Four Opposition Parties Form SDP-Led Anti-Corruption Alliance
ZAGREB, November 4, 2019 - The opposition SDP, HSS, HSU and SNAGA parties on Monday signed an anti-corruption declaration whereby they express the political will and determination to fight corruption, which they consider a danger to Croatia's survival and security and the prosperity of its citizens.
SDP (Social Democratic Party) president Davor Bernardić said a research showed alarming data that only 4% of citizens would report corruption and that corruption in the public sector was perceived as widespread.
Corruption is a sign and a consequence of bad government, as proved by the fact that this summer half the government had to go and the fact that the government remains in power thanks to political corruption, i.e. the buying of MPs, he said.
The priority of these four parties' joint action is to strengthen and protect independent oversight institutions, notably the Conflict of Interest Commission, Bernardić said.
The parties would introduce stricter and independent oversight of public procurement, the spending of public money and declarations of assets, civic education already in elementary school, respect for and guarantee of freedom of the press, and the strengthening of investigative journalism, non-profit media and civil society organisations.
HSS (Croatian Peasant Party) president Krešo Beljak said every country had corruption but that only in Croatia did corruption have a state and a homeland.
"The father of that corruption was called Franjo Tuđman (the first Croatian president). The godfather of that corruption is called Vladimir Šeks, the author of the first constitution. The children of that corruption are called Ivo Sanader and Andrej Plenković, and what is going on today is the culmination of a 30-year devastation of Croatia," he said, referring to the former and current officials of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ).
HSU (Croatian Pensioners Party) leader Silvano Hrelja said Croatia's problem was not current corruption but the culture of corruption.
SNAGA Main Committee chair Goran Aleksić said corruption, clientelism and nepotism were a cancer of this society and that he was "coming out to clearly say that I'm the right opposition and that there is no more cooperation with the (ruling) HDZ."
More SDP news can be found in the Politics section.
Support to Neighbouring Countries' European Future Guarantee of Croatia's Security
ZAGREB, November 4, 2019 - Southeast Europe is one of the priorities of Croatia's presidency of the EU in the first half of 2020 because Southeast European countries deserve a European future and Croatia must lend a hand, Foreign and European Affairs Minister Gordan Grlić Radman said on Monday, noting that support to Southeast Europe also guaranteed Croatia's security.
"As of January 1, Croatia is neutral in terms of the presidency itself, meaning that it is responsible for all member countries and must listen to what they say and pursue a policy of consensus. And Southeast Europe indeed is one of the priorities," said Grlić Radman.
Grlić Radman and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković on Monday held a working meeting in Zagreb with ambassadors and permanent representatives of Croatia as part of activities in EU member countries during Croatia's presidency of the Council of the EU.
"That is our immediate neighbourhood. All those countries deserve a European future and we must help our neighbours. Support to that part of Europe also guarantees our own security," the minister said in a comment on presidential candidate Miroslav Škoro's statement that it was not good to put emphasis on the Western Balkans during Croatia's EU presidency.
Škoro said that the EU presidency should be used to derive benefit for Croatia rather than to focus on the Western Balkans.
PM Plenković recalled that the coming Zagreb summit meeting of EU member states and Southeast European countries, or technically speaking Western Balkan countries, had been planned carefully and for a long time but that that could not be easily recognised by someone who had served as a diplomat only in Pecs (a reference to Škoro's serving as Croatia's consul-general in Pecs in the 1990s).
"We also view the summit in the context of what Croatia can do for Croats as an equal and constituent ethnic group in Bosnia and Herzegovina and for Croats in Serbia. One should first expand one's horizons and then make statements, but there will be time for that," Plenković said.
Among Croatia's priorities is a Europe that connects - in terms of transport, infrastructure and digitally, keeping pace with the fourth industrial revolution, said the PM.
Grlić Radman explained that those dealing with the EU and processes in it should know that when a member country was taking over EU presidency, it could not focus on its own interests but was responsible for all member-countries.
More news about Croatia and the European Union can be found in the Politics section.
Croatian Parliament Speaker Meets His Chinese Counterpart
ZAGREB, November 4, 2019 - Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković, who started his visit to China on Sunday, met with the chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, Li Zhanshu, in Beijing on Monday, the Croatian parliament said in a statement.
Jandroković and Li confirmed that the two countries relations were traditionally friendly and based on partnership.
It was said that the visit of the Croatian parliament speaker built on the political dialogue of the highest level, confirmed by Chinese Premier Li Kequiang's visit to Croatia earlier this year.
The two officials expressed satisfaction with their countries' very good and developed cooperation in a number of areas, from trade and science to culture and sports.
They also expressed satisfaction with the regular exchange of official visits by parliamentary delegations, with Jandroković inviting Li to pay an official visit to Croatia.
The Croatian official underlined the importance of Croatia's participation in the Belt and Road Initiative and the 17+1 project, noting that a successful summit meeting was held as part of the initiative and the project in Dubrovnik in April.
Jandroković said that one of the key events in the strengthening of Croatia-China relations and trust was the construction of the Pelješac bridge by China Road and Bridge Corporation.
He said the project was very important for Croatia considering that the bridge would connect Croatian territory, thus connecting EU territory.
Li, who visited Croatia in 2012, said that even though far away from each other, the two countries had close relations and that China considered Croatia one of the most important partners in the EU and Southeast and Central Europe.
The two officials also expressed satisfaction with a steady rise in the number of Chinese tourists visiting Croatia, expressing confidence that tourist cooperation would be additionally intensified, with the Croatian National Tourist Board (HTZ) and Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK) offices in Shanghai playing an important role in that.
Speaking of Croatia's participation in the second China International Import Expo in Shanghai, Jandroković said he was happy that this year the HGK had its own exhibition area at the event and that a Croatian-Chinese business forum would be held, with Croatian companies presenting their products, services, technologies and ideas.
Jandroković said that both sides were very satisfied with the high level of overall bilateral relations.
More news about relations between Croatia and China can be found in the Politics section.
UFC Heavyweight Champion Stipe Miocic Meets Fans and Croatian-Americans in New York
November 4, 2019 - The promotion of the UFC 241 heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic was held at the Croatian-Italian Play Sports Bar in New York on Saturday, November 2, 2019.
Stipe Miocic was born in Independence, Ohio, on August 19, 1982. Stipe is an American of Croatian descent, from Rtina, where his father lives. He works as a firefighter and emergency medical technician. He competes in the UFC heavyweight category as a mixed martial arts fighter. Defending the title in August this year in Anaheim, California, he became the greatest UFC heavyweight in MMA history.
Among numerous fans from the sports world, the promotion was attended by many Croatian fans and members of the Croatian World Congress. American Croats from the HSK USA thanked Miocic for promoting Croatia. HSK NY member Ane Strazicic Rodriguez invited him on behalf of HSK USA and Team USA to the Croatian World Games Zagreb 2020 to support the Team USA and be their special guest. As a representative of the island of Mljet, she also gave him several tickets on behalf of the National Park Mljet and invited him to visit the NP Mljet and Dubrovnik region with his family.
Thanking for the invitations, Miocic said that he is proud of his Croatian roots and hardly wait to revisit Croatia.
To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.
Number of Tables and Chairs in Dubrovnik Old Town to be Reduced by 10%
November 4, 2019 - The historic core of Dubrovnik will see fewer tables and chairs next year.
HRTurizam reports that a public consultation is underway in the City of Dubrovnik regarding the Draft Decision on Amending the Decision on the Lease of Public Areas for 2020.
What is most significant is the proposal to reduce the public space available by 10% for tables and chairs at all catering facilities who use 25.00 m2 or more. Also, the lease time of the public space has increased from 3 to 5 years, which will certainly bring some security to the caterers.
The moratorium on setting up new tables and chairs continues for both existing and new catering establishments, which would open in the coming period.
Furthermore, in order to extend the tourist season, the City of Dubrovnik has proposed a measure that should stimulate owners of restaurants in the Old Town to work in the winter months.
In Article 6, a new paragraph on the rent exemption for caterers in the historic core is added if the caterers operate in the winter months.
The measure refers to a rent exemption for public caterers predominantly serving meals (restaurants, taverns, pizzerias) in the historic core, if they carry on their business from December 1, 2019, to February 29, 2020. The consultation is open until November 22, 2019.
Recall, this winter, Dubrovnik will be connected to seven world capitals (Frankfurt, London, Istanbul, Warsaw, Rome, Barcelona, and Athens), and with the Croatian capital - Zagreb.
HRTurizam reported back in September that year-round direct flights between Frankfurt and Dubrovnik, co-organized by the Dubrovnik National Tourist Board, the Croatian national carrier Croatia Airlines and the Croatian National Tourist Board, was presented in Frankfurt to fifty German travel agents and travel journalists.
At the Croatian restaurant Damiro Westsite in downtown Frankfurt, director of the Representative Office of the Croatian National Tourist Board in Frankfurt, Romeo Draghicchio, emphasized that the promotion of Dubrovnik in the winter months fits into the strategic plans of Croatian tourism, which seeks to extend the season. Dubrovnik has made the most progress in this regard, and this direct connection in the winter is ideal for attracting additional guests from Frankfurt and its surroundings in the winter.
“The Frankfurt-Dubrovnik direct winter flight will operate for the third year within the strategic projects of the Croatian National Tourist Board, the Dubrovnik Tourist Board and Croatia Airlines. At the initiative of the Tourist Board and Croatia Airlines, all open hotels participate in the winter programs," said the director of the Tourist Board, Romana Vlasic.
The Dubrovnik Tourist Board also designed and printed leaflets on all events during the winter in Croatian, English, and German, which will be available to all visitors at the Tourist Information Offices.
To read more about lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page.
Kaufland First Retailer in Croatia to Ban Plastic Bags
November 4, 2019 - Kaufland will be the first retailer in Croatia to stop the sale of lightweight plastic bags. The new rule will take effect from January 1, 2020.
Aiming to reduce plastic in the environment, Kaufland Croatia has decided to completely ban the sale of lightweight plastic bags in all of its stores in Croatia, reports N1 on Monday.
According to the Ordinance on Amendments to the Regulations on Packaging and Packaging Waste, lightweight plastic bags are plastic carrier bags with a thickness of fewer than 50 microns. At Kaufland, these bags can currently be purchased at the checkout register for 80 lipa and 1 kuna. However, as of January 1, 2020, these plastic bags will no longer be available to Kaufland customers, who will instead be able to choose from several other types such as paper or canvas bags, the retailer said on Monday.
"We are proud to be the first retail chain in Croatia that decided to do something for a cleaner and healthier environment and ban the sale of plastic bags,” said Patrick Rudat, CEO of Kaufland in Croatia.
In addition to banning plastic bags, as of January 1, Kaufland Croatia will also pull the sale of disposable plastic utensils and cutlery, as well as plastic sticks and straws, and replace them with alternative sustainable solutions.
Recall, with the new Sustainable Waste Management Act by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, which should be adopted in the second quarter of 2020, it will be impossible to place some disposable plastic products on the market, 24 Sata reported back in September.
The list includes cotton swabs, cutlery, plates, straws, beverage stirrers, balloon holders, food containers, styrofoam cups, and oxo-degradable plastic products that later decompose into invisible microplastics. The product list may also be expanded, depending on the results of the consumption reduction measures for items like plastic bags.
Specifically, on January 1, 2019, the implementation of measures to reduce the consumption of lightweight and very lightweight plastic bags began, and manufacturers and sellers are required to submit information to the Environmental and Energy Efficiency Fund about the quantity of bags placed on the market. In May 2020, we will also have results from the implementation of these measures, which also includes the mandatory payment for plastic bags and educating citizens. The EU's deadline for banning these products is July 3, 2021.
Vecernji List wrote back in 2017 that the estimated annual consumption of carrying bags in the Republic of Croatia is around 8000 tons. According to the European Commission recommendation that the EU Member States use bags that weigh an average 8.5 grams, it follows that the annual consumption of bags in Croatia is about 954,000,000 bags, or 212 bags per capita per year.
According to the Croatian Chamber of Commerce, which opposes such a ban, 8200 workers in 700 companies worked in the plastics and rubber industry last year. Production increased by 50% from 1990 to last year. Two years ago, we exported plastic worth $437 million. Furthermore, the Croatian Chamber of Economy published data that the analysis of the European association PlasticsEurope showed that if the plastic packaging for food was eliminated, the weight of the packaging would quadruple, the energy consumption would increase by 50 percent, there would be 60 percent more waste and twice the greenhouse gas emissions.
To read more about lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page.
Milanović Against Presidential Participation in Appointment of Judges
ZAGREB, November 4, 2019 - Zoran Milanović, a contender in the forthcoming presidential race who is supported by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and a few more Opposition parties, said on Wednesday that the president of the republic should not at all participate in the selection and appointment of Constitutional Court judges.
Milanović said that this would be a "gross conflict of interest."
Earlier in the day, the current president Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović said that she believed that the topic of enabling the head of state to have some role in the appointment of Constitutional Court judges should be discussed in a bid to make the appointment fairer.
"The president has nothing to do with that (Constitutional Court judges' appointment). It is a gross conflict of interest. The president (Grabar-Kitarović) has heard from someone else (about that) and she has probably found it opportune to repeat now that idea," Milanović told reporters while he was on a walkabout in the Dalmatian town of Trogir.
He said that he was absolutely against any expanding the presidential powers.
Milanović believes that those who need more powers ask for that only to compensate "deficiency in the character or lack of knowledge".
"Expanded powers means greater influence and more money. This is what the government has, and this should be so just as in all European democracies," said the SDP presidential candidate.
More news about presidential elections can be found in the Politics section.
Green List Calls for Stepping Up Control of Honey
ZAGREB, November 4, 2019 - The Green List on Sunday sent an open letter to Agriculture Minister Marija Vučković calling on authorities to step up control on honey on the domestic market, as this non-parliamentary party believes that there are some fraudulent activities considering the quality of this food to the detriment of consumers.
The Green List insists on the correct labelling so that consumers can know the origin of honey on the market.
It also insists on the immediate ban on glyphosate and other products for agricultural weed control which affect bees.
The list says that Croatia has ecological, climate and other comparative advantages for the honey production that can meet the domestic needs as well as demand from abroad.
Croatian bee-keepers are definitely ready for such production, with the support of the state authorities and consumers, reads the open letter.
The authorities should perform large-scale controls on a more frequent basis and consumers should be aware that they cannot buy authentic product at the price lower than 50 kuna per kilo.
The list supports the nation-wide action about Croatian primary school pupils being taught about the importance of honey in their food. As part of the campaign, each first grader is to get a jar of Croatian honey produced by local beekeepers.
The list says that although the imports in the first half of 2019 dropped by 57% on the year, the agriculture ministry is supposed to take some more actions to support local 10,000 beekeepers and honey consumers.
More food news can be found in the Lifestyle section.
Zagreb University Marks 350th Anniversary
ZAGREB, November 4, 2019 - The central event marking the 350th anniversary of Zagreb University was held in Zagreb on Sunday evening, with speakers at the ceremony, including representatives of the state authorities and the academic community, being unanimous in their description of Zagreb University as a central, autonomous national institution and a guardian of the Croatian national identity.
Among those attending the event were Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, who presented charters to Zagreb University Chancellor Damir Boras and faculties that have celebrated more than 100 years of work.
Grabar-Kitarović said that when visiting the world's most reputable universities she was proud to witness the successes of Croatian researchers who had graduated at Zagreb University.
She recalled that the Croatian society was faced with major demographic problems, with university enrolment quotas being much higher than the number of students wishing to enrol in specific faculties, young experts emigrating and results of high school leaving examinations being increasingly poor.
She called on universities to be a source of creative improvement of society and a linchpin of the development of the state in all of its functions.
Prime Minister Plenković said that the government appreciated education, which was why it had undertaken an education reform and created better financial conditions for the sector.
In the last three years, the budget for science and education was increased from 13.9 to 17.3 billion kuna. Of that amount, this year universities and polytechnics alone will receive 4.7 billion kuna, an increase of 660 million kuna or almost 17% compared to the situation of three years ago, said Plenković.
In 2020, the budget for science and education will increase by an additional 1.3 billion kuna to a total 18.6 billion kuna. This means that by the end of its term, this government will have increased funding for science and education by 34%. At the same time, contracts worth 2.5 billion kuna have been signed for EU funding, Plenković said, recalling that Croatia had become an associate member of CERN and the European Space Agency.
It is our goal to build a system that encourages excellence, innovation and creativity. Croatian universities need to prepare for joining the future European education system that should become a reality by 2025 so as to reduce the fragmentation of the European research area, Plenković said.
In that regard, priorities of Croatia's EU presidency in 2020 in the field of science and education will be to strengthen the competitiveness of the European economy and human potential, he said.
The role of Croatian universities in that process is to promote the excellence of studies, joint studies and diplomas with partnership universities, strengthen the attractiveness of studies for foreign students and researchers, and promote the exchange of new ideas and teaching staff mobility, he said.
Zagreb University Chancellor Damir Boras said that Zagreb University owed its prominent position to the basic characteristic of all universities - autonomy.
Autonomy has ensured, despite different historical circumstances - from support to restriction of the freedom of speech and the right to academic autonomy, which even the most authoritarian regimes did not dare restrict - the continuity of Zagreb University. That way the university has maintained its status of the best Croatian university and one of the best in the region, even though political support was not always adequate, Boras said.
Even though various forms of pressure unfortunately occur today as well, Zagreb University has always had the strength and social awareness to remain a beacon of freedom, competence, unity, tolerance and love of the homeland, said Boras.
Education and Science Minister Blaženka Divjak, who attended the event, was not given any particular mention, aside from being greeted by Prime Minister Plenković at the beginning of his address.
When her office was asked how the minister interpreted this, the office said that the minister "has no comment for the time being."
More news about Zagreb University can be found in the Lifestyle section.
HNL Round 14 Recap: Osijek Tops Rijeka in Final Minutes, Gorica Books Second Win Against Hajduk this Week
November 4, 2019 - The 14th round of the Croatian First League was held on November 2 and 3, 2019. This round saw a last-minute comeback for Osijek against Rijeka, while Hajduk lost to Gorica for the second time in one week.
Dinamo v. Inter Zapresic (1:0)
Dinamo and Inter opened the 14th round on Saturday, November 2, 2019, at Maksimir stadium in front of 2,404 spectators.
The first half was uneventful and went without goals, though it was Gvardiol to score at the start of the second half to make it 1:0 for Dinamo in the 48th minute. Inter was unable to equalize.
Dinamo is currently in 1st place with 31 points, while Inter is in 7th with 11.
Gorica v. Hajduk (2:1)
Gorica and Hajduk met for the second time last week on Saturday, November 2, 2019, in Velika Gorica in front of 3,753 fans.
Gorica was quick to take the lead with a goal by Lovric in the 11th minute, though Hajduk’s Jairo equalized before the half for 1:1 in the 28th minute.
Gorica retook the lead in the 86th minute for 2:1 with a goal by Suk, which was the final score of the game.
Gorica is currently in 5th place with 21 points, while Hajduk remains in 2nd with 27.
Slaven Belupo v. Istra (0:0)
Belupo and Istria met on Sunday, November 3, 2019, in Koprivnica in front of 3,134 spectators.
Neither team was able to score, and the game featured four yellow cards for Belupo and three for Istra.
Belupo is currently in 9th place with 11 points, while Istra is in 8th with 11.
Osijek v. Rijeka (3:2)
Osijek and Rijeka met on Sunday, November 4, 2019, at City Garden Stadium.
Colak and Zuparic put Rijeka up 0:2 at the half, which seemed as if it would depict the outcome of the game. However, Maric scored for Osijek in the 65th minute for 1:2, and two more late-game goals by Lyopa and Zaper (79’, 88’) gave Osijek an incredible turnaround and victory in the end.
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Osijek is currently in 3rd place with 23 points, while Rijeka is in 4th with 22.
Lokomotiva v. Varazdin
Lokomotiv and Varazdin closed out the 14th round on Monday, November 4, 2019.
Lokomotiva took the lead thanks to a Tolic penalty in the 18th minute for 1:0, though Varazdin’s Glavina equalized just before halftime for 1:1.
Tuci’s goal put Lokomotiva back in the lead for 2:1, which was the final score of the game.
Lokomotiva is currently in 5th place with 22 points, while Varazdin is in the last with 10.
You can see the full HNL table here.
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