Croatian Economic Situation Picks Up During First Quarter of 2021
May the 18th, 2021 - The Croatian economic situation has been picking up throughout the duration of 2021's first quarter, as demonstrated by a rapid assessment of GDP done by the central bank.
As Poslovni Dnevnik/Ana Blaskovic writes, the Croatian economic situation accelerated in the first quarter of the year between the two coronavirus pandemic waves, as illustrated by the model of a rapid assessment the country's GDP by the central bank in some new information on economic trends.
Industrial production, from 0.8 percent in the last quarter of last year, accelerated to 4.5 percent thanks to the production of non-durable consumer goods. This is indicative that an upward trend was also observed across other major industrial groups, with the exception of the production of durable consumer goods, which stagnated.
The beginning of this year also brought momentum in the Croatian retail sector (6.6 percent compared to 5.9 percent at the end of the year). The data for February suggests the continuation of growth in construction activities of 3.9 percent on a quarterly basis with an increased volume of work.
With the third wave of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic then striking, the feeling of relief and cautious optimism sank in part, but not equally among everyone, which only further highlights the fact that this crisis continues to affect individual industries and sectors very differently.
Back in April, business expectations in industry improved when compared to the previous, unstable month of March, they stagnated in construction, and they unfortunately deteriorated sharply in trade and services.
One major indicator of the health of the Croatian economic situation is the (admittedly traditionally very seasonal) employment rate. There has been, at least as yet, no major change in the country's employment rate. In the first three months of 2021, the number of Croatian employees was 0.9 percent higher, and only a tenth of those employees were being covered by government measures initially introduced last year to try to preserve jobs. The domestic unemployment rate then rose to 8.5 percent in March 2021.
Monthly inflation rose 1.1 percent in the same month due to seasonal growth in clothing and footwear prices, higher excise duties were placed on tobacco products and oil became more expensive out on the global market. The Croatian National Bank stated that foreign trade also slowed down rather significantly.
After a jump in exports (of 6.2 percent) and imports (of 6.6 percent) in the last quarter of pandemic-dominated 2020, the pace of exports in January fell to 3.2 percent, while imports (mainly of petroleum products) increased by 1.8 percent. Although exports surpassed imports, due to a significantly larger import base, the foreign trade deficit increased by 6.2 percent.
For more on the Croatian economy, follow our dedicated business section.
Croatian Kick Boxers Develop Sensor System for Athletes' Training
May the 18th, 2021 - In this day and age, top sport can't exist without the aid of some of the best technology, and several Croatian kick boxers are showcasing their skills outside of the ring by developing an innovative sensor system for the training of athletes.
As Filip Pavic/Novac writes, the above, that today's top sport can't exist without the help of tech is the thought of several leading young men, top athletes and entrepreneurs, from the Zagreb sports and technology startup Sportreact. The group of Croatian kick boxers devised a sensor system for the training and developing of the reflexes of athletes.
As the Croatian kick boxers all say, this is a system for athletes, by athletes. Anto Siric is the Croatian champion in kick boxing in the super heavyweight category and is also a student of mechatronics at the Zagreb Polytechnic, Andrej Kedves is the world runner-up in kick boxing and a student at the Medical Polytechnic, and Ivan Josipovic, a five-time winner of the Case Study Competition in Zagreb, is also a recreational and top creative in the team.
What this group of athletes has developed, in short, are sensors that come in a set of eight, palm-sized lamps, which the athlete must deactivate with their own movements, be that with their arm, leg or whatever the training at the time involves. The sensors are connected to a mobile app through which training is selected, and the idea is to improve the speed of the athlete’s reaction to visual stimuli and decision-making.
''Let's look at the example of handball training, Sportreact's sensors are mounted on goal frames, and when one of the sensors emits a signal, ie shows a colour or symbol, the goalkeeper must deactivate that sensor as soon as possible by passing or touching it. With this, he trains his reaction speed, his reflexes and his peripheral vision, and later in the application he can check out what his reaction speed was,'' explained Siric, who also designed the prototype of the Sportreact device.
In short, after a motor training or testing programme is selected in the mobile application, different colours and symbols appear on the sensor screen, they can be red, yellow, green or numbers from one to nine.
''The possibilities of testing motor and cognitive abilities through the application are actually unlimited. Complex tests can be agreed that, for example, you have to deactivate the blue colour on the sensor with your left hand, and the red one with your right foot,'' explained Andrej Kedves, who is in charge of creating training routines in the team.
For example, they have already used sensors for football training, so the player is in the circle of eight sensors with the ball, and as it changes colour, he must deactivate each one by holding the ball and changing the direction. They were praised by Dinamo player Dario Spikic, who was delighted with this piece of innovative Croatian technology because the application records all of the analytics of each individual athlete - their speed of reaction, precision, balance, coordination, and level of focus.
Given all this, it's hardly surprising that the story of Sportreact started from athletes themselves. As Andrej and Anto are both professional Croatian kick boxers, the first incentive for their training sensors, they admit, came from Anto's kick boxing coach who wanted one such device for his club, but given that they were all too expensive (especially those of FitLite, the leading brand in that segment), he suggested to the young engineer Anto for him to make it.
''Such devices already exist in the world and are used by more or less all big clubs, particularly football clubs. However, the problem is that they cost between 3000 and 5000 euros, and none of them combine routine training and motor skill testing and the ability to manage it all via a mobile application,'' stated Anto, adding that the price of their device, on the other hand, will be between 150 and 200 euros per device, as they now estimate, and they would sell them in a set of eight.
''The first prototype we made was actually made of a plastic container from Offertissima and was quite primitive, but we perfected it through training, and we improved sensor angles... The last model we plan to produce is made of ASA plastic used in the automotive industry and it's practically indivisible,'' added Anto.
This group of Croatian kick boxers won second place in the SmartUp startup contest and received six thousand kuna, which was a sign that maybe their innovation had some potential. After that, they won the award for the best pitch at the Algebra LAB competition, and last year they also managed to win 100,000 kuna at the Zagreb Startup Factory. In all this, they admit, the most useful advice came from the president of the board of directors of Algebra, Hrvoje Balen. He told them “stop competing and get to work”.
''After that, we opened a company, made use of all of the incentives for self-employment and, as Balen told us, started working. So far, we've invested all the money in product development and now we've finally come to a commercial prototype,'' added Anto, noting that a prize from the competition would help them scale production.
As for their potential customers, they target all Croatian and foreign clubs - football, basketball, handball, tennis, martial arts... For a start, they explained, they would like the opportunity to demonstrate their device first and foremost to local sports clubs in person.
For more, follow Made in Croatia.
Slobodna Dalmacija Features Dubrovnik's Digital Nomads-in-Residence
May 18, 2021 Slobodna Dalmacija brings a story about digital nomads from the Dubrovnik Digital Nomads-in-Residence program.
“We can work four hours, have coffee and make good money”
Croatia is one of the first countries in the world to have adopted the concept of a one-year digital nomad visa.
The City of Dubrovnik and Dubrovnik Tourist Board, in partnership with Saltwater Nomads and TCN, selected ten “official” digital nomads and gave them a rent-free month in Dubrovnik. In return, they expect useful advice on how to create a nomad-friendly atmosphere in the south of Croatia. This type of guest doesn’t crave travelling only in the summer months nor do they sit at home waiting for the pandemic to pass. The project is entitled “The Dubrovnik Digital Nomads-in-Residence program”.
Game of Thrones
In the world of digital nomads, Croatia is renowned as one of the cheaper European countries for a longer stay. Participants in this program are housed in private apartments, some at Akademis "Academia" as well. They admit their knowledge of Dubrovnik was more or less reduced to the city being tied to the role of King’s Landing it played in the popular TV show Game of Thrones. However, Albert Canigueral, a Spanish teacher, writer and documentary filmmaker, visited Dubrovnik back in 2003.
“The city is today pretty empty because of the pandemic. Otherwise, it is visited by numerous tourists. Almost 20 years ago, communication with the local people was much harder than today when almost everybody communicates in English.” – Albert recalls.
His career has involved extensive travel across Europe, North and South America, but this program in Dubrovnik is his first formal digital nomad experience. At the moment, he is researching the issues around the future of work, the future of employment and new technologies in society. Therefore, digital nomadism is his research matter as well. As it turns out, flexibility affects productivity in a positive way.
Paid per project
“If someone takes a walk around the City Walls and has a cup of coffee after four hours of dedicated work, and then continues after taking a break, he is bound to be more effective than someone forcefully seated for eight hours straight in an office. Working from home and flexibility in managing work hours will be a more and more common occurrence. It is not all black and white. Not everyone will be able to work like that, there are jobs that demand the physical presence of the worker and strict hours, but more and more jobs will be organised on a per-project basis with deadlines defined. Also, more and more people will be paid on a “per project” basis than on a fixed salary. Innovation and changes are happening ever faster and the companies are looking for new talent and fresh workforce not on a fixed model, but on individual projects. The metaphor for that type of work is known as a “Hollywood model”. Part of the employees of the film studio are the ones with steady jobs, but for each movie new screenwriters, actors or make-up artists are employed. Imagine every movie had the same actors! For companies, this model works well and it is up to the individual governments to ensure an effective social system and adapt to the new paradigm. Instead of working in the same position for salaries our entire lives, we need to get accustomed to a fragmented system in which the income will have its ups and downs and the social system that will accommodate this.” – says Albert
Flexibility is Key
COVID-19 Pandemic proved to even the most conservative employees how working from home or some other alternative place is not necessarily a bad thing. When asked what advice would she give to a beginner digital nomad on how to build a sustainable career, Charlie Brown considers flexibility to be the keyword. Cyberspace offers indescribable options which she had no idea about until she sold her assets, home and wine shop near London and set out on the path of the nomad. Before Dubrovnik, Charlie was already in Croatia, in Zagreb and Split. For beginners with no work, she recommends the website upwork.com which is packed with offers for hundreds of thousands of work opportunities. Everything is possible, even running a radio show in Texas from Dubrovnik…
Ron Tardiff is a young scientist from the United States who studied in seven different countries, from Europe to China. He believes Dubrovnik to be a logical choice for “workcation”, a rising trend in companies that give employees the opportunity to work from whichever location they prefer for three months of the year.
“Moving for school or work, I have done so much bureaucracy and can therefore tell you it is refreshing to run across a country where you are being welcomed and barriers to entry are being lifted. Looking at it from the perspective of pre-pandemic times, the advantage of Croatia is accessibility, ferry connections to Italy and proximity of Balkan countries that are generating interest among digital nomads. It is wonderful to do some island hopping as well. I have to also admit Croatian roads are some of the best in Europe. If only the trains were equally as good.” – Ron commented
From Costa Rica to Croatia
Mr. Tardiff is in love with the idea that is being developed here and the effort in proving digital nomads can be more than just tourists. He is hopeful other cities will take on the Dubrovnik model. As a scientist, he is particularly interested in the development of the “blue economy”. Considering tourism is the second most important industry in the Mediterranean region and is taking over as the most important one, which is not always a good thing from the standpoint of environmental protection, Ron Tardiff is preoccupied with the issue of reducing the number of tourists or attracting the tourists that create a bigger value for the destination. Like digital nomads.
For the last five years, as the interest of Americans in Croatian tourist destinations grew, Texas-born Kelsey Kay Love put Croatia on her bucket list. She started her nomadic lifestyle eight years ago, travelling from Costa Rica, through Bali, New Zealand, Thailand…
“I’m attracted by situations that will get me out of my comfort zone, which is inherent in the digital nomad lifestyle. Having a stable job is a huge advantage” – Says Kelsey, a brand manaer for a luxury alcoholic beverage brand co-owned by Bruno Mars. She worked as a travel writer in the past for numerous travel websites and tour companies in Maui and Australia. Is she worried about her financial security?
“Oh yes! Luckily, I have been holding on to the same job for almost two years now, so I am pretty relaxed. One needs to be persistent, creative and willing to take an occasional risk. Do you know how to make website, write, or manage social media? There are many jobs you can do. It was easier for me in New Zealand where I had a work visa, compared to Asia. Now Croatia is offering digital nomad visas, which is great. I think one year is the right duration for the visa.” – says Kelsey.
Price of Accommodation
Ron Tardiff emphasizes nomads never spend all the money they make and they take great care that the costs of living in a country they’re residing are lower than those of the country their employer is from. This is a chance for Croatia which offers the possibilities of cheaper longer stays than many other countries. When asked about the most important considerations when choosing a destination in which to spend a month or more, our interviewees first emphasize the cost of accommodation. There are cities with a high cost for short stays, but the accommodation owners are willing to accept reasonable monthly rates. Furthermore, good internet connection ranks very high, as does affordable transportation, whether public transportation or rent-a-car, the proximity of an international airport, safety, nature, pleasant climate, and community of digital nomads or expats. They are trying to avoid overcrowded cities where tourism has a negative effect on the quality of life.
Internet Speed
Global nomad network nomadlist.com has 210 reviews for Dubrovnik. The average city score is 3,41. Digital nomads speak highly of the speed of the internet, workplaces, quality of life, safety and education levels. Negative comments usually have to do with nightlife, air-conditioning systems and smoking in public areas. There are mentions of difficulties in forming friendships and hostility towards women and members of the LGBT community. Out of all the above, nomads we’ve interviewed jokingly comment how the rental properties are obviously geared towards the summer rentals and cooling rather than heating. Those that have already been to Croatia say the locals are very kind people and they suffered no unpleasantness. They say the scores on websites like this have no great bearing on their decisions to travel to a certain destination, but they do check all the available information before their trip. When asked what about the main advantages to Dubrovnik and Croatia, they emphasize pleasant weather and a relaxed lifestyle.
“You have the Mediterranean lifestyle, access to great beaches especially in the summer, all going in your favour. Croatians are very gracious hosts! The most beautiful side to being a nomad is not having to base yourself in one spot. Therefore, you don’t have to select living in just one Croatian city. I can spend one month in Dubrovnik, the next one in Split, or in an undiscovered continental part of the country” – says Charlie Brown.
Split is Cheaper
Ron and Albert agree. According to them, one thing that makes life easier is the fact most people speak English well. Ron objects to the location of Dubrovnik. Although he would gladly return to it, cities in central Dalmatia seem like a more sensible choice for a digital nomad’s base. Split is somewhat larger and somewhat cheaper. Seeing how Croatia is at the top of his list of countries in which to live for years now, after Budapest, that will probably be his destination of choice.
Interesting to note is their stance on medical insurance. Before the pandemic, they mainly risked and had no insurance coverage, but COVID-19 made them more cautious. Charlie Brown says she is still upset about Brexit, but still holds a medical coverage card that is valid in EU countries. In situations when that kind of solution is not possible, digital nomads are partially reliant on travel insurance which, they argue, do not work always or everywhere. With the work visa in Australia and New Zealand, Kelsey was insured as any other employee, but this is rarely this simple. After her partner contracted denga fever in Thailand and spent 48 hours in the hospital having to do MRI and similar tests, travel insurance wasn’t going to cover his expenses, so they ended up paying USD4000. They still feel they got off lightly considering the prices in their homeland. Ron remembers having to do appendicitis surgery in Greece a year ago. His German travel insurance covered the cost.
“I’m at a Gain”
“I come from the United Stated of America, the country with the most expensive healthcare in the world, so even if I had to pay for a medical service out of my own pocket here, it would be cheaper than a medical insurance policy in USA. I don’t have dental insurance. The basic one I have at the moment doesn’t cover tooth breakage, but if I went to the dentist here, it would cost me 10 to 15 times less than in the USA. So, I am at a gain. People joke about this, but it is cheaper to fly here from America, get a cocktail, have your teeth fixed and fly back, then to do it back home.” – says Ron and adds: “I am not worried about health insurance because it cannot be more expensive than back home”
When asked where they would prefer to live, Ron chooses Greece, although he notes difficult bureaucracy as the main problem for someone coming from United States. Although he went to school in Greece, he can’t be employed there. Some of the most attractive countries for nomads also have the most barriers for staying there, but this rarely deters them.
“Before this program, I was torn between going to Portugal or Croatia, and now I am one hundred percent certain about coming here. Dubrovnik surroundings are peaceful with beautiful nature, and everything is more straightforward than in Portugal.” – says Kelsey Kay Love
Saltwater Nomads' Tanja Polegubic on the Dubrovnik Digital Nomads-in-Residence Program
Dubrovnik Mayor Mato Frankovic on Digital Nomads, US Flights, 2021 Season
Learn more about the Dubrovnik Digital Nomads-in-Residence program.
For the latest digital nomad news and features in Croatia, follow the dedicated TCN section.
EU Ministers Push For Creating Equal Opportunities For All in Education
May 17, 2021 - Education ministers of the European Union's member states on Monday called for creating equal opportunities for children in primary and secondary education regardless of their social status, Croatia's Science and Education Minister Radovan Fuchs said.
The ministers met in Brussels to discuss equity and inclusion in education and training.
There are still differences between member states regarding equal opportunities, which became more pronounced during the COVID-19 pandemic, Fuchs said after attending the ministerial meeting.
The Council of the EU education ministers concluded that the education system is supposed to provide a socially inclusive, equitable, successful, and high-quality education system and training for all.
Despite certain progress in creating equal opportunities in education for all, the data show that in the EU, there is still a high percentage of children with difficulties who drop out of school, and one in five of them fails to finish their education.
Children of non-natives are at a higher risk of dropping out of school than children with native-born parents, 22.2% to 8.9%.
Member states are called to increase the availability of digital tools and resources at all levels of education and training.
For more about lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.
Social Partners Reach High Level of Agreement on Sunday Work, Employers Skeptical
May 17, 2021 - Representatives of the social partners said on Monday, after a meeting of the Economic and Social Council (GSV), a "high degree of agreement on the issue of Sunday work." Still, employers remain skeptical about "administrative restrictions to freedom to work."
The GSV discussed regulating Sunday work through the Trade Act, the action plan for implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights, and revised EU guidelines for regional aid.
Minister: We wish to strengthen collective bargaining .to define hourly wage consensually
Labour Minister Josip Aladrović said the government planned to amend the Trade Act because most of the contentious elements concerning Sunday work appeared in trade.
"In future, we wish to strengthen collective bargaining, where unions and employers can consensually establish how much the hourly wage is worth on Sunday or other special days. We expect there to be as many consensually defined relations as possible," he said.
The press reminded him that the Constitutional Court had rejected previous attempts to ban Sunday work. Aladrović said that the new bill balanced the contentious constitutional and legal aspects much better.
"We are confident we will avoid any problems concerning the constitutionality of the law. A balance has been struck between the number of working and non-working Sundays. There have been no major objections in the discussions. I'm confident the law will go into force by year's end."
Asked whether now was the right time to change the law, Aladrović said the crisis caused by the epidemic was "vanishing" in the economic sense and that the next period would bring strong recovery.
"We believe the segments within the trade sector will recover and that in the period in which the law will be passed, we will no longer have that economic challenge."
Aladrović said the 16 working Sundays a year struck a balance and enough to cover the peak tourist season and some holidays.
GSV chairman Vilim Ribić said the three social partners reached a high level of agreement at today's meeting and that they were all for solving Sunday work.
Employers generally against administrative restrictions to freedom to work
Croatian Employers Association (HUP) president Mihael Furjan said HUP was generally against any administrative restrictions to freedom to work and conduct a business. Therefore, it needed more time to consider the bill.
"Consumption is recovering, and the economy is strongly recovering, export in Q1 grew strongly. We are confident that in Q2 already, we will generate growth in relation to last year."
Business people are very optimistic but believe that at the moment, when we still have not fully come out of the crisis, it's not smart to adopt measures that can reduce economic growth and activity, Furjan said.
For more about news in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.
PM Says Work-free Sundays Good for Croatian Families
May 17, 2021 - The work-free Sundays, except for 16 Sundays a year, is good for Croatian families, and we want to gain support for that move through intensive dialogue, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said on Monday after a meeting of the Economic-Social Council (GSV) and talks with unions and employers.
"We believe that this move, which is in the spirit of our tradition and culture and is good for the nucleus of the Croatian society, and that is the family, and that is why we are going ahead with this proposal," Plenković told reporters after the meeting.
We are conducting intensive dialogue to support this proposal that is balanced and more appropriate than various proposals were in the past, he added, referring to the proposal for regulating work on Sunday.
Plenković underscored that the proposal banning Sunday trading except for 16 Sundays took account of Croatia as a tourist destination, economy, and consumer customs. On the other hand, it created a balance between working and private life.
The GSV discussed the action plan to implement the European pillar of social rights and the EU's revised directives for regional grants.
"In the past fifteen months, with its timely, strong, and firm engagement, with the unavoidable and irreplaceable role of the state, Croatia has managed to save jobs. HRK 10.5 billion has been allocated for earnings for 680,000 workers and 120,000 employees, which helped them bridge over the crisis and for the total number of insurees to be higher than in 2020 and even in 2019," said Plenković.
With the coronavirus epidemic waning, Croatia will move from the job-keeping phase to creating new jobs, he underscored.
Speaking about regional support, Plenković announced an increase as of 1 January 2022.
In the Pannonian area of Croatia and its north, grants for entrepreneurs will be increased from 25% to 50%, in Adriatic Croatia from 25% to 40%, and from 25% to 35% in Zagreb.
"It seems that all regions are winners, and the benefits to business subjects, businesses, and investors will be higher," he underscored.
For more about news in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.
Croatian Army Company Sent to KFOR
May 17, 2021 - The Croatian army's Motorised Company was seen off at a barracks in Gospić on Monday, leaving for the NATO-led Operation KFOR in Kosovo as part of the 35th Croatian contingent there, the Defence Ministry said.
The Croatian company will be deployed in Kosovo for six months. It has 99 members, including nine women, and will operate as part of a multinational battalion, led by Italy, together with Austria, Italy, and Slovenia.
Croatia contributing to stability and peace in S-E Europe
Minister Mario Banožić said he was proud that a declared infantry company was being sent to KFOR for the first time, adding that Croatia, as a credible NATO member, directly contributed to stability and peace in Southeast Europe.
"Since we are talking about our immediate environment, our responsibility is bigger and requires of us active engagement and inclusion in the processes underway there. We all know well that there has been a change in the security paradigm and security perception in the whole world, and we are aware that security is not defended only on Croatia's borders but also there where a threat arises."
Banožić said he was confident that with their knowledge and capabilities, the Croatian troops would contribute greatly to creating a stable and safe environment.
"Investing in knowledge and security is investing in stability, prosperity, and the well-being of every member and our country. NATO's Operation KFOR is an ideal opportunity to strengthen security by participating in the international environment and working with the best. We can become faster, better, and readier for responding to all threats put before us."
The military Chief-Of-Staff, Admiral Robert Hranj, told the Croatian troops leaving for Kosovo that the Croatian army's engagement in KFOR showed that it was willing to share the burden and responsibility, contributing to the building of a safer and more stable world, motivated by the experience gained in the 1991-95 Homeland War.
"Our national security neither begins nor ends on the state border but is susceptible to geographically distant processes. That's one reason for the stronger involvement in Operation KFOR, whereby we wish to help build a safer world for all those living in Kosovo, the region, and, indirectly, for us. Our soldiers will perform a wide spectrum of tasks; the company is excellently trained and ready to take its role in KFOR," said Hranj.
For more about news in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.
Checking In with Dubrovnik Digital Nomads-in-Residence – Kaisu Koskela Interview
May 17, 2021 – Our digital nomads are paving the way for their future colleagues in Dubrovnik as a part of the Dubrovnik Digital Nomads-in-Residence program. We caught up with Kaisu Koskela to get her thoughts.
When it comes to being a digital nomad, Kaisu Koskela is the „real deal“. She has been embracing the life of a digital nomad since before the term existed. Originally from Finland, Kaisue feels at home anywhere she finds interesting. She holds a Ph.D. in social sciences from the University of Helsinki and an MSc in social anthropology from the Institute for Migration and Ethnic Studies at the University of Amsterdam. Her Ph.D. research dealt with skilled migrants, their communities, and social identities. All this makes her outstandingly qualified to take part in a project dealing with digital nomads in Dubrovnik.
DNiR Program
The Digital Nomads-in-Residence program was created by Saltwater Nomads in partnership with Total Croatia News. With both the Dubrovnik Tourist Board and the City of Dubrovnik supporting it and collaborating on it, the aim of the program is to create a strategic direction for the city. Through design thinking workshops the potential future of digital nomads in Dubrovnik will be described.
Kaisu found out about the Dubrovnik Digital Nomads-in-Residence program through a friend. She applied intrigued by the prospect of contributing to such an interesting project. Today, she is one of the ten nomads in residence in Dubrovnik.
The Interview
She shared some of her thoughts with us during a short interview. It was interesting to hear her opinions on living and working in Dubrovnik as a digital nomad. Also, Kaisu was clear about her personal likes and dislikes about the experience.
„I think the challenges are to do with the tourist season being so intense and the prices hiking up in that period. Because, as a nomad, you have the whole world to choose from. You have so many locations you can go to at any one time. Personally, for me, what is most important is to have nice sunny weather, which we have here currently and through much of the year. You get to experience really nice weather here, so that's great.“
She is also happy with the colleagues in the Dubrovnik DNiR program as well as the participation of the city and the local tourist board.
„...the fact that the Dubrovnik city and tourism authorities are a part of this I think is a really encouraging sign for digital nomadism in general. So, I am very happy to be a part of the whole program.„
Check out the full interview with Kaisu Kaskela below.
Saltwater Nomads' Tanja Polegubic on Dubrovnik Digital Nomad-in-Residence Programme
Dubrovnik Mayor Mato Frankovic on Digital Nomads, US Flights, 2021 Season
Here is Kaisu's application video:
Learn more about the Dubrovnik Digital Nomads-in-Residence program.
Archbishop of Rijeka Asks Forgiveness From Homosexuals for Feeling Rejected by Church
May 17, 2021 - The Archbishop of Rijeka, Mate Uzinić, has asked forgiveness from homosexuals for feeling rejected by the Church and not getting pastoral guidance in accordance with the apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia.
Uzinić issued a message on Facebook on Monday on the occasion of the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia, expressing regret that there are still Catholics who disagree with the spirit of the exhortation Amoris Laetitia.
Amoris Laetitia says that "every person, regardless of sexual orientation, ought to be respected in his or her dignity and treated with consideration, while every sign of unjust discrimination is to be carefully avoided, particularly any form of aggression and violence."
"We also have a duty to guarantee to these people and their families considerate pastoral guidance so that people showing homosexual inclinations can get the necessary help to be able to fully understand and realize God's will in their lives," Uzinić wrote in his message.
"I regret that there are still Catholics who disagree with this, in particular those who think that they serve Christ and the Church through discrimination, aggression, violence, insults, and abusive comments at the expense of homosexual persons," he added, asking homosexuals for their forgiveness.
For more about news in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.
Local Elections Held in Calm and Democratic Atmosphere, Says DIP Head
May 17, 2021 - State Electoral Commission (DIP) head Đuro Sessa on Monday said that he was pleased with the way Sunday's local elections were held for the legislatures and heads of the 576 various government units, underscoring that the local polls were held in a calm and democratic atmosphere.
"We can be satisfied that the elections passed calmly, in an orderly manner, and a democratic atmosphere," Sessa told a press conference.
He said that he was especially pleased with how the elections had proceeded in the earthquake-hit Sisak-Moslavina County.
Run-off for 14 county prefects, Zagreb mayor
Sessa announced that the second round of the election is scheduled for 30 May, when voters will elect county prefects in 14 counties, the new mayor of Zagreb, and 55 mayors in cities and 87 municipalities.
There will be two candidates on each ballot slip, with the candidate who won the most votes in the first round being listed first.
The candidate who wins the most votes in the runoff will be declared the winner, he underscored. Should the two candidates get the same number of votes, the election would have to be repeated in that constituency, he explained.
Elections will be repeated at 18 polling stations in the country on 23 May due to irregularities during Sunday's voting and at one polling station on 30 May due to technical problems at yesterday's election.
If necessary, the additional elections for some designated seats for ethnic minorities will be held in the autumn.
Sessa underscored that, on the most part, the elections were held in an orderly manner, and only some minor incidents were reported.
He confirmed that some breaches of the ban on electioneering had occurred mostly in social networks, which cannot be controlled, but they cannot be assessed as having affected the election outcome.
He added that it is up to the local electoral commission now to investigate breaches and whether legal proceedings are necessary.
Sessa underscored that any possible complaints related to the election could be submitted until 7 pm on Monday.
Deadlines for financial statements
DIP vice president Vesna Fabijančić-Križanić recalled that candidates whose election ended in the first round are obliged to submit their financial statements by midnight 16 June.
Participants in the second round of the election have until Saturday, 22 May, to submit interim financial statements of their costs, donations, and discounts for media advertising.
Their final financial statements are due by 29 June.
For more news about politics in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.
