Politics

November the 21st, 2020 - The famous 22 billion euros from Brussels has an additional sum attached to it in the shape of aid for the negative consequences caused by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, and this marks a truly historic chance for the Croatian economy. As Poslovni Dnevnik/Iva Boban Valecic writes, after two months of painstaking negotiations at a summit in the Belgian capital, Plenkovic announced that 22 billion euros will flow into Croatia when the new seven-year EU budget was finally agreed in July. In addition to this budget, a fund has been agreed from which the financing of…

ZAGREB, November 20, 2020 - Regional Development and EU Funds Minister Natasa Tramisak on Friday presented contracts on EU funds worth HRK 73 million for new healthcare projects to Zagreb's Dr Fran Mihaljevic Hospital for Infectious Diseases and the Health Ministry. "The coronavirus pandemic has raised awareness of the need to invest more in the health system, in Croatia and the EU alike. We are therefore using all available money from European structural and investment funds," Tramisak said at the contract-awarding ceremony. She said the contracts would help the hospital continue boosting its capacity and procuring new equipment as well as…

ZAGREB, November 20, 2020 - The European Commission will develop a long-term vision for rural areas to enable them to make the most of their potential, which will also benefit Croatian villages and bring back young people, the European Commission's Vice-President Dubravka Suica said on Thursday. Suica participated in a meeting of the Intergroup on Rural, Mountainous and Remote Areas & Smart Villages dedicated to a long-term vision for rural areas and creating a comprehensive strategy for their development until 2040, the press office of the European People's Party (EPP) said. Croatian MEP Tomislav Sokol, vice-president of the intergroup, stressed…

ZAGREB, November 20, 2020- Tourism and Sport Minister Nikolina Brnjac proposed on Friday in an online meeting the establishment of a joint working group for tourism to Italian Culture and Tourism Minister Dario Franceschini, the Ministry of Tourism and Sport (MINTS) has said. Minister Brnjac and Culture and Media Minister Nina Obuljen Korzinek held an online bilateral meeting with Franceschini, ahead of the fourth plenary session of the Coordinating Committee of Croatian and Italian Ministers, the ministry said in a press release. Brnjac said that during Croatia's presidency of the Council of the EU a quality discussion had been initiated…

ZAGREB, November 20, 2020 - The High Administrative Court has upheld a ruling by the Administrative Court and a State Election Commission decision to fine the Social Democratic Party (SDP) over former SDP MP Gordan Maras having displayed campaign messages on his laptop in parliament ahead of the 2019 European election. Under the decision by the State Election Commission (DIP), the SDP was fined HRK 86,000 (approx. €11,500) for its former MP's conduct. Ahead of the May 2019 EP elections, Maras displayed different promotional stickers in the parliament on his laptop such as "Vote Maras", and "Vote 007", which, DIP decided, violated the…

ZAGREB, November 20, 2020 - The opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP) has called on the health minister to adopt, as soon as possible, measures to protect and improve the health of children and young people, especially their mental health. The appeal was issued on Friday on the occasion of World Children's Day. The SDP cited research conducted among pre-school and school children showing high rates of violence, mental disorders and a decline in healthy lifestyles. Violence is present in all age groups, with physical violence being more prevalent among younger children and verbal violence among older children. An estimated 20…

ZAGREB, Nov 19,  2020 - A grant agreement for the purchase of three multi-purpose helicopters for the civil protection services was signed on Thursday, the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development said in a press release. The total value of the project is HRK 190 million, of which HRK 161.5 million was provided by the European Union. It includes the purchase of three helicopters and the provision of training for emergencies, natural disasters and major accidents. The agreement was signed by Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic, Economy and Sustainable Development Minister Tomislav Coric and the CEO of the state-owned Hrvatske Vode…

ZAGREB, Nov 19, 2020 - Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic presented a draft 2021 state budget in parliament on Thursday, saying that it ensured economic recovery and continued to support citizens and the economy. "The budget ensures Croatia's economic recovery in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal is, despite the fact that Croatia has suffered economic and financial consequences and Zagreb was struck by an earthquake, all of which has affected public finances, to continue to support citizens and the economy," he said. GDP projected to increase 5% in 2021 The prime minister mentioned the measures taken so far to maintain…

ZAGREB, Nov 18, 2020 - Hundreds of red and white candles were launched into the Danube near Eltz Castle in Vukovar on Wednesday in memory of the defenders and civilians who were killed or went missing while defending Vukovar during the war. The candles are part of the "Light River of Remembrance" project and they were launched on the occasion of Homeland War Victims Remembrance Day as well as Vukovar and Skabrnja Victims Remembrance Day. Red candles were lit for the Vukovar defenders and civilians who are still unaccounted-for, while white ones were for killed defenders and civilians, said Ruzica Maric, head of the Vukovar City…

The Rovinj mayor, Marko Paliaga, told local portal Glas Istre that he had decided to put an end to illegal construction and to investors who don't respect spatial plans and dare to build without permits without any problems. As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 18th of November, 2020,  said that all Istrian towns and municipalities had signed a declaration asking the competent Ministry of Construction and the State Inspectorate to amend local laws to allow local government units to control illegal construction outside of designated construction areas. the Rovinj mayor said that they had sent a lot of pictures of…