Politics

ZAGREB, 30 July 2022 - In case of a real crisis in the supply of Russian gas and an EU emergency, member-states are expected to show solidarity, including by signing bilateral supply deals, and Croatia is currently preparing such an agreement with Slovenia, the Jutarnji List daily reports in its Saturday issue. According to information available to the daily, talks will be held on solidarity deals also with Italy, Hungary and Austria, and they imply technical, legal and financial arrangements. This mechanism was envisaged by a 2017 European regulation on supply security but so far only six solidarity deals have been signed…

ZAGREB, 30 July 2022 - Former HDZ minister Tomislav Tolušić, whom the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) suspects of misappropriating European funds to build a winery, was released from investigative custody on Friday. Tolušić was released at the EPPO's request after all 16 witnesses who he could have tampered with were questioned. The former minister was remanded in custody on 8 July, after he and Željko Ferenc, an employee at the Paying Agency for Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development, were arrested in Virovitica. Ferenc was released from investigative custody on Thursday after having been previously suspended. Following their arrest, the EPPO said, without revealing…

July the 30th, 2022 - Osijek mayor Ivan Radic has discussed the woes of inflation which have the entire country, continent and indeed the world in a very firm grip, and just how the Eastern Croatian city he is in charge of has managed to avoid many price hikes. As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, Osijek mayor Ivan Radic recently made a statement to N1 television about inflation, price increases and how Osijek has managed to avoid many unpleasant situations in the face of a very uncomfortable inflation wave following the Russian invasion of Ukraine back in February. "I'm happy with what we…

ZAGREB, 29 July 2022 - Prime Minister Andrej Plenković visited the British American Tobacco (BAT) factory in the Istria County town of Kanfanar on Friday, welcoming the company's latest investment of over HRK 600 million. "The government cares about job retention. The 1,500 or so people currently employed represent an added value both for Istria and for the other areas of Croatia in which this company operates," Plenković said. He announced that the government, in light of the euro changeover and the energy crisis, had decided to take another step in easing the tax burden. "The Ministry of Finance, in…

ZAGREB, 29 July 2022 - Istria County Prefect Boris Miletić said on Friday that Istria has the government's support for all strategic projects. "It was a constructive meeting. I am pleased that the prime minister expressed support for all strategic projects in Istria," Miletić told reporters after meeting with Prime Minister Andrej Plenković. The meeting also involved Sea, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Oleg Butković, Economy and Sustainable Development Minister Davor Filipović and Health Minister Vili Beroš. The key projects include the completion of the breakwater in Pula and the construction of a breakwater in Rabac and one in Rovinj. Also…

ZAGREB, 29 July 2022 - Deputy Mayor of Zagreb Danijela Dolenec on Friday presented a new proposal for changes to the decision on stay-at-home parent allowances, under which the allowances would be cut and kindergarten capacity expanded to ensure kindergarten care for all children. The new proposal for changes to the said decision will be put to public consultation on Friday, Dolenec said, adding that the public consultation process will last 30 days. Recalling the chronology of events regarding the decision on allowances for stay-at-home parents, which was adopted by the administration led by the late mayor Milan Bandić and which in the…

ZAGREB, 29 July 2022 - Prime Minister Andrej Plenković visited the construction site for the second tube of Učka Tunnel on Friday, voicing his satisfaction with the progress in the drilling of this segment of the 5.6-kilometer-long tunnel necessary to complete the dual carriageway of the Istrian Y motorway. The construction of the second tube is worth €200 million. Plenković highlighted the importance of this motorway for connectivity between Istria and Zagreb and for the local tourist industry. The Bina Istra company's CEO Dario Silić said that to date 2.4 kilometres of the second tube had been drilled. So far 1.3 kilometres of the…

ZAGREB, 29 July 2022 - President Zoran Milanović on Friday dismissed the statement by MP Veljko Kajtazi that in his criticism of the government's energy conservation plan he insulted the Roma community. Milanović said he had no ill intentions and would not apologize because he did not offend anyone. "Did I say that Roma were thieves? Did I spread prejudice and stereotypes? It is well known who steals in this country and who steals metal. Did I say that Roma were stealing. What was I supposed to say, that Roma have a PhD? I myself do not. Enough of this affectation and…

ZAGREB, 28 July 2022 - Health Minister Vili Beroš said on Thursday that the experts form Croatia's COVID-19 crisis management team were making all the necessary preparations to ensure the country was ready to address new epidemiological challenges in the autumn. "The expert group from the COVID-19 crisis management team is analysing the current situation and possible scenarios in Croatia and in the European Union and is planning further steps in the preparation of the health care system and the implementation of the vaccination scheme against COVID-19," Beroš tweeted. Croatia has been experiencing a new wave of highly infectious subvariants of coronavirus…

ZAGREB, 28 July 2022 - President Zoran Milanović visited the southern Adriatic island of Korčula on Thursday to attend a ceremonial meeting of the Town Council on the occasion of Town Day. He said that Pelješac Bridge, which was opened on Tuesday, was much more than a transport corridor and more than steel and concrete. "I am very pleased that Pelješac Bridge is here, but I am confident that what you need is an airport. That would work wonders for the island's economy and tourism," the president said. Speaking of Korčula's tradition, development and beauty, Milanović said: "This tradition, this…