As Darko Bicak/Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 23rd of April, 2020, owing to the coronavirus pandemic, the Croatian logistics and distribution sector is suffering a great deal of damage to its operations as a result of the overall business downturn and the difficulty in working in all segments that make up the total supply chain.

International transport within European Union (EU) countries has been very difficult in all segments since the second half of March 2020, when restrictions on border crossings came into force, with the introduction of mandatory quarantine for drivers, a move which virtually prevented any transport operation.

According to the Croatian Employers' Association (HUP) - Transport Association, the closure of almost all stores further halted all processes related to contract logistics, as well as warehousing and distribution. Ana Soldo, of the HUP-Transport Association, who is otherwise the director of Quehenberger Logistics Croatia, says that the companies that specialise in parcel delivery felt the least impact of all, as customers merely switched to online shopping.

''The logistics sector is largely oriented towards foreign markets, the reason being that Croatia is predominantly an import country with a small share of its own production. All logistics companies reported a large drop in turnover in excess of 40 percent in April, but it's still too early to come out with some final forecasts, as it all depends on what's done related to the relaxation of the anti-coronavirus measures. The entire sector can withstand a maximum of another month with the support of the state like this, and after that period, the damage would be enormous, with many job losses and with the existence of some companies on the market being called into question,'' explained Ana Soldo.

The problems are only just beginning...

She added that this situation is mostly affecting small and medium-sized Croatian companies, which will continue to find it very difficult to cope with the ongoing coronavirus crisis. Multinationals, she pointed out, that operate on the globalised market won't be particularly threatened in the next phase when we go from being in a health crisis to a major economic crisis because of coronavirus.

"The coronavirus crisis is just the prelude to a major economic crisis due to distorted market relationships leading to declining sales in almost every industry. The measures under consideration by the Croatian Government should not be solely related to the beginning and end of the pandemic, as these challenging times are only just beginning.

If the Croatian Government fails to realise that we're facing a very long and slow recovery, we're in danger of collapsing again, as we witnessed back in 2009. The current situation is an opportunity for the government to review the working conditions of the private sector primarily from the aspect of fiscal and para-fiscal levies that greatly hinder the development of companies and hamper new investments to the greatest extent possible.

The abolition of heavy para-fiscal levies would greatly facilitate further business and make the private sector less vulnerable to government support in times of crisis. Transparency in the procurement process would lead to more healthy market competition and open the door to the development of the highest quality companies on the market.

One-off assistance from the Government and the EU certainly contributes to stability but doesn't solve the accumulated problems that are now very visible in these times of crisis. Support to the private sector should last until the first visible signs of market recovery beign, otherwise, the whole process could turn into painful and slow death,'' explained the head of the HUP Transport Association. She noted that, on the other hand, every crisis brings with it a whole series of structural changes both in the labour market and in people's general habits.

“The coronavirus crisis has shown us that even our otherwise sluggish state can adapt procedures and make them easier by using technologies under the pressure of this situation. Certainly, digitalisation, online commerce and making working from home more commonplace can increase efficiency and raise the quality of life. Distanced learning (for kids) has also shown some benefits, but in the basic education process, the impact of children's interactions with their teachers and among themselves is immeasurable,'' Soldo estimated.

This industry isn't planning layoffs, yet...

Employers in this sector are currently not planning layoffs and redundancies because, despite temporary work from home and vacation time, they believe they will be able to survive this difficult period with state incentives.

Make sure to follow our business section for more on Croatian companies. Follow our dedicated section for all you need to know about coronavirus in relation to Croatia.

As Adriano Milovan/Novac writes on the 24th of April, 2020, although many Croatian companies didn't see their operations interrupted even during the coronavirus-induced lockdown, the heads of Croatian companies are eagerly awaiting the decision of the authorities on any normalisation of work and doing business. As some of their top executives say, many Croatian companies have experienced a large increase in costs during the quarantine period, in the harsh conditions in which business is minimised.

''We'd like a relaxation of the measures so that the economy can ''breathe'' again. The current situation isn't sustainable: there are many trucks, while the amount of goods being transported is small, which greatly increases the costs,'' complained Petar Simic, owner and director of Primaco, one of the most important Croatian freight forwarding companies.

''We've been in business until now, but in significantly more difficult circumstances, which has led to the loss of certain jobs and the accumulation of stock. However, during that period, we worked on the development of 15 new products, and we're planning to expand to new markets as well,'' said Zdravko Jelcic from the Pozega-based Spin Valis, one of the leading Croatian companies in the wood processing industry.

Because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, all Croatian companies had to invest significant amounts of money to properly protect their employees: they bought protective masks, gloves and disinfectants and other products. In the case of transporters, they also provided for self-isolation for drivers in their cabins. For the workers at the counters located in the customs offices, plexiglass compartments were provided. These measures have cost Primaco about 250,000 kuna in the past month and a half alone,'' stated Simic.

Despite this, company executives say that employee protection measures will continue to apply after lockdown is over. This, they point out, is in everyone's interest because no one wants a coronavirus epidemic within their company.

''We'll continue to keep up with the hygiene measures of everyone in the company. It would also mean a lot to us if the customs clearance of goods could be returned to the customs offices in the interior of the country, since customs clearance is now done at the border, which creates huge crowds,'' said Simic.

''Worker protection measures will remain as they are after lockdown. We'll continue to use protective masks, gloves and disinfectants and keep the required distance between workers. So far, we've not had any cases of coronavirus in the company,'' says Jelcic.

Croatian companies are therefore adjusting to the new coronavirus reality, which means continuing to apply safeguards even after quarantine measures are lifted. However, they warn that Croatia and Europe are sinking into recession due to the coronavirus pandemic and that the period ahead will not be easy for anyone at all. Therefore, the state is expected to at least facilitate business conditions for them, while companies, for their part, will do what they can to fight the spread of coronavirus.

Make sure to follow our dedicated section for all you need to know about coronavirus in relation to Croatia. Follow our business page for more on Croatian companies, products and services.

What can Croatian hotels do to ensure the safe functioning of their businesses as COVID-19 continues to lurk? Unfortunately, all the disinfectant in the world can't help the hole that has been blown into the domestic economy, but some patching up might be possible.

The coronavirus crisis is continuing to wreak havoc with the global economy, with tourism and travel among the hardest hit industries in the world. Croatia, which has been relying far too heavily and even more too exclusively on tourism for many years, enjoying a three-year boom and seeing tourism make up about 20 percent of the country's entire GDP, has had quite the economic shock.

Could Croatian hotels have thought up a way to function, make money and help to patch up at least a small part of the economy? As Poslovni Dnevnik/Marija Crnjak writes on the 24th of April, 2020, the Croatian Tourism Association has submitted a concrete proposal to the Croatian Government for the alteration of operational procedures in Croatian hotels and camps that ensure the maintenance of high health and hygiene standards.

The plan is to open Croatian hotels and camps on May the 11th, 2020, if this relatively decent epidemic situation within Croatia's borders persists.

"It's crucial that the operational framework of all tourism service providers creates quality conditions for the realisation of the season, in as much as is possible under these changed conditions," stated Veljko Ostojic, director of the aforementioned tourism association.

They thanked Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic for his personal engagement and contact with the prime ministers of the countries which are Croatia's main emitting markets for finding ways to travel as an essential precondition for the realisation of this year's tourist season, which would otherwise be lost, and for all members of the Croatian Government who are working hard to think of how they can to encourage tourism traffic in 2020.

They are convinced that despite all the restrictions, they are ready to make the best of this tourist season, or what might be left of it.

Make sure to follow our dedicated section for all you need to know about coronavirus in Croatia.

April 25, 2020 - German newspaper Bild reported on Friday that Croatia could be an ideal destination for anyone planning a holiday this summer.

In the title "WOHIN REISEN IM CORONA-SOMMER?" (Where to travel in the Corona Summer?), the German daily goes on to say why Croatia should be on your list, reports Novac.hr.

"This summer, Croatia wants to advertise itself as a coronavirus-free country," Bild wrote, citing Croatia as one of the countries that introduced pandemic measures early on. Only 12 deaths per million inhabitants are reported in Croatia, unlike Germany, which records 65 coronavirus deaths per million inhabitants.

The newspaper also quotes Romeo Draghicchio from the Croatian National Tourist Board in Frankfurt, who says that Croatia has many accommodation capacities where it is possible to keep a space between guests, and that by the end of May, the Croatian authorities will make new travel decisions.

Bild points out: “Croatia has put in place strict measures to combat the virus in a timely manner. It was a decision that paid off. The Ministry of Tourism with health experts is preparing a plan that will soon make it possible to open the country to tourists."

German online portal Holliday Check has released a poll showing that 40 percent of those surveyed are sticking to their plans for this year's holiday. As many as 60 percent of those polled are transparent about the question of whether they'd like a refund if a trip falls through because of the pandemic as a deciding factor when booking holidays. Last week, the Alliance of German Tour Operators announced that domestic tourism could benefit from the crisis this summer, as well as tourism from neighboring countries and those destinations, such as Croatia, which can be reached by private transport.

Also supporting the story is that German Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Gerd Muller, has announced that travel outside Germany will be made possible. Bild writes that it is certain that the most popular destinations for Germans - Italy, Spain and France - will fall off as travel destinations this year, and that Croatia may be more attracted to them, as it has begun to position itself as a "corona-free" destination.

The president of the German Association of Travel Agencies, Norbert Fiebig, criticized statements about the complete cancellation of holidays outside Germany, saying that it is important to make decisions that will allow travel, emphasizing that trips shouldn't be canceled outright.

On Monday, April 27, EU tourism ministers will, at the initiative of Tourism Minister Gari Cappelli, discuss via a video conference the impacts of the pandemic on tourism and measures to recover the sector as quickly as possible, the Ministry of Tourism announced.

Due to the global pandemic and its extremely negative effects on tourism around the world, including in the EU and Croatia, the topics of discussion are mainly the consequences of the pandemic, but also the measures that can be taken to help the tourism sector recover as quickly as possible after loosening restrictions on travel and business.

"The coronavirus has stopped a lot of things in the world, including almost all business tourism processes and travels, and all EU Member States are in the same, uncertain situation. Therefore, it is important to talk and share experiences, because we are all troubled by the same issues, from how to ensure that the system works in these circumstances to the stability of the entire economy and thus the tourism sector," Cappelli said.

He also announced that he would exchange views with potential EU tourism counterparts on possible programs and plans to tackle similar threats in the future for the tourism sector, which he would also link to the 2018 Croatian initiative when he met tourism ministers in Sofia and presented an initiative for better positioning of tourism within the EU.

"This initiative was just about establishing a common financial fund for tourism at the EU level, with which it would be possible to quickly respond to potential threats and challenges in tourism such as this one," Cappelli said.

Croatia is now joining the campaigns of UNWTO and WTTC World Tourism Organizations and the European ETC to promote tourism and especially gastronomic offers to motivate tourists and travel partners when possible, the Croatian National Tourist Board (CNTB) reported.

To read more about travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

April 25, 2020 - The Croatian Institute of Public Health has issued recommendations for the transportation of passengers by trams and buses in Croatia during the coronavirus pandemic.

Index.hr reports that the recommendations are in place to protect drivers and passengers, including driver's hygiene, driving with masks, physical distance and passenger space.

The hygiene of the driver's area and his work environment is maintained by cleaning the surfaces daily with surface disinfectant. In particular, areas that are often touched by hands such as door handles, the steering wheel, worktop, and shelf for ticketing should be cleaned.

The driver is advised to wear a mask while driving if it does not interfere with safe driving. The protective mask should be changed regularly, and always when it becomes moist and wet. If possible, passengers should wear protective masks if it does not affect their breathing.

Before and after removing the mask, hands should be washed with warm water and soap or disinfected. Used disposable masks are disposed of in garbage bags that are placed in buckets with a lid.

Regular hand hygiene is required and, whenever possible, you are to wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds. If this is not possible, disinfectants containing 70 percent alcohol are used.

Hands should be washed before entering and after leaving the vehicle, after cleaning the vehicle or when the hands are visibly dirty and in other recommended situations (after using the toilet, before eating, after wiping the nose).

The disinfectant must be available at the entrance to the vehicle, and at the entrance to the bus and tram, hand sanitation is required for the vehicle staff and passengers.

Hands, eyes, mouth and nose should not be touched because the virus can enter the body in this way, close contact with passengers and their luggage should be avoided when communicating with them, and a distance of one to two meters in daily social contact with passengers and others should be maintained. If drivers place luggage in the luggage compartment, then the hands should be disinfected afterward.

Passengers should be informed of the importance of maintaining a distance of at least one meter from each other. Precautions should be observed, especially if passengers with respiratory symptoms are observed.

The number and arrangement of passengers on the tram should be such as to allow the prescribed distance between them. It is advisable to limit the number of passengers in the tram to the number of seats.

On buses, the number and arrangement of passengers in the seats are such that they allow a prescribed distance between them. One person should be seated in a row so that they sit alternately in the left and right seats.

The recommendations also highlight the importance of being aware of the way the coronavirus is transmitted - when an infected person speaks, coughs or sneezes near a healthy person or by touching objects and surfaces contaminated with the respiratory secretions of an infected person, and then by touching the eyes, nose or mouth.

Therefore, it is also necessary to maintain hygiene - cover your mouth with the inside of your elbow or paper handkerchief when coughing or sneezing and then throw the handkerchief in the waste bin and wash your hands.

Regular cleaning and ventilation of the interior of the vehicle before and after driving is required. When cleaning the inside of buses and trams, special attention should be paid to window glass and handrails.

When stopping at stops, it is necessary to ventilate the passenger compartment regularly. While driving, the inside of the bus can be ventilated, but in trams and buses, it is necessary to avoid the use of air conditioning and heating.

It is recommended that windows be opened while driving, weather and temperature permitting.

Payment for tickets should be encouraged with contactless cards or bought online, and if a classic card payment or cash is used, disinfect hands after payment.

Controllers must wear a mouth and nose mask when in contact with passengers, and use disposable gloves, which must be disinfected or changed after each tram is visited, and the mask must be changed regularly as recommended.

Also, it is recommended that buses set up a physical barrier between the driver's seat and the passenger (Plexiglas or similar), and if this is not possible, the front row of seats behind the driver will not be used to transport passengers.

If driving staff or their family members develop symptoms suggestive of COVID-19, such as fever, sore throat, coughing, difficulty breathing, they should not go to work and notify their employer immediately.

The HZJZ points out that most of the recommendations of hygiene measures can be applied to other forms of organized road transport.

The latest recommendations can be found on the HZJZ website, and recommendations for the transportation of passengers on buses and trams provide instructions for using hand sanitizer.

As of Monday, when public and suburban public transport is reintroduced, ZET in Zagreb will launch 111 bus routes according to a custom timetable.

Thus, instead of trams in traffic, there will still be bus lines operating the routes of night tram lines (31 Crnomerec - Savski most, 32 Prečko - Borongaj, 33 Gracansko Dolje - Savišće and 34 Ljubljanica - Dubec). Tramlines will be gradually established, depending on safety assessments and the condition of the lanes they cross, ZET reported on Friday.

In order to comply with epidemiological measures, it is recommended to wear protective masks, hand disinfection, and keeping a social distance.

As of Monday, April 27, public transport of passengers on scheduled routes with the payment of tickets is restored in Split, and accordingly, the transport on special lines ceases, which was free of charge with the presentation of passes or civil protection cards.

"As of Monday, all Promet d.o.o. from Split it will operate at normal business hours, and tickets will also be available on buses from the driver. As regular public transport was abolished on March 22, all passengers who purchased the March stamps have the right to travel with this ticket until Sunday, May 10. All passengers who buy a ticket for May may be stamped with number 4 instead of 5. Namely, in order to reduce operating costs, the stamp will be used which was printed for April, but due to the interruption of bus operations, they were not put on sale," said Promet Split.

To read more about travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

ZAGREB, April 24, 2020 - An interdisciplinary team of Croatian scientists has determined the genetic sequence of the COVID-19 virus genome, which will make it possible to determine the source of the infection in Croatia and track it as well as contribute to global efforts to curb the pandemic.

The Zagreb-based Ruđer Bošković Institute (IRB) said in a statement that this was a joint success of its researchers and those working at the Rijeka School of Medicine and the Teaching Institute for Public Health.

The success confirms that Croatia has both the technical and human resources that place it along other countries contributing to the understanding of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

The first detailed analysis of the virus genome was done at the IRB Laboratory for Advanced Genomics, led by Oliver Vugrek.

Participating in the project were also Igor Jurak of the Rijeka University Department for Biotechnology and Tomislav Rukavina and Neven Sučić of the Rijeka School of Medicine and Teaching Institute for Public Health.

Their results have helped develop an own protocol for the analysis of the COVID-19 disease, which could be applied broadly in the analysis of other viruses too, the IRB said.

More coronavirus news can be found in the Lifestyle section.

ZAGREB, April 24, 2020 - Croatia is a strong advocate of multilateralism whose importance has been confirmed during the novel coronavirus epidemic, the Croatian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs said on Friday on International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace, marked April 24.

The UN General Assembly decided in December 2018 to declare 24 April as the International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace.

Croatia joined the Alliance for Multilateralism in 2019 which was launched by Germany and France.

"There are numerous issues and challenges that countries around the world need to approach jointly, like climate change, sustainable development, geo-political tensions, international terrorism, hybrid threats and the like," the ministry said in a press release.

"The current COVID-19 epidemic undoubtedly points out the importance of jointly facing an exceptional complex phenomenon through multalateralism and diplomatic efforts," the ministry said in its press release.

Official Zagreb considers that it is necessary to work together on advancing mechanisms in international organisations particularly the United Nations, in an effort to improve their efficiency and to secure collective health, well-being, security and development.

More foreign policy news can be found in the Politics section.

How does a Scottish lockdown on Hvar look? The view from the Quaich Experience in Vrbanj through the eyes of owner Chris Connor. 

Mick and I left the UK in 2009 and created The Quaich from an old ruin which had not been lived in since WW1II, the Quaich Experience. With hindsight I’m not sure I would do it again but we finished up with not a bad place to spend this recent lockdown!  I know our children are happy we are here on Hvar rather than back in UK at this time.  But how I miss them!

Vrbanj is a very quiet little village even during normal times so at the moment we are grateful to hear a donkey heehaw or even a dog bark.  Thankfully our little village shop is open and we have been allowed to travel within our ‘Opcina’ area which is Stari Grad so the Big Tommy has been our go to for food and gin!

On my worst days I cry and mope about but a FaceTime with my grandchildren always picks me up again and of course my Mick who is always ‘splendid’ bless him.  My rock.  Normally at this time I would be flying back to Sussex to spend time with my little family but alas………. 

I was a little too late to get to the Frizzer (hairdresser) before the lockdown so in a moment of rashness allowed Mick to shave my head.  After two weeks it’s starting to look not bad.  For a while I did resemble Ian Beale from Eastenders!  

We are not the kind of folk who can watch endless Netflix or daytime TV so finding projects to keep us busy has been a challenge.  It started with renovating the odd chair we would find at the bins but we have now moved on to making toys for the grandchildren from old timber!  On wet days (not had many of them) jigsaw puzzles and knitting for me and Mick is still able to find some old football matches or rugby.  

All in all we are doing OK although must admit not looking forward to the humid nights and the mozzies!

We have had a lot of cancellations but still hopeful for July when we still have some guests booked in and as we have all this spare time The Quaich is looking pristine and ready to welcome guests as and when.  We rely on the income we receive during the summer months to get us through the winter so the future for us is a little uncertain financially but heyho!  a day at a time for now.

Turning our thoughts to the future we realise that the very personal service we have provided at The Quaich will have to be toned down as I believe guests will be very cautious about leaving home for some time to come.  Fortunately, we can be very adaptable in that respect - the cottages are all self-catering with lock boxes for keys so no need to have contact with us at all if that is what they prefer.  Information regarding swimming pools is quite clear in that the normal chemicals used to keep water healthy will kill the coronavirus.  Staying within the area of The Quaich can be like an isolation in itself and maybe for the future, guests may be looking for longer-term rentals.  We can either stock up groceries for them or I think driving to us and bringing their own goods will become more the norm.

For those of you who know Mick and I and The Quaich, you will know that in the past couple of years we have been for sale.  This is still the case for us.  We have enjoyed our time here immensely but for me especially, it’s time to go home.  Maybe our lifestyle here, whether as a holiday home or as a permanent home, will be far more appealing once the world gets back to some sort of normality.  After all this is paradise and until we sell we are still welcoming guests.

Do you remember Terry Waite.  He spent 1763 days as a hostage in appalling conditions.

He just told us all to stop complaining!

Change your mindset he said, you're not STUCK at home, you're SAFE at home 

His advice:

*Keep your own dignity - get out of your PJs! 

*Form a structure for the day

*Be grateful for what you have - shelter, home, possessions 

*Read and be creative

Stay safe everyone xx

The Croatian economy, much like the global economy, has been forced to grind to a halt owing to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. In a time when Croatia, known for its seasonality in terms of employment, would be gearing up for the summer season and employers would be seeking out waiters, chefs, bar staff and more, the unemployment rate is only increasing.

For the Croatian economy, of which the strongest branch which makes up around 20 percent of GDP is tourism, coronavirus threatens absolutely devastating economic consequences. The trade sector, which is also of enormous importance, both in the sense of its connection to tourism and independently of it, is also suffering huge losses.

As Jadranka Dozan/Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 24th of April, 2020, the latest report from the Tax Administration shows that there has been an enormous drop of six billion kuna in all activities since the beginning of April 2020 thanks to the coronavirus pandemic and the numerous economic restrictions that have been introduced in order to try to flatten the infection curve.

In all activities which go through the fiscal system, the number of invoices issued fell by as much as 52 percent last week in the retail and wholesale/trade sector, according to the latest data from the Tax Administration.

This is a significantly higher decline than in the second week of April (when it was 34 percent in total and 24 percent in trade), the reason being that this year, Easter, ie the pre-festivity spending period, took place a week earlier.

A more realistic picture of the recent decline has been given by the first three weeks of April 2020. As touched on above, from the latest tax report, it can be been seen that in all activities since the beginning of April, there has been a huge six billion kuna drop, which is 44 percent or 4.58 billion kuna less than in the first twenty days of April 2019.

Over the past three weeks, trade turnover was 36 percent or 2.68 billion kuna lower than in the comparable period last year. Thus, in the first three weeks of April 2019, close to one billion kuna (956 million kuna to be precise) was fiscalised, and in the twenty days of April this year, only 91.5 million kuna has been fiscalised, a massive 91.5 percent less than last year.

For more on business, follow this page. For all you need to know about coronavirus in relation to Croatia, follow our dedicated section.

As Julije Domac/Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 23rd of April, 2020, could we have ever expected this? The crisis caused by the COVID-19 virus is shaking Croatia and the Croatian economy, as well as that of the whole world. We're currently living in times that would otherwise be really difficult to even begin to imagine.

The coronavirus crisis we're now in is testing absolutely everything that matters most to us and that we simply take for granted. This includes the mere functioning of the Republic of Croatia as a country. Not only has the functioning of the state been called into question, the function of the Croatian health system has, too. A test of our European solidarity of cooperation is also now heating up. However, the crisis of the generation is also the opportunity of the generation. The need and the energy to finally change Croatia for the better, the need to hit the reset button on the country, has never been clearer.

The recovery of the Croatian economy.

In this tremendously difficult situation, we're also facing another crisis - the shock to the Croatian economy and the European economy as a whole is currently more severe than the 2008 crisis. More than ever, we need a strong and coordinated economic policy response, a clear set of priorities and the launching of investments.

The recovery of the Croatian economy will only come from massive investments to protect and create jobs and support all businesses and companies, all Croatian cities and regions, and all sectors suffering economic damage as a result of this suddenly stalled economic activity.

New investments should also stimulate a new Croatian and European economic growth model - that model should be much more resilient, much more protected, more sovereign and more inclusive. All these demands lie in the idea of ​​a green economy. The transition to a climate-neutral economy can quickly secure jobs, growth and improve the way of life for all residents of the Republic of Croatia, the European Union, Europe, and around the world. It would also contribute to building a more resilient society.

New technologies are already here, in 2019, as much as 72 percent of all investments in the energy sector were related to renewable energy. In the last decade, tremendous progress has been made in developing new technologies and creating a totally new value chain. Just ten years ago, zero emission vehicles were just a prototype, today they're everywhere on our roads.

Just a decade ago, wind energy was three times as expensive as it is today, and solar power was as many as seven times more expensive. Ten years ago, we didn't even deal with the energy renovation of buildings because it seemed expensive and entirely unnecessary to us.

The political will for change is clearly being expressed today. Projects such as the European Green Compact and numerous national plans for carbon-free development clearly define the path that Croatia should take - and boldly. Contrary to some expectations, the COVID-19 crisis didn't distract other EU member states from advocating a more green agenda, quite on the contrary.

The recent initiative of 12 EU member states led by Denmark, Germany and France calls for a ''green recovery'' as a key strategy for the times of crisis we're currently living in. The European Commission has also launched a public consultation on its Renewed Sustainable Financing Strategy, part of a 3 trillion euro package for a greener economy by the year 2030.

Make sure to follow our dedicated coronavirus section and our business page for more.