Politics

ZAGREB, May 22, 2020 - World Biodiversity Day, a United Nations–designated day for the promotion of biodiversity issues on 22 May, which is also observed in Croatia as the national day of nature protection, is being held this year under the slogan "Our solutions are in nature". On this occasion, Croatia's Environment Protection and Energy Ministry calls for ambitious and quick action at all levels of the society, including both institutions and individuals, to make sure that the development and our existence are in harmony with nature. The developments surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic are one more reason for the world to…

ZAGREB, May 21, 2020 - Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic on Thursday said that the government would continue to "calibrate" measures and provide support even after May for those sectors which will obviously be in more difficult circumstances, primarily tourism and transport, and partially the hospitality sector. Addressing reporters after a cabinet meeting, Plenkovic said that after April and May, the account would be taken after lockdown measures have been lifted entirely to see which sectors whose business was significantly different, for example, from the same period last year and then the government will continue with "calibrated" support for them. "We will endeavor to calibrate measures only for those…

ZAGREB, May 21, 2020 - The Voice of Entrepreneurs association on Thursday held a protest rally in St. Mark's Square bringing together casual hauliers, hospitality business owners and event managers who demanded state job keeping support to offset the consequences of the COVID-19 epidemic. More than a hundred people gathered carrying posters with slogans like "Stop parafiscal payments," "Abolish tariffs," and the like. The association's president Hrvoje Bujas said that talks were held for the first time this morning with three ministers - finance, tourism and transport. "They are finally starting to take us seriously. We were given clear guarantees by the ministries," said…

ZAGREB, May 21, 2020 - By the end of this week Croatia and Slovenia are expected to initial an agreement that would simplify cross-border travel for the two countries' nationals, after their border was recently reopened, but with significant waiting times for those wishing to cross it. Slovenian government spokesman Jelko Kacin said on Thursday that the two countries' police commanders had agreed that by the end of the week they would initiate an agreement that would facilitate cross-border travel for Croatian and Slovenian nationals, that would cut waiting time. Considering their similar epidemiological situations, the two countries have already opened…

ZAGREB, May 21, 2020 - The Croatian government support the establishment of a €500 billion European fund to help repair the economic damage from the coronavirus pandemic, Jutarnji List daily reports on Thursday, noting that the money to be obtained from the fund could be used for recovery in the tourism and transport sectors. The government supports the Franco-German rescue plan, which, according to the proposal put forward by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron, envisages the establishment of a €500 billion rescue fund which would be set up as part of the EU budget for the…

ZAGREB, May 21, 2020 - Ana Karamarko, wife of former HDZ president Tomislav Karamarko, was released from custody on Wednesday evening because anti-corruption investigators did not ask that she be remanded in custody after earlier in the day she was arrested as part of an investigation into the suspected financial crime. Karamarko was questioned on Wednesday evening by investigators with the Office for the Suppression of Corruption and Organised Crime (USKOK), after which she was released pending further proceedings, Hina learned from sources close to the investigation. Her lawyer Ivo Farcic said that his client had denied any involvement in the criminal…

ZAGREB, May 20, 2020 - The EU Farm to Fork Strategy and Biodiversity Strategy 2030 need to take into account that Croatia has already met many ecological standards recommended to European farmers, but farmers need financial support to adapt to new plans, the Croatian Chamber of Agriculture said on Wednesday. The European Commission on Wednesday adopted two new strategies on ecologically and acceptable food system and a biodiversity strategy which comprehends part of the European Green Deal. The Farm to Fork Strategy includes several targets that need to be met by 2030 - reduce the use and risk of pesticides by 50%, reduce the use of…

ZAGREB, May 20, 2020 - Social Democratic Party leader Davor Bernardic said on Wednesday that after the election victory of the SDP-led coalition, ten years of revitalizing Slavonia and Baranja would ensue. "The people here do not deserve to live in poverty. Our task, through the Slavonia 2030 program is to revitalize Slavonia and Baranja in ten years, to increase agricultural productivity twofold, to ensure subsidies for the smallest. To ensure so that they can place their goods and not be racketeered by retail chains and to boost industry," Bernardic said in Vukovar during his election trail. To show that that is possible,…

ZAGREB, May 20, 2020 - The parliamentary election will be held on July 5, President Zoran Milanovic decided on Wednesday. The election for the tenth parliament will be held on July 5 in Croatia and on July 4 and 5 abroad, in Croatia's diplomatic and consular offices. The decision on the election takes effect on June 2. Parties and independent slates and candidates will then have 14 days to submit their slates to the State Election Commission (DIP), which then has 48 hours to publish the list of valid slates and candidates, whereby official electioneering begins. Although Croatia has few…

ZAGREB, May 20, 2020 - Police on Wednesday launched an operation in cooperation with the USKOK anti-corruption office targeting a number of companies and about 30 persons for siphoning money via fictitious invoices, including Ana Karamarko, wife of former HDZ president Tomislav Karamarko.  The suspects are being arrested and their homes and offices searched, unofficial sources said. Neither the police nor USKOK has made a comment yet. The persons in question and their companies are suspected of charging non-existent services via fictitious invoices and tax fraud from 2017 until 2019. Vecernji List daily said they were suspected of illegally gaining HRK 20 million and defrauding the…