Croatian Citizens in Wuhan Offered Evacuation
ZAGREB, January 29, 2020 - Croatian citizens wanting to leave the Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicentre of the coronavirus epidemic, have been offered evacuation organised by partners from the European Union, the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs stated on Tuesday.
The Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in Beijing is in constant contact with local Chinese authorities and European partners, as well as with the four Croatian citizens who are in Wuhan, the ministry told HINA on Tuesday.
"Croatian citizens wanting to leave Wuhan have been offered evacuation in the organisation of EU partners, and we have stayed in contact on that matter," the ministry says.
They add from the ministry that the Croatian Embassy in Beijing continues to inform Croatian citizens in Wuhan on all measures and options for leaving the city and that the embassy will be at their disposal to ensure their return home goes well.
Given the increasing number of countries planning to evacuate their nationals from Wuhan, the ministry answered the question whether such a solution had been offered to Croatian nationals.
The embassy in Beijing is in contact with other Croatian citizens in the People's Republic of China and is available to them for any kind of consular assistance and support, the ministry adds.
The coronavirus outbreak started in Wuhan, a city of 11 million inhabitants in central China, and has spread throughout the province, which has become a sort of a quarantine.
None of the 106 deaths occurred outside of China, and all but six occurred in Wuhan, where the virus appeared last month.
Numerous countries started evacuating their nationals who will spend 14 days in quarantine upon returning home.
The total number of patients diagnosed with this infection in China has grown from 2,835 on Monday to 4,515 on Tuesday, the National Health Commission said.
The deadly novel coronavirus 2019-nCoV, which appeared in China, will infect at least tens of thousands of people and the outbreak will carry on for several months, experts estimated on Tuesday based on the first available data.
More health news can be found in the Lifestyle section.
Air Force Investigators in Contact with US Army
ZAGREB, January 29, 2020 - Croatian Air Force Commander General Michael Križanec said on Tuesday that the Air Force had contacted the US Army and the Bell company and was given instructions on how to preserve evidence from the Kiowa Warrior helicopter that crashed into the sea off Šibenik during a training exercise on Monday, killing two pilots on board.
Speaking at a news conference at the Zemunik air base, Križanec said that the instructions were about how to preserve certain evidence, how to handle it and where to send it.
He added that it was up to the investigating team and the chief Air Force investigator to decide when and where certain physical evidence would be sent to obtain good analyses and information.
The investigating team has found the flight recorder, which was at the bottom of the sea for more than 24 hours.
The head of the team investigating the accident and chief Air Force investigator, Colonel Mario Počinok, said that the team would use all resources of the homeland security system in its work.
"The US side has offered help and we are not ruling out that we will accept it," he said.
"The helicopter was flying very low, at a height of between zero and 100 metres. The accompanying helicopter was between 150 and 200 metres behind the helicopter that crashed. It will not be easy, but we think that we will manage to reconstruct the event," Počinok said, adding that there were no video recordings of the flight in the two helicopters.
The head of the Operations Command Centre, General Krešo Tuškan, said that three larger parts of the helicopter wreckage were retrieved yesterday and that the remaining fragments were expected to be retrieved on Wednesday.
More military news can be found in the Politics section.
Citizens Need to Be at Centre of Discussions on Future of Europe
ZAGREB, January 29, 2020 - Citizens of the European Union's member-states must be at the centre of discussions which will be taken during the Conference on the Future of Europe, the Croatian Foreign and European Affairs Ministry's State Secretary, Andreja Metelko Zgombić, said in Brussels on Tuesday.
This official of Croatia, which is the country-in-chair of the European Union in the first half of 2020, today chaired a meeting of the General Affairs Council that focused on exchanging the views on the proposed Conference on the Future of Europe due to start in 2020 and end in 2022.
At its meeting on 12 December 2019 the European Council asked the Croatian presidency to work towards defining a Council position on the content, scope, composition and functioning of the conference and to engage, on this basis, with the European Parliament and the Commission.
"Citizens need to be at the centre of the discussions on the future of Europe - how we can address the current and future challenges and what kind of a Europe we want. The Conference on the Future of Europe will provide a valuable opportunity to reflect on these issues," said Metelko Zgombić.
"It is important to listen to different opinions and views in a way which builds trust and ensures that the EU effectively meets citizens' expectations."
During today's discussion, ministers stressed the importance of putting citizens at the heart of the conference and focusing on issues that truly matter to them.
As underlined in the conclusions of the December European Council, priority should be given to implementing the Strategic Agenda for 2019-2024 and delivering concrete results. Building on the success of the citizens’ dialogues which have taken place over the past two years, the process should involve a wide range of stakeholders and groups to ensure that different views and opinions are represented.
Ministers also expressed their views on the detailed organisation of the conference. Many speakers underlined the need to ensure a balanced representation of the three EU institutions and to fully involve national parliaments. Several ministers also expressed their preference for a lean and simple governance of the conference process.
The presidency concluded that discussions would continue after the Council meeting with a view to defining the Council position on the conference and engaging with the other EU institutions, according to the report issued on the official website of the Croatian presidency.
European Commission Vice-President for Demography and Democracy Dubravka Šuica expressed hope on Tuesday that the three main institutions of the European Union would soon adopt a joint declaration defining details of the Conference on the Future of Europe.
The conference is due to start on 9 May, Europe Day, and Šuica hopes that the venue for the start of this event will be Dubrovnik.
More news about Croatia and the EU can be found in the Politics section.
Outlook Origins Announces First Wave of Names for 2020 Edition
January 29, 2020 - Excitement continues to build for the Outlook Origins festival as the cult bass festival returns to its roots in the stunning Garden Resort in Tisno from July 30th to August 3rd, 2020.
It can now be revealed that joining the 13 tastemaking curators will be the heavyweight likes of Shy FX, dBridge, Fabio & Grooverider, Randall, Wookie, Youngsta, Hatcha, Breakage, Doc Scott, DRS, J.Sparrow, P. Money, 6 Figure Gang (aka Dobby, FAUZIA, Jossy Mitsu, L U C Y, Sherelle, Yazzus), Children of Zeus, Coops, Darwin, Horsepower Productions, Jah Shaka, N-Type and many more to come.
Outlook has built a world-renowned reputation for focussing on the best in drum & bass, dubstep, grime, garage, reggae and beyond on its scene-leading sound systems. Returning to their roots in 2020 with a new and exciting format, the mission this year is to showcase the very best in the game, old and new, as curated by 13 bass heroes who are experts in their field and include Calibre, D Double E, DJ Storm, Flava D, Fliptrix, Goldie, Iration Steppas, Lenzman, Mala, Mungo's Hifi, The Bug and Zed Bias - with new addition Hybrid Minds, added to the list with this announcement.
Celebrating the foundations of Outlook Festival, this year’s edition is set at The Garden Resort for the main festival, open-air club Barbarella's for after-parties, and the iconic St Michaels Fortress for an all-new opening concert. As such, the new-look festival promises to be an imitate, a personal gathering of friends and family who all have a shared love of bass and are long time devoted dancers.
The first wave of names is irresistible, with all the most vital names included from the worlds of drum & bass such as Shy FX, dBridge, Breakage, Randall, Doc Scott, DRS and Fabio & Grooverider, amongst others. Red hot grime, dubstep, and bass talents are also well represented with El-B, Horsepower Productions, Hatcha, Youngsta, Wookie, Darwin, P. Money, J.Sparrow and 6 Figure Gang (aka cult collective Dobby, FAUZIA, Jossy Mitsu, L U C Y, Sherelle and Yazzus) as well as plenty more, with hip hop heads like Children of Zeus and Coops also lining up.
As well as further details of the beach parties, boat parties, after-parties, and opening concert, the all-important stage splits will soon be revealed as the countdown to this much-anticipated chapter in the history of Outlook gets ever closer.
LINE UP
207
6 Figure Gang (Dobby, FAUZIA, Jossy Mitsu, L U C Y, Sherelle, Yazzus)
Ant TC1
Black Barrel
Black Josh
Blazin
Breakage
Breakfake
Buer
Channel One
Children of Zeus
Coops
Darwin
dBridge
Digital
Digitron
Distinct Motive
Dj Flight
DLR
Doc Scott
Dred
DRS
Dub Head
DubDiggerz
Dubkasm
Dubolik & Lo Peaks
Egoless
El-B
Fabio & Grooverider
Fiend
Finwa
Flowdan
Hatcha
Highlander
Horsepower Productions
Ila Brugal
J:Kenzo
J. Sparrow
Jah Shaka
John B
Jubilee
Kahn
Kid Drama
Kryo
Loefah
Mantra
MC GQ
MC Tempza
Mind of A Dragon
Mr K
N-Type
O.B.F feat. Charlie P & Sr. Wilson
One87
P Money
Parly B
Perception
Pinch
Ramsez
Randall
Roots In Session
Sammy Virji
Satl
Scratchclart & Lady Lykez
Shepdog
Shosh (24HR Garage Girls)
Shy FX
Sicaria Sound
Siskiyou
Surreal
Wookie
Youngsta
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Outdoor Tourism Offer in Protected Areas of Istria Presented in Stuttgart
January 29, 2020 - Outdoor tourism in the protected areas of Istria was presented at the CMT - Die Urlaubsmesse trade fair in Stuttgart, with a special emphasis on cycling and nature walking, as part of the EU project KLIM Kontija-Lim Bay.
Glas Istre reports that among the many European projects implemented or currently being implemented by the County of Istria is the EU project LIKE - Living on the Karst Edge. Thus, as part of this great German fair, everything that the Ćićarija mountain plateau has to offer, including the development potential of cycling tourism under the brand of Ćićarija Regional Park, was presented in this segment.
“We have presented and exhibited promotional materials related to outdoor hiking and biking with an emphasis on eco-friendly tourism products and offers in nature protected areas. We also presented the second edition of the brochure on eco-friendly content in Istria called Istria ecoxperience - Everything Eco in Istria. The sea and the seabed of the Lim Bay on the west coast represent a special reserve in the sea, while its slopes and coast are protected natural values, which include the Kontija Special Forest vegetation reserve.
This year, the area is richer with cycling trails and educational walks that blend in without compromising the natural environment to allow visitors to move along the entire channel with the opportunity to engage in a range of recreational and educational programs. At the fair, we exhibited leaflets, brochures, monographs and posters, and enriched it with video materials. Everything is super accepted as people seek new experiences and move away from the hustle and bustle,” said Bruno Kostelic, Head of the Department for Nature and Environmental Protection in the County Department for Sustainable Development.
He also emphasized that cycling and cycling tourism are of primary interest for the development of selective forms of tourism in Istria, and that in the case of the Ćićarija Regional Park, this potential takes on a whole new light.
One of the key trends in the tourism sector is the growing concern for the environment, both by hoteliers and other tourism companies and guests, among whom there are more and more people who change the way they travel because they care about the environment and seek content that offers natural values and unspoiled nature.
“Istria County is a tourist destination, which has numerous natural values and landscapes that are not exclusively related to the sea, as well as offers and tourist facilities on the coast. In the Istrian peninsula, 35 natural areas are protected, and with the accession of Croatia to the European Union, we are additionally adorned with 66 Natura 2000 sites, which makes up 37 percent of the total area of protected natural values in our county. Natural values are our wealth and potential we protect, and we develop new tourism products with innovative concepts such as citizen science projects and other content and offerings within protected areas that in many ways involve science, locals and our guests, leaving us with a real sense of involvement and contribution to protecting nature,” Kostelic notes.
Istria County is a partner in the EU project KLIM Kontija-Lim Bay, Sustainable Management of Protected Areas, which is implemented under the Operational Program Competitiveness and Cohesion with an implementation period from August 2018 to December 2021, the leading partner of which is the Municipality of Vrsar. The project is being implemented to use the Kontija Forest and the entire Lim Bay sustainably, through the construction of a scientific and educational center of the Kontija protected forest, as well as providing numerous additional facilities following the nature protection conditions and developing a broader vision of the development of the Lim Valley area. In its spatial scope, it includes the project area, but it also extends to the areas of the currently unincorporated cities and municipalities of Pazin, Rovinj, Kanfanar, Sveti Lovreč, Sveti Petar u Šumi, Tinjan and Žminj.
At the same time, because of the exceptional natural values of the Lim Bay and the Kontija Forest, recognized through several different nature protection categories of the project area, the Natura Histrica Public Institution plans to develop management plans for these areas for their protection and sustainable development. The Kontija Forest thus becomes one of the key natural resources for the further development of tourism in the Municipality of Vrsar.
The KLIM project begins the systematic approach to the valorization of the wider area of the Lim Bay and the Lim Valley, which abounds in exceptional natural and cultural heritage. The broader framework and vision of the development are defined by documents that the County of Istria has produced before the implementation of the KLIM project, the Spatial Programming Basis (PPO) of the Lim Bay and Lim Draga, the programming concept of Lim Valley Park, the Lim Bay Recreation Park design concept.
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Croatian First Football League Returns this Weekend for Spring Season
January 29, 2020 - The Croatian First Football League returns this weekend. Inter Zaprešić and Istra will open the spring season in Zagreb on Friday.
The new season of the Croatian First Football League began on July 19, 2019. Dinamo currently leads the table to claim the Croatian champion title once again.
The current season is especially interesting because five clubs, or half the league, will fight in European competitions in the summer of 2020. The first and second-placed teams will qualify for the Champions League, while the third, fourth, and fifth-placed teams will compete in the Europa League qualifiers.
This season of the Croatian First Football League is played as in previous seasons, with a total of 36 rounds.
The first half-season ended on December 18 with back-to-back games between Dinamo and Rijeka, and the big news for the spring part of the season is that video technology (VAR) will be used.
1st round:
Osijek - Slaven Belupo 2:0
Dinamo - Lokomotiva 3:0
Rijeka - Varaždin 2:1
Gorica - Inter Zaprešić 1:1
Hajduk - Istra 1961 2:0
2nd round:
Inter Zaprešić - Istra 1961 0:2
Varaždin - Hajduk 0:3
Lokomotiva - Rijeka 0:1
Slaven Belupo - Dinamo 0:3
Gorica - Osijek 3:1
3rd round:
Dinamo - Gorica 3:1
Istra 1961 - Varaždin 3:1
Rijeka - Slaven Belupo 3:1
Hajduk - Lokomotiva 3:0
Osijek - Inter Zaprešić 3:1
4th round:
Inter Zaprešić - Varaždin 2:2
Lokomotiva - Istra 1961 4:1
Slaven Belupo - Hajduk 2:1
Gorica - Rijeka 2:0
Osijek - Dinamo 0:0
5th round:
Inter Zaprešić - Dinamo 1:2
Rijeka - Osijek 1:1
Hajduk - Gorica 3:0
Istra 1961 - Slaven Belupo 2:3
Varaždin - Lokomotiva 1:1
6th round:
Inter Zaprešić - Lokomotiva 1:2
Slaven Belupo - Varaždin 1:1
Gorica - Istra 1961 1:1
Osijek - Hajduk 1:0
Dinamo - Rijeka 3:0
7th round:
Rijeka – Inter Zaprešić 1:1
Hajduk – Dinamo 1:0
Istra 1961 - Osijek 0:0
Varaždin – Gorica 1:3
Lokomotiva – Slaven Belupo 6:1
8th round:
Dinamo - Istra 1961 1:0
Inter Zaprešić - Slaven Belupo 3:1
Gorica - Lokomotiva 0:0
Osijek - Varaždin 2:2
Rijeka - Hajduk 1:1
9th round:
Lokomotiva - Osijek 2:1
Slaven Belupo - Gorica 2:0
Varaždin - Dinamo 1:0
Hajduk - Inter Zaprešić 3:1
Istra 1961 - Rijeka 0:3
10th round:
Inter Zaprešić - Gorica 0:2
Slaven Belupo - Osijek 0:4
Lokomotiva - Dinamo 0:4
Varaždin - Rijeka 0:2
Istra 1961 - Hajduk 1:1
11th round:
Istra 1961 - Inter Zaprešić 2:2
Hajduk - Varaždin 2:0
Rijeka - Lokomotiva 1:1
Dinamo - Slaven Belupo 1:0
Osijek - Gorica 2:1
12th round:
Inter Zaprešić - Osijek 3:3
Gorica - Dinamo 2:4
Slaven Belupo - Rijeka 1:2
Lokomotiva - Hajduk 0:0
Varaždin - Istra 1961 1:0
13th round:
Varaždin - Inter Zaprešić 0:1
Istra 1961 - Lokomotiva 0:2
Hajduk - Slaven Belupo 2:0
Rijeka - Gorica 1:2
Dinamo - Osijek 1:0
14th round:
Dinamo - Inter Zaprešić 1:0
Osijek - Rijeka 3:2
Gorica - Hajduk 2:1
Slaven Belupo - Istra 1961 0:0
Lokomotiva - Varaždin 2:1
15th round:
Lokomotiva - Inter Zaprešić 3:1
Varaždin - Slaven Belupo 0:0
Istra 1961 - Gorica 2:2
Hajduk - Osijek 3:2
Rijeka - Dinamo 0:5
16th round:
Inter Zaprešić - Rijeka 1:4
Dinamo - Hajduk 1:1
Osijek - Istra 1961 1:0
Gorica - Varaždin 1:0
Slaven Belupo - Lokomotiva 1:0
17th round:
Slaven Belupo - Inter Zaprešić 3:0
Lokomotiva - Gorica 4:0
Varaždin - Osijek 1:1
Istra 1961 - Dinamo 1:2
Hajduk - Rijeka 0:4
18th round:
Inter Zaprešić - Hajduk 1:1
Rijeka - Istra 1961 2:0
Dinamo - Varaždin 1:0
Osijek - Lokomotiva 4:0
Gorica - Slaven Belupo 2:0
19th round:
Gorica - Inter Zaprešić 1:1
Osijek - Slaven Belupo 3:2
Dinamo - Lokomotiva 1:0
Rijeka - Varaždin 3:1
Hajduk - Istra 1961 2:1
20th round:
Inter - Istra 1961 (Friday, 31 January at 18:00)
Varaždin - Hajduk (Sunday, 2 February at 15:00)
Lokomotiva - Rijeka (Saturday, 1 February at 15:00)
Slaven Belupo - Dinamo (Saturday, 1 February at 17:30)
Gorica - Osijek (Sunday, 2 February at 17:30)
21st round:
Osijek - Inter Zaprešić (Saturday, 8 February at 15:00)
Dinamo - Gorica (Sunday, 9 February at 17:30)
Rijeka - Slaven Belupo (Sunday, 9 February at 15:00)
Hajduk - Lokomotiva (Saturday, 8 February at 17:30)
Istra 1961 - Varaždin (Friday, 7 February at 18:00)
22nd round:
Inter Zaprešić - Varaždin (Saturday, 15 February at 15:00)
Lokomotiva - Istra 1961 (Friday, 14 February at 18:00)
Slaven Belupo - Hajduk (Saturday, 15 February at 17:30)
Gorica - Rijeka (Sunday, 16 February at 17:30)
Osijek - Dinamo (Sunday, 16 February at 15:00)
23rd round:
Dinamo - Inter Zaprešić (Sunday, 23 February at 15:00)
Rijeka - Osijek (Saturday, 22 February at 17:30)
Hajduk - Gorica (Saturday 22 February at 15:00)
Istra 1961 - Slaven Belupo (Sunday, 23 February at 17:30)
Varaždin - Lokomotiva (Friday, 21. February at 18:00)
24th round (28 February – 1 March):
Inter Zaprešić - Lokomotiva
Slaven Belupo - Varaždin
Gorica - Istra 1961
Osijek - Hajduk
Dinamo - Rijeka
25th round (3 – 5 March):
Rijeka - Inter Zaprešić
Hajduk - Dinamo
Istra 1961 - Osijek
Varaždin - Gorica
Lokomotiva - Slaven Belupo
26th round (7 – 9 March):
Inter Zaprešić - Slaven Belupo
Gorica - Lokomotiva
Osijek - Varaždin
Dinamo - Istra 1961
Rijeka - Hajduk
27th round (13 – 15 March):
Hajduk - Inter Zaprešić
Istra 1961 - Rijeka
Varaždin - Dinamo
Lokomotiva - Osijek
Slaven Belupo - Gorica
28th round (20 – 22 March):
Inter Zaprešić - Gorica
Slaven Belupo - Osijek
Dinamo - Lokomotiva
Varaždin - Rijeka
Istra 1961 - Hajduk
29th round (3 – 5 April):
Istra 1961 - Inter Zaprešić
Hajduk - Varaždin
Rijeka - Lokomotiva
Dinamo - Slaven Belupo
Osijek - Gorica
30th round (9 – 11 April):
Inter Zaprešić - Osijek
Gorica - Dinamo
Slaven Belupo - Rijeka
Lokomotiva - Hajduk
Varaždin - Istra 1961
31st round (17 – 19 April):
Varaždin - Inter Zaprešić
Istra 1961 - Lokomotiva
Hajduk - Slaven Belupo
Rijeka - Gorica
Dinamo - Osijek
32nd round (21 – 23 April):
Inter Zaprešić - Dinamo
Osijek - Rijeka
Gorica - Hajduk
Slaven Belupo - Istra 1961
Lokomotiva - Varaždin
33r round (25 – 27 May):
Lokomotiva - Inter Zaprešić
Varaždin - Slaven Belupo
Istra 1961 - Gorica
Hajduk - Osijek
Rijeka - Dinamo
34th round (1 – 3 May):
Inter Zaprešić - Rijeka
Dinamo - Hajduk
Osijek - Istra 1961
Gorica - Varaždin
Slaven Belupo
35th round (8 – 10 May):
Slaven Belupo - Inter Zaprešić
Lokomotiva - Gorica
Varaždin - Osijek
Istra 1961 - Dinamo
Hajduk - Rijeka
36th round (15 – 17 May):
Inter Zaprešić - Hajduk
Rijeka - Istra 1961
Dinamo - Varaždin
Osijek - Lokomotiva
Gorica - Slaven Belupo
Source: Gol.hr
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Economic Analyst Reveals How Croatian Tourism Can Level Up
As Ana Blaskovic/Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 28th of January, 2020, by launching a strong investment cycle, Croatian tourism can catch up with leading European countries like France, Italy and Spain in terms of productivity, which also means that Croatian tourism can only be sustained by increasing quality, and investing in what creates high added value for the entire economy, especially when it comes to hotels.
This objective should also be put into the Croatian tourism strategy for the upcoming period, which is expected during the year. The prerequisite for activating this potential is to secure a business environment that will attract investors, so in order to jump up the scale in terms of productivity, taxes and barriers to investment should be dramatically reduced.
The conclusion of this analysis is entitled "The contribution of different types of tourism accommodation to value added and economic development" by the independent Croatian economic analyst Velimir Sonje of Archivalytics.
It was presented at the recent ''tourism briefing'' organised by the Croatian Tourism Association (HUT), the first in a series of new format that will present analysis and expert papers in the field of tourism by leading domestic economists, such as Sonje. The aim is to stimulate greater interest from key stakeholders in Croatian tourism, which generates approximately 20 percent of Croatia's GDP, and thus a encourage a better public debate on the role and potential of tourism in the development of the Republic of Croatia as a whole.
As Sonje's analysis has shown, hotel accommodation, which accounts for only 15.7 percent of the country's total accommodation offer, currently generates about 3.7 times the value added per bed compared to accommodation in short-term rental properties, which currently make up 60 percent of Croatia's total offer. According to Sonje, this is a sub-optimal structure that doesn't allow for the maximum economic impact of Croatian tourism and threatens the sustainability of tourism in general.
HUT director Veljko Ostojic also believes that Croatian tourism, at least with its current offer, has a structure that is vulnerable and unsustainable, ie investments in new high-quality hotels are needed. He detailed that in a proposal.
"According to the proposal, subsidies for large enterprises for the reconstruction and construction of four-star hotels should be abolished. We will prove that such a proposal is illogical and, if nothing else, that we need to return to our current state," Ostojic said.
"The comparison of the structure of the tourist offer across the Mediterranean showcases the outdated structure of the offer in Croatia. This is the main reason for the relatively low added value that is created in Croatian tourism. An estimate of value added by type of tourist accommodation shows that hotels and similar accommodation types with an approximate 16 percent share in the number of tourist beds, and a 28 percent share in tourist overnight stays generate approximately 40 percent of added value,'' said Sonje.
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EU Green Deal - An Opportunity Croatia Needs to Grab With Both Hands
When the European Commission presented the EU Green Deal on January the 14th this year, doubts immediately arose as to whether such large financial resources could be mobilised to achieve the world's first climate-neutral bloc.
As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 28th of January, 2020, in order for this to happen, Croatia will need to secure not only substantial investment from the EU, but also from national public sectors and the private sector. From that day onwards, all EU programmes as well as operational programmes adopted at a member state level need to be aligned precisely with the objectives of the EU Green Deal.
The key to success will be mobilising public investment and attracting private funds through financial instruments, and strengthening public-private partnerships so as to bring in the total investment of at least one billion euros needed over the next decade to achieve the clearly set goals.
Did Croatia truly recognise the challenges but also the opportunities of this plan, and just how much are Croatia's political structures willing to ask and engage the profession? Julije Domac, President of the European Association of Regions and Energy Agencies (FEDARENE), spoke at the EU Green New Deal conference.
''Energy transition and the climate are of particular interest to young people, who traditionally find it difficult to get interested in political topics. It is very worrying to me that at this moment in time, no political option in Croatia has properly included these topics in its programme. I personally hope that the new President Zoran Milanovic and Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic will recognise the importance of a topic that rises above all political interests and, in the true sense, a topic of the highest national interest - to achieve full joint cooperation on it. Now is a great time to finally catch the wave the EU is riding, it's now or never,'' he stated.
Not ignoring the weight of the moment, Dr. Domac added that becoming the first climate-neutral bloc in the world by 2050 is the greatest challenge and opportunity of our time, but he also offered concrete ways on how this might happen. The EU Green Deal is an opportunity the Republic of Croatia should use to open up a multi-million euro investment cycle and tailor its own positioning and branding within the EU. The energy transition in the context of the EU Green Deal provides an opportunity for the Republic of Croatia to position itself as one of the EU's leaders, which it has never before succeeded in, and to be branded as 100 percent climate neutral as soon as possible. With the energy transition, we can also work on sustainable tourism and the opening of large investments in the so-called smart sectors of the Croatian economy.
Financing and financial instruments should play an important role in the so-called HR Green Deal Package. It is necessary to open lines of financing for entrepreneurs and the domestic economy through the so-called national funds of the EPEEF (from the sale of emission units), since these funds are paid by the economy; An investment platform should also be launched that will combine EU funds with private equity to a much greater extent, and establish a public sector guarantee line that will ensure participation in EU funding.
In all, it will be necessary to create an appropriate institutional network and framework for the implementation of the activities of the HR Green Deal, to properly involve existing institutions such as EPEEF and HBOR, but also to set up a national energy and climate agency that can be easily structured through the appropriate restructuring of the Hrvoje Pozar Energy Institute. Such an agency should also connect all existing energy agencies that have very valuable results, but also encourage the opening of new ones across Slavonia and Dalmatia. Only with an efficient and well-established structure staffed solely by experts, and with a new approach to financing, can Croatia actually manage to stimulate large investments. Without it, all that can happen to Croatia is just another missed opportunity to add to the already rather embarrassingly long list.
The EU Green Deal also includes the islands that are gaining in importance at the EU level. This is thanks to the result of the work of the existing Secretariat for the Islands, but also of the great work done by Croatian MEP Tonino Picula and his dedicated team.
''At the level of Brussels, there has been a lot of lobbying lately to create a permanent body that will take care of of the EU's islands. This is yet another great opportunity Croatia should grab with both hands, especially during the EU Council Presidency, as there are no EU agencies in Croatia so far. Setting up a new EU island agency, in a country which boasts more than 1000 islands, would be more than a logical step,'' Dr. Domac concluded.
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BBC to Feature European Capital of Culture Rijeka and Kvarner
As Morski writes on the 28th of January, 2020, the widely popular BBC Getaways programme, dedicated to 2020's most attractive tourist destinations from around the world, was filmed right here in Croatia. The episode which explores the area of Rijeka and Kvarner will be aired ahead of the official opening programme of Rijeka - European Capital of Culture 2020.
British TV presenters Jennifer Reoch and Joe Lindsay will introduce viewers to Rijeka and Kvarner, and the historical significance of Opatija, fondly known as the "old lady of Croatian tourism" and highlight the benefits of health tourism in this particular part of Croatia.
Villa Angiolina will be shown, as will what was once the very first hotel on the Croatian coast, Hotel Kvarner, and a BBC crew will also sail along the Lungomare Promenade.
As it uncovers Rijeka and Kvarner, the BBC programme will showcase some of the main sights of the City of Rijeka, as well as locations included in the European Capital of Culture programme, from the Croatian National Theatre in Rijeka to the Maritime and History Museum of the Croatian Littoral, to the Peek&Poke Museum to Trsat and the famous Trsat castle.
The content of the show will then be further enriched by a visit to the beautiful island of Krk, where the hosts will taste Valomet sparkling wine and present the entire Rijeka and Kvarner region as a year-round destination with a rich and innovative offer to boast.
When presenting the show, presenter Joe Lindsay especially emphasises Rijeka as a city break destination with some high potential and different things to do which are ideal for the British broadcast market.
''I'm delighted with Rijeka and believe that British tourists have yet to discover it. It will undoubtedly become a hit destination of intriguing history that is less well known in the UK. I was happy to discover that Rijeka is home to torpedoes, and I also learned the link between the city and George Von Trapp, which served as the inspiration for the movie "My Songs, My Dreams." Although I'm not a lover of technology, I was fascinated by the innovative museums such as Peek&Poke and the exquisite architecture of the Ivan pl. Zajc theatre. I plan to return again soon, and I especially want to visit the Galeb yacht,'' said Lindsay.
The BBC Getaways show features attractive destinations worldwide, and along with Rijeka, Opatija and the island of Krk, the new season will include destinations such as Menorca, Philadelphia, Prague, Brno, Crete and Seville.
Make sure to follow our travel page for more on Rijeka and Kvarner as Rijeka becomes 2020's European Capital of Culture.
Cooperation Discussed for Agricultural Project in Bosnia, Croatia and Montenegro
DUGA RESA, January 28, 2020 - Officials of Karlovac County and the municipality of Velika Kladuša, Bosnia and Herzegovina, negotiated on Tuesday in Duga Resa cooperation in a project of long-term development of agricultural production in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Croatia, which will be co-financed through the EU's INTERREG programme.
It is a project of cross-border cooperation between Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Montenegro, coordinated by the north western Bosnian town of Velika Kladuša, so the talks with representatives of the City of Duga Resa and other local units of the Karlovac County were attended by the Velika Kladuša mayor, Fikret Abdić.
The municipalities in Karlovac County, that have shown interest in the project, are part of a total of about 40 municipalities of the three countries, which were visited by the representatives of the municipality of Velika Kladuša and then offered to be their partners in the project, with the aim of cultivating uncultivated land for the benefit of local communities.
The adviser to the Velika Kladuša mayor, Ervin Abdić, told reporters after the meeting that the project was definitely under way, and that they only had to determine who would participate in it. He said that a Memorandum of Cooperation and Friendship would be signed in Velika Kladuša on 22 February with the cities and municipalities which decide to participate, and that they would know the final number then.
“All the communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Montenegro which we have visited consider the project useful. In the initial phase, at least two hectares would be cultivated in each municipality, that is, a total of about ten hectares in the five years of the project, and the cost for each municipality would be €250,000, 75 percent of which will be reimbursed from EU funds," Abdić added.
Duga Resa Mayor Tomislav Boljar said that this was the third meeting with the initiators of the project and that in the meantime they had talked to farmers and owners of multiple family-run farms (for which the acronym in Croatian is OPG) about establishing chestnut plantations, which would be the dominant crop.
“There is interest in chestnut plantations, especially in this way where there is co-financing, expert assistance and placement, and it is a crop more resilient to the climate woes we suffer from. The most important thing is to bring neglected land into use, because that will help someone to remain living in the countryside, and chestnut is also good for beekeeping and ecology in general,” Boljar underscored.
Chestnut is just one possible crop, but it is an interesting one because there is already plenty of valuable information from a large cross-border project, completed at the end of 2019, on the promotion of chestnut and its protection against pests, also coordinated by Velika Kladuša. The partners in that project were the Croatian cities of Karlovac, Petrinja and Vojnić, while the partners from Bosnia and Herzegovina were Buzim and the Agricultural Institute from Bihać.
More agriculture news can be found in the Business section.
