March 5, 2019 - The new Split airport, or the new terminal, will be four times bigger than the previous one, and worth 450 million kuna. To everyone’s excitement, its doors will open just before the tourist season, in June. 

Split Airport's assistant director Pero Bilas revealed the details of the new building at the beginning in February, which is currently the most significant investment in Dalmatia after the Pelješac Bridge. The new terminal will spread across an enormous 36,000 square meters and feature the most modern airport infrastructure. In short, the new terminal will feature 30 check-in counters, 6 exits, 5 luggage carousels, a new sorting facility, parking for 900 cars, a station for 49 buses, and an air-conditioned pedestrian bridge that connects it all.

Split photographer Goran Leš took his lens inside the new terminal to show us where the construction lies today. You can read his story on Dalmacija Danas. 

To give you an idea of the new terminal's layout, the main hall boasts a radius of almost fifty meters. From the hall, passengers will have a view of one-on-one check-in counters, a collection of catering facilities, and the observation deck on the upper floor. 

According to the idea of the architect Ivo Vulić, above the passengers is a dome with a wooden structure and, by its complexity, can be regarded as a sculpture. 

Although spacious, the new Split terminal will be very compact and logical, and from the observation deck, passengers will be able to view takeoffs and landings.

The passenger experience at the ’new’ airport will include a large parking lot with a capacity of 900 vehicles and a bus terminal with 49 spaces. Rental car agencies will make up the interior, along with various offices and catering facilities, and a 120-meter-long closed bridge will connect the buildings, with traffic in both directions.  At the other end of the bridge (or tunnel), passengers will enter the main area where all the roads cross - on the right for check-in, up for departures, left for arrivals. Thirty counters are already fully equipped; they only need to be dressed up. 

“Our capacity will be around 3,000 passengers per hour so that we will serve at least five million a year without any problems,” said Pero Bilas.

The most important part of the entire facility - the baggage handling system, is the heart of each airport. Split Airport invested 55 million kuna in this part of the project, which they have bought from reputable Dutch companies, with two powerful X-rays produced by the United States. 

The trip of a single suitcase is impressive. As Bilas pointed out, the whole process is automated, with a few extra points to check the baggage that X-rays mark as suspicious. From the check-in, the luggage will travel for a kilometer and is automatically deployed to the location of the aircraft, and in the opposite direction, the luggage automatically meets five large carousels for passengers. 

On the top floor for departures, there are seven new lines for security, also automated with many cool details that should make the process move much faster and easier.

"And here, in the main area along the gates to the airplanes, there should no longer be those crowds, even in the heart of the summer,” Bilas added. 

Namely, there will be a total of 1,200 seating spaces with six exits, and with another five hundred in various catering facilities, which will be more than enough for the hordes of passengers traveling through Split every year. Duty-free stores will be exactly four times bigger than in the past and will be filled with at least 50% Croatian products. 

Over fifty airlines will fly to Split this summer on regular routes to over a hundred destinations. 

To read more about Split, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

March 5, 2019 - Chops Grill is back in a big way this Friday, and you won’t want to miss out on what they have in store. 

Croatian airports did not slow down even in February when they continued recording stellar results.

You’re all probably familiar by now with the Hajduk v. Liam Gallagher story - and if you’re not, here's a quick recap. Namely, Liam Gallagher and his clothing label Pretty Green have been accused of copying the badge of Hajduk Split, which can be seen on some of their latest arrivals. You can read our initial story here. 

Numerous media reports in Croatia and England have picked up the story since, and now the question remains of whether Hajduk will move forward with the legal action they are currently considering. 

Liam Gallagher, however, claims there is no relation between the features on his Pretty Green garments and Hajduk Split. He even released a Tweet over the weekend saying he’ll see Hajduk in court over the accusation.

“All these cray reports bout the man and his glorious fashion label being accused of ripiforcation of the rubadub dub in Croatia  it bears the soul of a scooter rally mod badgeiforcation I’ll see you in court ya big girls blouses pffff.”

All these cray reports bout the man and his glorious fashion label being accused of ripiforcation of the rubadub dub in Croatia ?? it bears the soul of a scooter rally mod badgeiforcation I’ll see you in court ya big girls blouses pffff

— Liam Gallagher (@liamgallagher) February 28, 2019

Well, while there might be similarities to a mod badge, this Pretty Green badge is still far too close to that of Hajduk. 

Did Liam ask Hajduk for permission? Could Hajduk actually take Gallagher to court? Experts chimed into Slobodna Dalmacija on March 4, 2019, to tell us more. 

“From what I have seen, there are very reasonable suspicions that this is a plagiarism of Hajduk and Hajduk's legal team, according to what is seen in the media on this subject, has a strong point in the legal battle to prove the violation of copyright,” says designer Petar Jerković from Split, the owner of the company "Visualsport", which works with the design of sports jerseys, and whose works were often the target of plagiarism.

“I'm not a lawyer, but what I know as a designer, is that it's a matter of plagiarism if seventy percent of the work is the same, and in this case, it's more than that. The ratios, colors, shapes, even the border of the coats of arms are identical. It is hard to believe that the person who designed the coat of arms at Pretty Green didn’t at least see the Hajduk badge before,” says Jerković, adding that, of course, now everything is a matter of proving it in court, that is, if Hajduk's legal team decides to seek justice at all.

“As far as I know, there is English law, which is the protection of intellectually owned property, which is much more rigorously set than the European one, but in reality it is not easy to conduct such court processes because they last and cost,” says designer Jerković, who is currently leading a court dispute of the same nature, and has already experienced plagiarism several times from different parts of the world.

“Frankly, when someone does it outside of our borders, it's challenging to handle, because such court processes, I repeat, are costly. But in this case, if there is a dispute at all, it will be primarily a graphics expert who will give an opinion on the similarities and differences between the two badges. If it was about different colors, and if the checkers, I do not know, were yellow and black, then Pretty Green might have been the author of the coat of arms, but I think that there is simply too much of a similarity here for it to be a coincidence.

In addition, if the model is not the Hajduk coat of arms, but the emblems of the subculture group from England, then Liam Gallagher must prove it in the eventual trial,” says Jerković, who reminds that the fight for copyright protection is one of the most critical issues of today.

Designer Boris Ljubičić, who has been seriously involved in design and national identity throughout his career, agrees that this is most likely plagiarism. 

“Yes, they say that if it covers seventy percent, then it is plagiarism, and this is the question of up to ninety percent of the elements!’

Will Hajduk continue with legal action after all? I guess we will wait and see. 

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

March 4, 2019 - The Croatian First League’s 23rd round saw Hajduk, Rijeka and Gorica win, while Dinamo and Osijek pulled draws over the weekend. 

Slobodna Dalmacija reports on March 3, 2019, that professor Dražen Cvitanić, head of the Department of Roads at the Split Faculty of Civil Engineering, Architecture, and Geodesy, claims that Split is getting themselves into a proper traffic disaster if they move the current bus station to Kopilica.

The professor came to this end after following the traffic on Hercegovačka Street on February 28 and March 1 (Thursday and Friday) from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m., and historical traffic intensity data.

At the FGAG Roads Department, a traffic simulation was developed in the event the bus station and surrounding parking lots for personal and taxi vehicles, as well as tourist buses on Kopilica, were constructed. 

The simulation shows that in the afternoon peak period, it is practically impossible to enter Hercegovačka Street from the bus station and/or the parking lot because the intensity of traffic in the direction of Solin is greater than 1000 vehicles per hour, and in the direction of Split, more than 700 vehicles per hour, leaving no sufficient time gaps for safe engagement. The situation is similar in the morning only with reverse traffic distribution.

“Also, due to additional bus, taxi and passenger transport, there is a realistic situation that today, large columns of vehicles further propagate to upstream intersections on Stinice by blocking traffic to the exit from the central part of the city throughout the year,” said Cvitanić, and adds that at the same time, it is vitally important to relocate the bus station from the port to avoid crowds at Zvonimirova Street in the summer.

"It is very irresponsible to make an Ad-hoc decision without analyzing possible positive or negative consequences, especially since, for decades, there have been methods and models that serve to test specific ideas before implementation in practice, so that unpleasant surprises are avoided to the detriment of citizens and visitors to the city.

It should be emphasized that this is not only a 'good practice', but also an obligation for the GUP of the city of Split, which for the area of Kopilica prescribes the development of the Traffic Study and the Traffic and Technology Project, which has not been done,” professor Cvitanic concluded, and appeals to the city administration not to embark on routine decisions and implement projects without prescribed procedures, as this can lead to unimaginable consequences.

You can see the simulation below. 

To read more about Split, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

ZAGREB, March 2, 2019 - The Split branch of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) organised a walk on the city's waterfront promenade on Saturday, with participants carrying a banner "For an open and tolerant Split" and expressing their opposition to any form of violence in the city.

"This is a symbolic gesture to show that Split is an open and tolerant Croatian and Mediterranean city in which our citizens and guests feel good," said the head of the SDP town branch, Goran Kotur.

"This town is not like it is being portrayed because of the behaviour of some individuals or groups," he added.

"Attacks and graffiti are an attempt to cast a shadow over Split and I believe that today's march will remove that shadow," Kotur told reporters hinting at a recent attack on Serbian water polo players.

SDP invited citizens as well as Mayor Andro Krstulović Opara (HDZ), City Council President Igor Stanišić (HGS) and councillors from other parties, to join the march.

"This walk is a civilisational gesture and not political and that's why we didn't display any party signs because we wanted to attract people of different political views. I don't know why they didn't joint us," he said.

More news on Split can be found in the Lifestyle section.

March 2, 2019 - Chances are, if you’re in Split, you’re more than aware that Marjan, the ‘Green Lungs’ of the city, is under treatment.

Namely, Marjan was infested with the bark beetle, a bug that attacked its pine forest, leaving many of its trees dead. Almost one-third of the trees inside the park will be cut and removed from the forest during the treatment. This includes trees that are already dead, and those that are still thriving but are under the threat of the bark beetle bug. 

The rehabilitation of Marjan began on February 26, 2019, which forced the closure of all traffic (pedestrian and motor) from the Institute to Bene. The regular bus line is also not operating. The works are being carried out by the company Matima Project - and ultimately, Marjan’s pines will be replaced with more sustainable species. 

“In the next few months, different sections of Marjan will be under siege of forest workers and transportation means, ranging from tractors to horses, only to bring Marjan its best possible look and health. At some point, those sections will be either closed or with limited access, because it will be almost like a construction site. Please be patient, follow directions and don't put yourself and others in any kind of danger. That way you won't only stay safe, but also give important contribution in the preservation of the hill which has the status of a symbol of Split,” wrote the Split Tourist Board. 

Some 20,000 trees will be removed from the Split park in total and the process, as expected, will take time. Today, we have a look into Marjan during its first week of rehabilitation. 

To read more about Split, follow TCN's travel page. 

March 2, 2019 - From Saturday to Tuesday, a variety of programs will be held in honor of Split Carnival, like the Children’s Carnival, Paškare (Dog Carnival), Fashion Show, Erasmus student Carnival, and concerts by Cubismo, DJ Daddy Cool, Adastra, and TBF!

March 1, 2019 - As the March 29 deadline looms for the UK's timetabled exit from the EU, the British Embassy is scheduling meetings with concerned expats to discuss Brexit.

And so begins the craziest month. 

Will the UK still be in the EU at the end of the month? And if not, will it leave with a deal or no deal?

The Brexit uncertainty continues, and while the Brexit story may be boring to many, the uncertainty has brought genuine concerns to Brits both in the UK and perhaps more especially those who are expats. 

Until a final decision has been made on the UK's status, nothing is 100% certain. The British Embassy has been putting a variety of information out there, as well as answering some expat questions - see Ambassador Dalgleish in the video below.

British Embassy Zagreb will continue to inform and update UK Nationals living in Croatia on changes. While the government continues to negotiate EU Exit, you should:

* make sure you’re correctly registered as resident in Croatia

* visit our Living in Croatia guide for practical information, such as how to register as a resident. You can receive email alerts whenever the guide is updated by signing up to the Living in Croatia page.

* follow us on social media: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram #UKNationalsinEU #UKNationalsinCroatia #UkinCroatia

The embassy will be coming to Split on March 14 to meet with UK nationals to discuss Brexit issues, as posted on the official embassy Facebook page:

**Meeting UK Nationals in Split****Meeting UK Nationals in Split**

We are inviting British Nationals living in Split for a discussion on Brexit and Citizens Rights:

? 14 March 2019

➡️ City Hall, Narodni trg

⏰16:30 - 18:00

Please register via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and make sure you have your UK passport with you!

#UKNationalsinEU #UKNationalsinCroatia 

Lauren has been doing a great job with the Brexit story -  you can follow the dedicated TCN Brexit page.