ZAGREB, June 20, 2019 - European Socialists and Liberals are strongly opposed to German Christian Democrat Manfred Weber's bid for European Commission President, but they agree that this post is filled by the candidate of the European People's Party (EPP), which is now seeking new candidates and among these undeclared candidates are two senior Croatian officials, President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, the Belgian daily Le Soir said on Thursday.

Citing unnamed sources, Le Soir says that the EPP is looking for a new candidate who could receive wider support. It says that Michel Barnier, the EU's chief Brexit negotiator, could be such a candidate but none of the sources have mentioned his name.

On the other hand, the name of Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović has cropped up in the last 24 hours when the EPP, pressed by the need to abandon the candidacy of its leader Manfred Weber, intensified the search within its ranks, the newspaper said.

It recalled that Grabar-Kitarović had served as assistant to NATO's secretary general before becoming President of Croatia in 2015. "There is a greater consensus about her than Prime Minister Plenković, who is also mentioned, but she has a somewhat more prominent nationalist profile," Le Soir said.

The newspaper says that Plenković is appreciated among his colleagues, but that he has been chosen by heads of state or government from the EPP to represent them in tripartite prime ministerial negotiations on the appointment of heads of EU institutions. "He could be a useful and consensual solution," it says.

According to Le Soir, if the EPP received the position of Commission President, the position of Council President would go to the Liberals, who have joined forces with MEPs elected on the list of French President Emmanuel Macron, and it could be filled by Charles Michel, acting Prime Minister of Belgium. The Socialists would get the position of Parliament President, which they would relinquish mid-term to the Greens, the position of High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, who at the same time is Commission Vice-President, and an important economic department in the Commission. The newspaper notes that this is a highly uncertain scenario.

Although it is not very likely that either of the Croatians could get the post of Commission President, the fact that as many as two Croatian candidates are mentioned can be interpreted as an expression of confidence in the newest EU member, Le Soir says.

The leaders of the 28 EU member states are meeting for a two-day summit on Thursday to discuss the appointment of new heads of European institutions.

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković in Brussels on Thursday declined to comment on the media reports. "Never mind the media reports. We've seen all sorts of things, such as articles in Politico and the Financial Times," Plenković told the press on arrival for a meeting of the leaders of the European People's Party (EPP), who traditionally meet before each EU summit.

On Thursday morning Plenković met with five prime ministers who represent their political groups to discuss the appointment of new heads of European institutions.

Plenković and Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins are negotiating on behalf of the EPP, the Socialists are represented by Spain's Pedro Sanchez and Antonio Costa of Portugal, and the Liberals are represented by Belgian and Dutch Prime Ministers Charles Michel and Mark Rutte.

Plenković said that the negotiations were demanding and tough, with each group holding their own line. "Now we are having consultations with our respective political groups, after which we are continuing negotiations before the European Council meeting, and then comes a key dinner this evening. It will really be demanding, the negotiations are more than tough."

Asked if he and Karins were defending Manfred Weber as their 'spitzenkandidat', Plenković answered affirmatively. "That's the only mandate that we have," he said.

Karins also said that the negotiations were difficult. So far, we have heard a lot of negative things, and I am trying to find what is positive. That's what Andrej Plenković and I are working on with the representatives of other political groups. We must think how we can build something positive in Europe rather than focus on the negative, he said.

Karins would not comment on the media reports about Plenković and Grabar-Kitarović as possible candidates for Commission President. There are a lot of speculations being talked about and I'll leave them to the speculators, the Latvian prime minister said.

More news about Croatia and the European Union can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, June 19, 2019 - Croatian Foreign Minister Marija Pejčinović Burić regretted on Tuesday that there was no agreement among EU member states about recognising the progress of North Macedonia and Albania and opening accession negotiations, with a decision postponed for October.

Member states' foreign ministers made the postponement in Luxembourg without clearly indicating whether they will approve opening the negotiations in October.

"Croatia's position hasn't changed. We wanted it also a year ago at the General Affairs Council meeting, when the majority of the member states advocated giving a deadline of one year and beginning negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania this June, if they met the set demands," Pejčinović Burić said.

"However, for certain reasons, there were member states that could not agree to such a text so we agreed to consider it again at this General Affairs Council meeting. Unfortunately, we didn't get far. Now the number of states with certain reservations has even increased," she added.

"We advocated opening those negotiations both with Albania and with North Macedonia because we think each has made such progress that it should be recognised in the right way," the minister said.

Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Bulgaria, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Austria, Poland, Malta, Italy, Slovakia and Slovenia have forwarded a joint request for opening accession negotiations with the two countries.

France and the Netherlands are particularly against opening the negotiations.

Pejčinović Burić said she was the only one at today's meeting to talk about the European perspective of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"We believe it's very important to raise awareness in European institutions of BiH's European perspective because we think it's very important not to lose sight of that. There's a lot of work ahead for BiH, but it's important to repeat every time that it's a country with a European perspective and that the European journey is the best option for the stabilisation and prosperity of BiH as well as the entire region," she added.

More news about Croatia and the European Union can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, June 17, 2019 - Croatia's Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Marija Pejčinović Burić on Monday attended a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg which discussed the effectiveness of the Common Foreign and Security Policy, the implementation of the EU Global Strategy and the situation in Sudan, the ministry reported in a press release.

The council discussed models to improve the effectiveness of the Common Foreign and Security Policy in view of changes occurring on the international scene and of geopolitical challenges.

The ministers agreed that in the coming period efforts will be focused on strengthening coherency and consistency, and strengthening unity so that the EU can be a strong global stakeholder. With regard to foreign policy, the Eu and the member states will continue advocating the protection of common values and interests, security and peace, the promotion of international cooperation, democracy and the rule of law, the ministry's press release said.

The discussion on implementing the Global Strategy was held together with the defence ministers. Progress in implementing the Global Strategy was considered in five priority areas: the Union's security, resilience, integrated approach to conflicts and crises, cooperation with regions, and global governance for the 21st century.

The importance of working on strengthening multilateralism and a world order based on rules was underscored as the best way to promote national and common interests. The ministers welcomed the significant progress made in security and defence, and it was agreed to continue working on implementing launched initiatives and strengthening the EU's capacities, its strategic autonomy and cooperation with partners, particularly with NATO and the UN.

The ministers discussed Sudan and expressed concern with the deteriorating situation. The importance of avoiding further escalation of violence was underscored and the ministers underlined their support for a peaceful and orderly transfer of government and for constitutional order to be reinstated.

The EU supports the mediation of the African Union aimed at finding a peaceful solution to end the crisis, and the EU is prepared to offer political and economic support to Sudan when the transition to a civilian government begins.

The council briefly reflected on the situation in Venezuela and the Horn of Africa as well as current events in Moldova. The council meeting included an informal meeting with Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Al-Safadi, who spoke about the situation in Jordan and events in the Middle East, the foreign ministry reported in its press release.

More news about Croatia and the European Union can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, June 13, 2019 - The European People's Party (EPP) is a relative winner of the European elections and wants its lead candidate Manfred Weber to become the European Commission President, while allowing for other offices to be filled by parties that have come after it in the elections, said Croatian Prime Minister and Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) leader Andrej Plenković in San Sebastian where the EPP was holding a meeting on Wednesday.

Our position in these negotiations is rather modest, and of all offices we want is that our candidate becomes the European Commission President, while other offices are at the disposal of the political groups that rank second, third or possibly fourth in the voting, Plenković said.

The EPP designated Plenković and Latvian PM Krisjanis Kariņs to participate in the negotiations with Social Democrats and Liberals on the appointment of new senior officials of the EU institutions. The Liberals designated Dutch PM Mark Rutte and Belgian PM Charles Michel, and the Socialists designated Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez and Portuguese PM Antonio Costa.

Those six negotiators are conducting an informal process so as to help the European Council and the European Parliament in the selection of nominees.

The Commission president should be elected first, followed by the Council president, the high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, and the president of the European Central Bank. In doing so, attention should be paid to geographical, demographic, gender and political balances.

During today's meeting in the Spanish seaport, Plenković informed the EPP group of the ongoing negotiations.

The process of selection of new leaders is more complex this time considering the fact that although they are still the most numerous groups in the new EP, the EPP and the Socialists are short of securing the absolute majority and therefore they are supposed to negotiate with other pro-European political groups, primarily the Liberals and the Green.

Asked by the press whether he was optimistic about reaching agreement on a set of appointments at the 20-21 June summit, Plenković said that he was realistic. "I am very realistic. This is a very complicated process. There is a plenty to do yet," Plenković said, underscoring that any prolongation is not good.

Our voters expect us to take over responsibility for the coming five years, he explained.

He would not answer the question who might be the next Croatian member of the European Commission, explaining that it should first appoint the EC President who chooses commissioners in cooperation with their respective countries.

Plenković recalled that five years ago the current President Jean-Claude Juncker had accepted all the candidates proposed by the EU member-states.

More news about Croatia and the EU can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, June 12, 2019 - The Court of Justice of the European Union has scheduled for July 8 a hearing on Slovenia's border arbitration suit against Croatia, Slovenian media reported on Wednesday, citing information on the Court's website.

The hearing will be held before the Grand Chamber. The suit was brought last year by the then Miro Cerar Cabinet. Cerar is now Slovenia's foreign minister.

In the suit, Slovenia demands the Court find that Croatia, by failing to implement the border arbitration award, is violating the EU's fisheries policy, Schengen rules on the movement of people across the border and the directive on a framework for maritime spatial planning.

Croatia announced in 2015 that it was walking out of the border arbitration proceedings after the release of recordings of covert contacts between Simona Drenik, then a representative of Slovenia's Foreign Ministry, and Jernej Sekolec, Slovenia's member of the arbitral tribunal.

Croatia's decision was unanimously upheld by parliament. Since then, Croatian governments have maintained that the arbitration was irreversibly compromised and that the award eventually adopted by the arbiters has no legal effect or consequence.

Slovenia has refused Croatia's proposal to resume talks on the bilateral issue on new grounds to find a mutually acceptable solution, claiming that talks are possible only on the implementation of the arbitration award and that Croatia, by rejecting the award, is breaking European and international law.

More news about the border arbitration issue can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, June 12, 2019 - Croatia ranked 20th on the European Commission's 2019 Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI), climbing two places, the Commission reported on Tuesday.

Since 2015, the Commission monitors the digital competitiveness of member states through DESI reports.

Finland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Denmark, Great Britain and Luxembourg are the forerunners. Slovakia, Cyprus, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Greece, Romania and Bulgaria were ranked below Croatia.

Croatia's score increased thanks to an improved performance in some of the DESI dimensions measured. Croatia performs well in fixed broadband coverage and improved 4G and NGA coverage, but still performs low in connectivity.

Croatia made progress on internet and digital public services use. Croats are among the EU’s keenest readers of online news, and Croatian businesses use social media, big data and e-commerce. Still, one fifth of Croatians are not yet online. Despite growing demand on the labour market, the supply of ICT specialists is below the EU average.

Among all DESI dimensions, Croatia ranks highest in human capital, with the highest share of ICT graduates.

The Commission's report notes that Croatia has no overreaching digital skills strategy but currently addresses the issue through various strategic documents. It is preparing the ‘National Development Strategy Croatia 2030, which will become the country’s main strategic document.

During the course of 2018 and 2019, Croatia has launched over 40 different digital projects that will further shape the digitisation of the Croatian public administration, the report says.

When it comes to connectivity, despite some progress Croatia, ranked second to last in the EU.

Fixed coverage, at 99.5%, is above the EU average of 97%. Mobile broadband take-up has improved slightly, but also remains below the EU average.

Croatia has improved its fast broadband (NGA) coverage to 83%, which is now the EU average level. On ultrafast (100 Mbps and above) broadband, Croatia is lagging behind significantly, with only 39%, compared with an EU average of 60%. The rate of fast broadband subscriptions increased markedly last year (up from 7% in 2017 to 19%), but remains very low.

The goals set for 2020 as regards NGA coverage are hard to achieve, despite the existence of two national EU-co-financed NGN schemes with a budget of 224.4 million euro (of which 209.2 million euro comes from the ERDF). Both programmes focus on areas where high-speed connectivity is neither available nor planned due to the lack of commercial interest. While the funding is available, the implementation of both programmes is seriously delayed and the milestones are being postponed, putting at risk the absorption of the available funds, the EC says in its report.

The first 5G commercial networks are expected to start operating in 2020.

In the human capital dimension, Croatia ranks 13th out of EU countries, slightly below the EU average. Increasing number of Croats are going online and digital skills oscillate around the EU averages. Croatian SMEs lack sufficient ICT specialists, since at least 57 % of those that needed such specialists in 2018 reported difficulties in filling vacancies. The number of ICT graduates continues to grow. Female ICT specialists represent a very small proportion of total female employment - only 0.9% of employed women.

As for the integration of digital technology within businesses, Croatia ranks 18th among EU countries.

As for digital public services, Croatia ranks 22nd, below the EU average. Croatia performs very well in e-prescriptions, and there is a high level of online interaction between public authorities and members of the public. 75% of online users actively embrace e-government services.

In 2018, Croatia performed better than in previous year as regards pre-filled forms. Furthermore, the availability of e-government services for business is on the rise. Croatia performs well the provision of e-health services and it ranks 10th in the EU as regards online users (22%). 97% of general practitioners use e-prescriptions and 51% of them exchange medical data, the report notes.

It also notes that Croatia has launched the development of an electronic process to link all the data of registering companies and start-ups by developing an electronic one-stop-shop through the e-citizen system. This platform offers services to SMEs, including an e-business service for accessing documents to do with taxation, health insurance or pension matters, while e-fees enable administrative fees and charges to be paid by electronic means. e-Citizen enables easier communication between members of the public and the public sector and makes public sector services more transparent.

In 2019 Croatia is launching the Shared Service Centre (SSC), the e-government cloud solution, to further speed up development of public digital services, the report notes.

More IT news can be found in the Lifestyle section.

According to the latest annual report on monitoring the quality of water for swimming in Europe, more than 85 percent of European bathing sites surveyed met the EU's stringent standards and received a rating of "excellent" for water purity, including Croatia who scored 94.4 percent in quality. The results are a good indicator of where you can find the best spots to swim this summer, reports HRTurizam on June 8, 2019. 

Some 95.4 percent of the 21,831 bathing sites in the 28 EU Member States monitored met the minimum quality requirements in line with EU regulations, according to this year's European Commission and European Environment Agency (EEA) report. The report also includes 300 bathing sites in Albania and Switzerland.

The number of bathing areas that met the strictest quality standards and received the "excellent" rating rose slightly, from 85 percent in 2017 to 85.1 percent last year. Looking at bathing areas that met the minimum conditions for assessing "satisfactory quality", the picture is somewhat different. In 2017, they made up 96 percent, and in 2018, slightly less - 95.4 percent. The main reason for this is the opening of new bathing areas, and according to the Bathing Water Directive, the classification is based on data for four bathing seasons. Last year, water quality in 301 bathing areas (1.3% of them) in the EU, Albania, and Switzerland were rated as "bad", compared to 1.4 percent in 2017.

"Yesterday we marked World Environment Day. There are many challenges ahead of us, and that is why it is important to remember the success stories of the European Union on ecology. The quality of European swimming spots is one of those stories that are close to everyone. By researching, reporting, tracking and exchanging professional knowledge, we strive to improve the quality of our favorite swimming spots. A new review of environmental activities will enable member states to show each other how to achieve the best and maintain the outstanding standards that have come to fruition during my mandate. I want to thank the European Environment Agency for helping to improve standards and regularly send reliable information, because you will be able to choose where you want to swim this summer easily,” said Karmnu Vella, the European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.

European Environment Agency Executive Director Hans Bruyninckx added that "the report confirms that the Member States have been making efforts for more than 40 years, primarily in the area of wastewater treatment. Most Europeans today enjoy excellent quality bathing. Nevertheless, this is just one of the main issues, with the contamination of plastics and the protection of sea life, which we have to solve so that our sea, lakes, and rivers are healthier. "

Bathing water requirements are laid down in the EU Bathing Water Directive. By enforcing its provisions, we have significantly improved the quality of bathing water in Europe for the last 40 years. This directive introduced effective monitoring and management, and combined with investments in the purification of municipal wastewater, there was a drastic reduction in the amount of untreated or partially purified waste water from households and industries that are being discharged into watercourses. Local authorities are required to collect water samples at official bathing sites during the bathing season. The samples are then searched for two types of bacteria whose presence indicates pollution that causes wastewater or waste of animal origin.

To read more about lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page.

ZAGREB, June 8, 2019 - Friday's meeting of six European leaders, representatives of the three strongest groups in the European Parliament, dedicated to new appointments to top posts in the EU was constructive and led to a rapprochement of positions on common challenges, according to a press release issued after the meeting in Brussels.

The six leaders met for an informal dinner. Prime Ministers Andrej Plenković of Croatia and Krisjanis Karins of Latvia negotiated on behalf of the European People's Party, Dutch PM Mark Rutte and Belgian PM Charles Michel represented the Liberals, and Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez and Portuguese PM Antonio Costa represented the Socialists.

The meeting was constructive and common challenges were identified, per the press release. Participants agreed to meet again in the next few days.

This informal process does not replace official debates in the European Council and Parliament, the press release added.

At an EU28 summit on May 28, two days after European elections, it was agreed that European Council President Donald Tusk should begin consultations with the heads of state or government on the news appointments to top jobs.

Negotiations between the pro-European groups in the European Parliament - the EPP, the Social Democrats, the Liberals, and the Greens - will begin on June 12. They will first attempt to agree on a coalition programme and then on a presidential candidate for the European Commission.

The three largest groups in the European Parliament - the EPP, the Social Democrats, and the Liberals - have each appointed two representatives, members of the European Council, to help Tusk, the six leaders who met in Brussels on Friday.

The Brussels meeting was the first between the six leaders. It was convened by the Belgian prime minister.

Talks will continue in European institutions in the days and weeks ahead to nominate a Commission president who can get the support of the European Council, which meets on June 20-21, and the European Parliament.

The appointment of a new Commission president is to be followed by the appointment of the presidents of the European Parliament, the European Council and the European Central Bank as well as the high representative for the common foreign and security policy.

More news about Croatia and the European Union can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, June 8, 2019 - President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović on Friday held a working lunch with outgoing European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, who was on his first official visit to Croatia.

The two officials discussed the recent elections for the European Parliament, Croatia's priorities during its chairmanship of the European Council and the negative demographic trends in the EU, the president's office said in a press release.

"The President reflected on analysts’ conclusions stating that voter turnout for this year’s elections was higher... the President pointed out that voter turnout at the EU level was the highest in 20 years – 50.95% while in Croatia 30% of voters cast their ballots – more than in the 2014 elections for the European Parliament, when voter turnout stood at just over 25%," the press release said.

In reference to Croatia's accession to the Schengen Area and the eurozone, President Grabar-Kitarović stressed that these are strategic goals for the country.

Croatia has made significant progress in meeting all recommendations with the aim of entering the Schengen Area and we are determined to meet all the criteria so that this is achieved as soon as possible, Grabar-Kitarović emphasized, voicing her expectation that EU member states will support Croatia’s ambition.

More news about European Commission can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, June 7, 2019 - The ruling HDZ party's whip, Branko Bačić, said on Friday Andrej Plenković would complete his term as prime minister and remain the HDZ's president and prime minister also after the next parliamentary election.

Bačić was dismissing Hrast MP Hrvoje Zekanović's claim in parliament that Plenković would soon leave the office of prime minister and go to Brussels.

"Numerous opposition politicians in Croatia would like Andrej Plenković to go to Brussels to a high office in the European Union. I must disappoint them because Plenković will complete the term in Croatia and lead the HDZ to victory in the next parliamentary election," Bačić told reporters.

Addressing HDZ MPs earlier, Zekanović said they would soon have to elect a new party president.

"It's absurd that a man who entered parliament thanks to the HDZ's votes and who, had it not been for the HDZ, would never have had the chance to participate in debates in the Croatian parliament, is talking about this," Bačić said.

More HDZ news can be found in the Politics section.