on bicycles. Fortunately, they are in the minority, and such incidents are more the exception than the rule. Most users and citizens are responsible for the system since it is common and available for everyone to use," concluded Split Parking. 

The city of Split is still at the top of the region in terms of figures. May 2021 saw a record number of rentals (36,623), while on June 2, 2021, the record daily number of rentals was achieved (1634).

No less important is the fact that we protect the environment by using this form of transport, and citizens who have cycled instead of cars in these two years have contributed to reducing emissions, i.e., ensured that 332.12 tons of CO2 are less emitted into the atmosphere.

For more, follow our lifestyle section.

July the 12th, 2021 - Vaccination is underway across the world with more and more people getting their first and second doses in an attempt to protect themselves, those around them and finally bring an end to this truly tiresome global pandemic. The Porec vaccination point organisation, however, experienced quite the embarrassing and unexpected error recently.

As Morski writes, a rather unusual situation happened recently at an organised Porec vaccination point, where the free vaccination of citizens with the Pfizer vaccine had been planned. Many people who turned up to get vaccinated waited around and didn't even manage to receive the vaccine.

The increasingly intensive promotion of vaccination against the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, by both the state and local authorities in some places across the country finally seems to have borne fruit. A Porec vaccination point was organised very recently from 10:00, and people could arrive there without invitation or needing to give any prior notice, but after only 10 minutes, doctors went outside and told those gathered waiting to be vaccinated that there were no more vaccines available, writes Dnevnik.hr.

It seems that the local institutions in Porec didn't properly communicate the whole story well because people who were coming there for their second dose of the vaccine also responded to this public call. Namely, unannounced vaccination is intended only for those who are coming to get their first dose of the vaccine.

The Istrian Institute of Public Health claims that about 200 people from other counties came to the Porec vaccination point who needed a second dose, not a first dose, without notice. So, as they explained from the Institute, they met them and vaccinated them with another dose from the planned stocks for people coming for their first dose, more precisely those who haven't yet been vaccinated.

The Istrian Institute of Public Health is, as such, appealing to people travelling there from other counties not to come for their second doses without notice so as not to create unnecessary crowds and a repeat of this odd situation which ended up being a waste of the time of all involved.

In typical Croatian fashion, there still seems to be a lot of holes in the communication channels between the various institutions and people when it comes to vaccination. It is no surprise in this case, and with the fact that currently only those with HZZO can be vaccinated, that so few people are turning up.

In a global pandemic, one would think that even Croatia would cut the paperwork and red tape and simply vaccinate everyone, however that still seems, for some reason, a pipe dream as many still wait to receive their first dose.

For all you need to know about coronavirus in Croatia, make sure to bookmark our dedicated COVID-19 section and select your preferred language.

July 12, 2021 - A lovely overview of last month's Zagreb Digital Nomad Week 2021 talking to many of those who took part in the inaugural event, by Hashtag Content Agency. 

It is a couple of weeks since the end of the first Zagreb Digital Nomad Week, an intense, diverse and very stimulating 7 days in the Croatian capital, covering 7 different themes (cybersecurity, online presence, remote careers, tax & finance, future of work, wellbeing, and exploring Zagreb) in 7 locations over 7 days. 

While the idea of showcasing the city from a range of different viewpoints sounded enticing, the logistics of such a plan were demanding. Coordinating with the different locations, ensuring technical checkups for the next day, and hundreds of other small details. All to be done in one of the hottest weeks of the year. 

In the end, the week went almost perfectly, and participants got to see so many different facets of this beautiful city and its surroundings in a very short space of time. 

One of the undoubted heroes of the week was Nick Hathaway of 45 Degrees Sailing and Hashtag Content Agency, who managed to rise to the considerable technical challenges thrown at him throughout the week. Despite several major constraints, Nick and his team were able to produce a high quality service which was also streamed live to the Internet and which lives on on the Zagreb Tourist Board YouTube channel.  

Rather than choosing sleep for the few hours when he was not working on the technical difficulties, Nick ran around the various stakeholders and participants in the week to put together this excellent vlog of the week away from the presentations. A visit to some of the venues, but more catching up with the people involved in different parts of Zagreb to find out their impressions of the city and what they think makes it so special. 

An accomplished vlogger, Nick's keen eye adds some great footage of Zagreb - a really great effort and a good reflection of the positive energy of the week. Check out the video above. 

For more on Zagreb Digital Nomad Week 2021 & Zagreb Digital Nomad Ambassador Project, visit the Saltwater Nomads website.

Would you like to be a Zagreb Digital Nomad Ambassador? Applications are open until November, with the last ambassador taking up residence on December 1. Find out more here.

For the latest news and features about digital nomads in Croatia, follow the dedicated TCN section. 

July the 12th, 2021 - Former Mate Rimac engineer Tino Sturlic has mixed his obvious innovative nature with the desire to protect the environment, creating no less than a solar electric boat.

As Morski writes, Tino Sturlic from Zagreb is a former employee of Rimac Automobili and recently finished work on his boat, and the key modifications were the installation of solar panels and electric motors, writes rep.hr.

He bought the boat as a joint venture with his brother and sister two years ago, but he wasn't satisfied with the ''vibrations'' of the old Tomos 4 pente, so he immediately sent the boat to Zapresic, where he has a workshop. A lengthy restoration followed, followed by the design of the battery. The owner of Torp, who is also a former employee of Rimac Automobili, helped him out in his task.

He also installed a Battery Management System originally developed for an electric scooter that allows for the monitoring of battery status via mobile phone apps, as well as other data such as consumption and charging via solar panels.

The battery with a capacity of 110 Ah and a voltage of 48V can also be charged via a socket, but for shorter and occasional use of the boat it is enough to use tilting solar panels, which can be rotated laterally to make better use of solar energy depending on the sun's strength and position. In the strongest sunny conditions, they produce 500W of electricity per hour, while the boat at a speed of 3.2 knots per hour (5.9 km/h) consumes about 1kW. The range of the boat with a full battery at that speed is almost 16 nautical miles, and charging while driving increases this by up to 30 percent.

A necessary part of Tino Sturlic's system is the charging controller, which can be removed from the front of the ship together with the battery. It was developed by the Croatian company Infoton and then fully adapted to the aforementioned battery. In rare situations when the battery needs to be carried on the mains, it can be pulled out and taken away so that it doesn't have to bring electricity into the boat.

Unfortunately, the weakest link in the system was the old electric motor that was once used in Koncar's forklift and which still needs to be fitted with cooling to prevent overheating that occurs after an hour of sailing.

Tino Sturlic's unusual and impressive project worked for itself, but the interest and reactions of the public were positive, so it is possible that one day everything will result in a business project. The above example shows that the added value brought by innovative companies such as Rimac Automobili and the knowledge and experience gained by employees can one day see them start up their own new innovative companies. It's worth mentioning that Tino Sturlic was praised by his former employer, Mate Rimac, and he proudly pointed out that Tino, as well as some other former employees, had all started their own businesses, but not all of them have gone public yet.

For more, follow Made in Croatia.