ZAGREB, 5 February, 2021 - Parliament on Friday declared Croatia's Exclusive Economic Zone (IGP) in the Adriatic.

All 141 lawmakers who were present during the vote in the 151-seat parliament voted in favour of the IGP.

The decision to declare the IGP will enter into force eight days after being published in the Official Gazette instead of 1 February as had originally been planned.

Parliament was to have voted on the motion last Friday. However, after it was established that there wasn't a quorum, voting did not take place and hence the government proposed an amendment changing the date of the motion coming into force, which was then endorsed in the parliament.

In comparison to the Ecological and Fisheries Protection Zone (ZERP) that was declared in 2003, the IGP means new rights for Croatia - building artificial islands and using the force of the sea, winds and currents.

Under ZERP, Croatia enjoys all the contents of the exclusive economic zone, together with the epicontinental sea, with the exception of the right to build artificial islands and the right to produce energy by using the sea, currents and winds in accordance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

MP Hrvoje Zekanović (Sovereignists) once again today reiterated that declaring the IGP does not change anything, adding that Italian trawlers would dig in Croatia's section of the Adriatic tonight just like they did yesterday.

The only way to protect that area is to actually protect it, however in light of Andrej Plenković's non-sovereignist policy, that will not occur, said Zekanović, adding that this was just another attempt by the incumbent government to delude the public.

ZAGREB, Dec 18, 2020 - The Croatian parliament on Friday endorsed the decision to declare an Exclusive Economic Zone in the Adriatic Sea by 129 votes in favour and one abstention.

The Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) will be formally declared next month after a trilateral meeting with Slovenia and Italy.

Parliament instructed the government to support stronger cooperation at the trilateral meeting in January 2021 in light of the declaration of exclusive economic zones by Croatia and Italy.

"By declaring the Exclusive Economic Zone, we will do our utmost to legally protect the Adriatic Sea," Foreign Minister Gordan Grlic Radman said.

Compared with the existing Ecological and Fisheries Protection Zone, the Exclusive Economic Zone provides for two more rights - the right to build artificial islands and the right to use the power of the sea, sea currents and wind.

Parliament also adopted a report on consultations in respect of the declaration of the Exclusive Economic Zone.

Before the vote, the parliamentary groups reiterated their views on the matter.

Nikola Grmoja of the opposition Bridge party said he was pleased that after five years of their struggle and the struggle of their predecessors this decision was being put to the vote. He said he was glad that the ruling parties had changed their opinion, albeit under Italy's influence.

Hrvoje Zekanovic (Croatian Sovereignists) said this was no cause for celebration because it only showed "how pathetic Croatia's politics are". 

"Had Italy not decided to declare an Exclusive Economic Zone, Croatia would never have done it," Zekanovic said, adding that the EEZ would change nothing because "Italian trawlers will continue to plough the Croatian seabed."

Branko Bacic of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) said that by declaring the EEZ Croatia was protecting its strategic and national interests in the Adriatic, adding that Croatian fishermen would follow rules adopted by the European Commission at Croatia's proposal.

Arsen Bauk of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) said that the declaration of the EEZ was a matter for celebration after all because it marked the end of the process that was begun by the SDP government of Ivica Racan in 2003.

The Homeland Movement's Milan Vrkljan disagreed with Bauk, saying that the initiative had actually been launched by the late President Tudjman back in 1994.

Also, Parliament unanimously adopted the Council decision on the system of own resources, one of the EU's key legislative acts the purpose of which is to secure financing over the next seven years.

The EU's budget financing system comprises three main categories of revenue: traditional own resources (mainly customs duties), Value Added Tax-based own resources and Gross National Income-based own resources. 

The agreement on the multiannual financial framework for 2021-2027 provides for a new category of revenue based on own resources from non-recycled plastic packaging waste, in accordance with the EU's green transition and sustainable economy strategy.