ZAGREB, 25 March (2022) - The war in Ukraine will certainly lead to an economic slowdown in Croatia this year and push up inflation, largely due to increases in energy and cereal prices, Croatian National Bank (HNB) Governor Boris Vujčić said on Friday.

"The direct impact on our economy comes from the spillover of economic effects of the war in Ukraine. At this moment we do not have direct consequences of the war, but we can quite certainly expect that the war in Ukraine will slow our GDP growth this year and increase inflation, primarily because of increased prices of energy and cereals that are largely produced in Russia and Ukraine," Vujčić told a press conference.

He added that the scale of the impact would depend on developments in Ukraine, "which at this point are hard to predict."

Rush for euro

Asked to comment on "the rush for euro", after exchange offices have been reported by the media as saying that they sell all the euros they get, Vujčić said this was nothing of significance.

He said there had been an increased demand for euro since the second half of last year due to last year's much better tourist season and the nearing of the date of euro adoption by Croatia.

According to the central bank, there was a strong increase in foreign currency deposits with commercial banks in January, picking up from 2.2 to 6.6 per cent at an annual level.

"This trend shows a strong net inflow of foreign currency into the banking system," Vujčić said.

For more, check out our business section.

ZAGREB, 25 March  (2022) - The Croatian parliament on Friday adopted the amendments to the Value Added Tax (VAT) Act unanimously with 123 votes in an effort to buffer the price hikes.

Under the amended law, the standard VAT rate of 25% is lowered to 13% on children's food, edible oils and fats, butter and margarine, live animals, fresh meat and small goods, live and fresh fish, crabs, vegetables, fruit, eggs, seedlings and seeds, fertiliser and pesticides, animal fodder and tickets for concerts, sports and cultural events.

The reduced 13% VAT is also imposed on natural gas, heating from heating stations, firewood, pellets, briquettes and cuttings as well as menstrual products.

VAT on natural gas will additionally be temporarily reduced to 5% for the period from 1 April to 31 March 2023.

The Sabor also adopted the Law on Settlements which improves and harmonises the way boundaries between settlements are determined and how the names of settlements, streets, squares and house numbers are to be marked.

The national legislature adopted a Law on State Measurements and the Cadastre which abolishes the majority of real costs for the use of data from excerpts, printouts, transcripts and certificates.

A bill on the consolidation of farmland will receive a second reading. The bill aims at implementing the consolidation of land by 2026 and HRK 313 million has been earmarked for this purpose.

 For more, check out our politics section.

ZAGREB, 25 March (2022) - Croatia is among the poorer performers in the EU with regard to waste recycling, a conference on waste management heard in Zagreb on Friday, with its participants agreeing that educating citizens and investing in infrastructure was key to improving recycling and reducing the quantity of waste requires.

Speaking at the conference on the latest developments in the field of waste management technology, Aleksandra Čilić of the Environment Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund, said that three public tenders are underway at the moment: for clearing open dumpsites, removing abandoned cars on the islands, and for restricting the use of single-use plastics in national and nature parks in an effort to make them plastic-free zones.

Čilić noted that future budget funds are earmarked for investments in infrastructure but also to educate citizens.

The importance of the role of citizens was underscored by the director of the Tehnix company, Đuro Horvat, who believes that Croatia is on the right track with regard to environmental protection. "Citizens want to be our partners in that, they consider it to be their duty," he said.

Through its Green Deal and waste management policies the EU wants to strengthen the circular economy by recovering high-quality resources from waste. That requires improvement in waste management, stimulating innovations in the field of recycling and reducing the quantity of landfill waste.

According to Eurostat data from 2018, the average European produced about 5 tonnes of waste a year, of which 55% was recycled while an average 38% ended up in landfills, however, this varied from country to country.

Croatia has shown poorer statistics, with about 50% of the waste recycled and 40% ending up in landfills. Very little waste in Croatia is used to produce energy.

According to data from the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development for 2020, about 56% of municipal waste is sent to landfills, 34% is recycled and 9% is processed at mechanical biological treatment facilities while the remaining one percent undergoes some of pretreatment processes.

Representing the ministry, Mario Roboz said the EU's green policy has set ambitious aims whose cost is increasingly high, nevertheless Croatia's progress in the past ten years in this regard is quite significant.

"As far as waste disposal is concerned, waste has to go somewhere but landfills have to be the last place. The situation can be improved but that requires building a system and infrastructure," he added.

For more news about Croatia, click here.

March 25, 2022 - Does it look like your summer will involve staying in Zagreb, whether it’s due to work or a tight budget? Well, we've got you covered with our Zagreb summer guide covering a range of fun yet affordable activities, including a number of free festivals in the town. 

An option that is both cheap and relaxing is to visit one of the town’s major parks such as Jarun or Bundek. Both have spacious grassy areas in both sun and shade, perfect for outdoor picnics, in addition to long tracks for running, rollerblading, or biking, as well as a skate park. There’s also the pebbly beach and the nearby cafes at Jarun, which give an almost seaside feel. Just bring your snacks and drinks, your bike or skates, and some company, and you're all set. And at Bundek, you can catch the Pop Up Summer Garden from mid-August to September, featuring creative art and floral installations paired with live music performances, cocktails, and gourmet food. There’s also one in the Tuškanac forest, for those closer to there. 

If you're based in the town centre and are after something more local, look no further than the upper town area. The Strossmayer promenade has its free, annual Ljeto na Strossu (Summer on Stross) festival, starting in early June. It features a diverse range of outdoor events, from concerts to al-fresco bars, to market stalls and some more unusual happenings - check out the best mongrel-dog show. 

Just nearby, there’s Ljetno kino Gradec, the open summer cinema at the Gradec plateau, showing regular screenings of both new and classic movies, complete with a stunning setup of outdoor lights. Reservations must be made beforehand, and prices range from 20kn per seat to 80kn per table for 4 people, which is overall pretty affordable depending on how often and with how many people you plan to go. 

Also at Gradec, there is the Baš Naš Gourmet & Music festival. Usually, in mid-June, this free festival brings a great summer rooftop bar atmosphere, with its outdoor concerts and DJ sets at a stage located at the highest point in Zagreb, adorned with colourful umbrellas and lamps, chill zones, and a garden oasis. You’ll spend your time admiring this colourful, summery view as you enjoy top-quality cocktails and the best local gourmet food Zagreb has to offer.

And while you’re in the upper town, check out the Art Park located just under Strossmayer, next to the bottom station of the Zagreb Funicular. All year round it is considered an outdoor street art gallery and a popular “hangout” spot, with a great atmosphere and a view overlooking the Zagreb town centre. During the summer, it is as their social page describes, a “city park turned into a magic chill spot for art lovers”. In 2019, ground-breaking art collective Pimp my Pump teamed up with street art studio Lapo Lapo and brought the Art Park project to the larger Ribnjak park (located east of the Zagreb cathedral), resulting in an open space for workshops, movie screenings, outdoor concerts, ping pong tournaments, drawing sessions, yoga classes and more. Entry is free and the park is open every day, throughout both the summer season and the whole year. Moreover, it is a child- and dog-friendly space, so bring over the whole family, as there is something for everyone to enjoy.

For more, check out our lifestyle section.

March 25, 2022 - Zlatko Dalić has revealed the Croatia lineup against Slovenia tomorrow, which kicks off the friendly tournament in Doha. 

The Croatia national football team will play a friendly match against Slovenia in Doha on Saturday at 3 pm, which will be an excellent opportunity for coach Zlatko Dalić to try out the new system.

"I expect the players to show what we have been doing these two days, and we have had great training sessions these two days. I can tell you right away which 11 will start tomorrow. Livaković will be in goal; the back three will be Ćaleta Car, Gvardiol, Pongračić; Perišić, and Juranović will be on the wing, and the three in the midfield are Jakić, Modrić, and Kovačić. Kramarić and Budimir lead the attack.

The decision to play here is one hundred percent right; we are here to get acquainted with the conditions that await us at the World Cup. I need to emphasize that this is great that we have already qualified so we can play more relaxed."

Croatia has not yet secured a place in the second pot for the World Cup group draw:

"There is no relaxation, and we have to play to win, we have two good opponents, and we have to play at the highest level."

Joško Guardiola is one of Croatia's best new players. 

"It all depends on Joško; he has shown his potential, he has to work every day and prove himself again, that is the most important thing. Nevertheless, we got a great player for the national team."

Dalić spoke about their decision to come to Doha for these friendly matches:

"I worked hard to come here, to see the conditions; I wanted to feel this place as a team. We wanted to play against Qatar, but I understand their coach wants some easier opponents. I wish Qatar a lot of luck, they put in a lot of effort, and I have a lot of fond memories here."

Slovenian journalists were interested in how seriously Croatia was preparing for Slovenia:

"We come here with full respect for Slovenia and Bulgaria; Slovenia has a great coach in Kek, we will have a worthy opponent tomorrow. We were preparing for the game, they have already beaten us once, so we know how dangerous they are. I was one of those who invited Slovenia to this tournament."

Guardiol was also present at the press conference and commented on the new system:

"I am not unfamiliar with playing three in the back, as we have been practicing this with Leipzig for half a year. The problem with the national team is that we don't have much time to adjust, but the last two training sessions, we were maximally focused on this, and we will try to transfer that to the game."

Source: HRT

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

March 25, 2022 - The new Split International School campus will open between Klis and Dugopolje, fully equipped with a playground, exercise facilities, a community garden, picnic area, and outdoor discussion-style educational spaces set in a natural pine forest.

Split’s first international school opened its doors last September and welcomed over 50 students, representing more than 14 different nationalities and native languages. Digital nomads, expats, local Croats, and returnees from the Croatian diaspora have flocked to the Split International School (www.splitinternational.org) for its welcoming and culturally diverse community, as well as its globally recognized educational programs. Spurred by this exciting growth, and an anticipated enrollment of over 100 students next year, we have opened a new world-class campus to serve the incredible demand for international education in the Split-Dalmatia region. 

The new campus is located between Klis and Dugopolje and is less than 25 minutes drive from every neighborhood in Split, Solin, Kastela, Stobrec, and Podstrana. This central location allows families from the entire Split-Dalmatia region easy access to world-class educational facilities comparable to those found in global cities such as New York, San Francisco, London, and Singapore.

“The opening of an international school campus is an exciting and important step for the educational development of the Split-Dalmatia county,” shared Tomislav Đonlić, Head of the Department for Education, Culture, Technical Culture and Sports of the Split-Dalmatia County.

Antonio Kuzmanic, the Deputy Mayor of Split added that “International education is a key enabler of economic development and investment, and is essential to Split’s growth and the future prosperity of the Adriatic coast.”

Maud Truchi, an international businesswoman and investor, shared her thoughts on the importance of the new school campus and its regional impact. “The amazing possibilities of offering an international school in the Split-Dalmatia region will bring a tremendous opportunity to so many local and international families and will help the whole of Dalmatia to bring more families and businesses to our community. The new campus, surrounded by nature, is a wonderful environment for our children to grow, and the quality of the chosen teachers is truly remarkable, putting the school at the highest levels of international education.”

Built on 28.000 m2 of forest and grassland, the campus will be fully equipped with a playground, exercise facilities, a community garden, a picnic area, and outdoor discussion-style educational spaces set in a natural pine forest. Located across the street from our campus is over 500.000 m2 of protected Croatian National Forestry Service land, adding to the natural feel of the location.

The new school buildings have over 1500 m2 of high-quality indoor educational spaces, a library, cafeteria, fabrication lab, and multipurpose facilities comparable to top private schools globally, along with the potential to expand to over 3000 m2 of space to support future growth. Through our collaboration with the Center of Excellence of Split-Dalmatia County, our campus will be made available to local students participating in extracurricular activities and enrichment programs in the area of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) disciplines. Ivica Zelic, Director of the Center of Excellence of Split-Dalmatia County, shared his excitement for the new facilities. “Our collaboration with the Split International School in the area of educational robotics has already broadened Croatian students’ experience by exposing them to new technologies and learning methodologies. We are excited by the opening of this new international campus and to have its facilities available to students in the Split area.”

Transportation to the new campus will be supported by a new private school bus service similar to those in use in other major international cities. Service will be provided to neighborhoods throughout the city of Split, from Meje to Znjan, to allow students the convenience of direct transportation. The expected travel time of the bus service is 30 minutes from its starting to terminal points, with many neighborhoods enjoying transportation times of less than 15 minutes. Through this service, all of Split will be able to access world-class educational services and facilities. 

Our families are excited about the new campus location, the continued growth of our school, and its broader impact on the region. “Split has been waiting for a true international school for a long time,” shared Tatiana Paviluk, a Ukrainian mother, entrepreneur, and long-term Split resident. “My oldest son attended boarding school in London, but I’m very excited for my younger daughters as this new campus exposes children to nature in a way that isn’t possible in a city.”

Wayne T. Slappy, a financial advisor from Los Angeles who relocated to Split with the Digital Nomad Visa program, has fallen in love with Dalmatia. “We couldn’t be happier with our decision to come to Croatia. Split International School has been an integral part that helps us make Split our home, and I’m sure the new location will only add to the variety of options for our children.” 

Perica Bosančić, the mayor of the municipality of Dugopolje, shared a special welcome. “We are honored that Split International School has chosen us as its new home. We are fully convinced that we will have an enviable level of cooperation and that this is just the beginning of a very successful story. Welcome!”

For more, check out our lifestyle section.

ZAGREB, 25 March (2022) - The entire European Union has recognised Bosnia and Herzegovina's constitutional architecture, and the conclusions adopted by the European Council at Croatia's initiative should be an impetus to Croat and Bosniak leaders to reach a deal on electoral reform,  Prime Minister Andrej Plenković says.

On Friday, the European Council consisting of the heads of state or government of the 27 EU member-states, endorsed the Strategic Compass, a document on the European Union's defence vision in the coming years.

Concerning the topic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Strategic Compass reads that it is "of particular interest to support the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, based on the principles of equality and non-discrimination of all citizens and constituent peoples as enshrined in the Bosnia and Herzegovina constitution," according to the document made available recently.

Furthermore, at the insistence of PM Plenković, the European Council discussed the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday morning.

It adopted the conclusions in which the leaders in that country are urged to complete the electoral and constitutional reform.

The European Union reaffirms its commitment to the European perspective of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Western Balkans, read the conclusions.

Bosnia and Herzegovina's leaders are urged to show strong determination regarding the fast completion of the electoral and constitutional reform, which is described by the document as crucial for the stability and full functionality of the country.

They are also encouraged to support all other priorities from the European Commission's opinion on the plans to grant a candidate status to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In this regard, the European Union is ready to continue its high-level engagement, it was concluded.

Upon the adoption of the conclusions, Croatia's PM said that this was a constructive contribution of a friendly and benevolent country that has the 1000-kilometre-long border with Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Asked by the press why the HDZ BiH party did not vote for the proposalmade by Denis Bećirević of the opposition SDP party to adopt a declaration condemning Russia's military aggression against Ukraine in Bosnia and Herzegovina's House of Peoples, Plenković said that one of the opposition SDP MPs had launched that initiative on his own.

The HDZ BiH party has clearly supported the whole set of sanctions which the EU adopted against Russia, and there i no dilemma about that, he explained.

For more, check out our politics section.

ZAGREB, 25 March (2022) - Croatia has registered 1,815 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours and 10 patients have died as a consequence, the national COVID-19 crisis management team said on Friday. 

There are currently 11,186 active cases, including 628 hospitalised patients, 43 of whom are on ventilators. There are also 7,156 people who are self-isolating.

Croatia has registered a total of 1,091,511 cases of COVID-19 since its first registered case on 25 February 2020, and 15,495 people have died as a consequence while 1,064,830 have recovered from the contagion, including 2,067 in the last 24 hours.

To date, a total of 2,237,237 people have been fully vaccinated, which is 65.68% of the adult population.

Coronavirus: For all you need to know about coronavirus specific to Croatia, make sure to bookmark our dedicated section and select your preferred language if it isn't English