Politics

ZAGREB, 12 Nov 2021 - Croatian President Zoran Milanović travels to the Vatican on Monday for an official visit, during which he will have a private audience with Pope Francis, the President's Office announced in a press release on Friday. The President will be accompanied by his wife, Sanja Musić Milanović. Milanović is scheduled to meet with the Secretary of State of the Holy See, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and the Secretary for Relations with States within the Holy See's Secretariat of State, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher. He will visit the the Pontifical Croatian College of St Jerome, where he is due to…

ZAGREB, 12 Nov 2021- Croatia on Friday received two letters of formal notice from the European Commission as part of its regular package of infringement decisions, and one concerns waste disposal  while the other relates to the transposition of new EU-wide rules for VAT on e-commerce. Landfilling The Commission called on Croatia, Bulgaria, Greece, Romania and Slovakia to correctly apply the Landfill Directive and the Waste Framework Directive. The Landfill Directive sets standards for landfills to prevent adverse effects on human health, water, soil and air. Under this Directive, Member States must take measures to ensure that only waste that has…

ZAGREB, 12 Nov - Ombudswoman Tena Šimonović Einwalter on Thursday called on the government and the national COVID-19 response team to urgently publish their decision on mandatory COVID certificates considering that it should go into force in a few days and that its text and details of its implementation are unknown. "The information is necessary to bodies and institutions so they can implement the decision, to their employees who must comply with it as well as to citizens whose many rights depend on their physical appearance at those places. The Ombudswoman has therefore recommended that the decision be urgently published, with complete…

ZAGREB, 11 Nov, 2021 - Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković on Thursday responded to criticism by President Zoran Milanović, saying that unlike Milanović, he did not want to use insults and lies and then said that apart from being Armed Forces' Supreme Commander, Milanović was also a supreme liar. Addressing the press in Parliament House, Jandroković said that even though he had not intended to make any statements today, responding to Milanović "is a matter of dignity and honour after the insults he has hurled at me." Responding to Milanović's accusation that he used his mobile phone during a recent meeting of the National Security Council and…

ZAGREB, 10 November, 2021 - The Croatian Journalists' Association (HND) on Wednesday voiced its support to its member and Telegram.hr journalist Drago Hedl who, while doing his job, was threatened by Mario Žalac, the husband of former regional development and EU funds minister Gabrijela Žalac who was arrested earlier today. The incident took place in Vinkovci where the police started the search of two vehicles parked outside the house of the former minister. At that moment Mario Žalac showed up and started shouting at reporters: "Thank you all" and turned to Drago Hedl and said: "Mr Hedl, how are you? I know…

ZAGREB, 10 November, 2021 - The Croatian government's measure to cap fuel prices will be extended for another month, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković announced on Wednesday, adding that the government can limit fuel prices for a maximum of three months. "We are working in the interests of the people and their living standards, and the economy," Plenković told reporters during a conference of economists in the northern Adriatic resort town of Opatija. He said that the purpose of the government's decision was to prevent a social rift at the time of the coronavirus pandemic and avoid a possible wave of…

ZAGREB, 10 November, 2021 - Former Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) minister Gabrijela Žalac, who had stepped down over several scandals that emerged while in office, was arrested on Wednesday pursuant to a warrant by the European Public Prosecutor's Office. Žalac was appointed Minister of Regional Development and EU funds on 19 October 2016 and was relieved of her duties on 19 July 2019 as part of a government reshuffle, when Tomislav Tolušić and Nada Murganić were also relieved of their ministerial duties. In the meantime, the USKOK anti-corruption office started investigating Žalac for her possible involvement in several scandals, including…

November 10, 2021 - As part of the exercises carried out by Croatian fighter jets in the temporary test flight zone of Čazma from Wednesday to Friday, the Defense Ministry has announced that the sound barrier may be broken and asks citizens for their understanding and patience. The Ministry of Defense reported that on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday it is possible to expect the sound wall to be breached as part of the regular flying activities of Croatian Air Force fighter jets, reports HRT News. From 12 noon to 4 pm on Wednesday and on Thursday, 11 November and Friday,…

ZAGREB, 10 November, 2021 - Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković confirmed on Wednesday that as of 15 November, when the measures of the national COVID-19 crisis management team come into force, a COVID certificate or negative test would be needed to enter the parliament. Members of parliament without a COVID certificate will be able to get tested, so if they test negative, they will be able to enter the building and participate in debates. Those who refuse to get tested and do not have a COVID certificate will not be allowed to attend the session, but will be able to…

ZAGREB, 10 November, 2021 - President Zoran Milanović's office said on Tuesday that at today's press conference after a Defence Council meeting, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković "tried to humiliate the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces with lies." Speaking of the meeting, Plenković said he hoped the military chief of staff, Admiral Robert Hranj, was well and that he enjoyed the freedom of speech like everyone else. "There were situations where he was not allowed to answer direct questions at the meeting," he added. The president's office said in a press release that "Plenković decided to lie even about the…