January 24, 2020 - Marin Cilic has advanced to the fourth round of the Australian Open after a dramatic victory over Roberto Bautista-Agut 6:7, 6:4, 6:0, 5:7 6:3.

After a 3-hour-and 37-minute match in the last round against Frenchman Benoit Paire, in which he secured the victory in the decisive tie-break of the fifth set, Marin has now played for four hours and 13 minutes against Bautista-Agut.

The first set was equal, although both players had one chance to break. However, Bautista-Agut was better in the thirteenth game, as he made the first mini-break at 2:2 and ultimately took the first set.

Cilic evened the score in the second set by taking Bautista-Agut’s serve at 6:4. It was evident then that the level of his game was rising - and then he exploded completely.

Marin played perhaps the best set we’d seen him play in ages; a set that reminded us of the Marin Cilic that won the 2014 US Open. Bautista-Agut was helpless in the third set when Cilic swept him 6:0.

Cilic’s momentum fell slightly in the fourth set. While he led 3:1, Bautista-Agut returned for 3:2. The key break was made at the 6:5 lead. The game then went into the fifth set, which was quite even, despite the Spaniard losing his serve again at the start.

Cilic had a psychological test in the lead at 4:3, and it seemed that Bautista-Agut could return to the match as he reached 0:30, but with great serves and winners, Cilic responded to the challenge and came to 5:3. In the next game, he finished the match on Bautista-Agut’s serve. Cilic failed to use the first match point, but ultimately celebrated the marathon victory with a roar.

Week 2⃣ FEELS!@cilic_marin gets his #AusOpen revenge knocking out No. 9 seed Bautista Agut 6-7(3) 6-4 6-0 5-7 6-3 in four hours and 10 minutes.#AO2020 pic.twitter.com/Vh0XQmFGWw

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 24, 2020

In the round of 16, Cilic will play against the winner of the match between Stefanos Tsitsipas and Milos Raonic.

Donna Vekic will play in the round of 16 on Saturday against Iga Świątek.

Source: Index.hr

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

January 24, 2020 - Estonia is one of the world's leading countries in digitalisation and new technology, boasting no less than 4 unicorns, and a country transformed from an ex-Soviet republic just 28 years ago. And Croatia could easily follow suit. 

I have been spending a little time with officials from Estonia in recent days, which has been a lot more fun than it may sound. And a LOT more inspiring. 

It is a small country of just 1.3 million people, one of the three Baltic states which emerged from the rubble of the Soviet Union with some hard choices to make, and choices it had to make fast in order to survive. 

With 92% of its trade with Russia, its economy ruined by the planned Soviet economy, the ruble worthless, industrial production falling 30% in the first two years, wages by 45% while inflation rose to 1000%, it was clear that something radical would have to be done to put the newly independent country on a stable path. To learn the whole story of how Estonia did it, I heartily recommend this brilliant explanation from former Prime Minister Mart Laar: Leading a Successful Transition: the Estonian Miracle. 

And it is quite a miracle. Who could have predicted back then that in a short space of time, tiny Estonia would be a beacon of innovation and global excellence, voted the very best in the world for entrepreneurial activity, start-up friendliness, and digital health? A country with no less than four start-up unicorns (Skype, Taxify, Transferwise, and Playtech), four times more than a much bigger and developed European country like Spain. And this was a tiny country where any entrepreneurial spirit had been crushed by more than 70 years of Soviet Communist rule.

So how did they do it and - more importantly - if a tiny former Soviet republic with a ruined economy could do it, could Croatia too?

And the answer to the latter question is an emphatic YES!

And relatively easily. 

With such a dire economic situation in the 1990s, the Estonian government did not have the money for a large administration, and so they decided to look at offering services digitally so that it could service citizens in some of the more remote parts of the country. There are plenty of resources online (including this video above) to explain how Estonia established itself as a digital champion, but essentially it decided to base its strategy on digitalising as many of its services as possible. Not only would this reduce costs (an estimated 2% of the value of Estonia's GDP), but it would improve the quality of life of its citizens, as well as untold efficiencies. Sort out your driving licence online, access your medical records 24/7, organise a prescription, pay taxes, even vote in elections. All done with the security of the multi-layered X-Road Data Exchange Layer, which guarantees confidentiality, integrity and interoperability between data exchange parties. Some 99% of State services are now online. 

No more stamps. 

No more queues. 

No more offices closed due to marenda. 

This is not some modern Western county, but an ex-Soviet republic which had no money and very little going for it just 28 years ago. 

Of course cybersecurity is a crucial issue, one I discussed yesterday with Uku Särekanno, one of the architects of Estonia's cybersecurity strategy over coffee in Zagreb. Uku was in town for the justice ministers meeting as part of Croatia's EU Presidency in his new role on Schengen cybersecurity. Apart from explaining why the system was so secure, I was impressed that Estonia had a backup plan, in case circumstances dictated a return to paper. 

As a man who has spent more than his fair share of weeks standing in queues (often the wrong one), days on the phone here, the thought of being able to deal with so many things quickly and efficiently at a time to suit me, and without the need for leaving the house or any uhljebby contact, is appealing indeed. And if this Soviet republic can do it, why can't Croatia?

There is one major difference between Estonia succeeding and Croatia, and Estonia holds a huge advantage in this regard. Ironically, it has the Soviet Union to thank for enabling its current success to happen. Estonians were so against the old regime with independence that they were willing to trust their new government, which made the introduction of all this much easier, as residents were more trusting that their data would be protected. Given the polarised nature of Croatian society, there would have to be a different approach. 

I think the most interesting approach - and one which the Estonians told me they would be happy to support with their know-how - would be to focus on and encourage the small seeds of change which are being planted in parts of the country.  Seeds like the Mayor of Bjelovar, Dario Hrebak. As we have written previously on TCN, not only was Hrebak the first to introduce digitalisation into his administration, he then made transparently available all the expenditures of his administration. Having done that, he then reduced a surtax from 12% to 6%, reporting last week that far from this meaning less income for his administration, is has actually received 250,000 kuna MORE in the first 17 days of 2020. 

DIgitalised services, an administration which accounts for all its spending transparently, and where less taxes generate more revenue. In Croatia. Imagine!

Now THAT is what I call a seed of change. 

The Estonians think so too, and they have invited me to visit Tallinn, with any interested politicians, to see how the whole e-Estonia project works - as the leaders in Europe on this, they now have a well-polished tour. So if you are a Croatian politician and you fancy being a little less uhljebby and embracing the future, then contact me on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

And if we can get a few towns to follow the Bjelovar lead, easing the lives of citizens, getting greater transparency, and seeing higher revenues from lower taxes, maybe - just maybe - we can encourage more Croatian citizens to stop just complaining in cafes and demand similar change from their mayors. And then... 

The Estonian miracle has its roots in the digitalisation of its administration but it does not stop there. A major factor in the rise in its economic performance has been its early embracing of new technologies and emerging trends. It started using blockchain technology 9 years ago, and it is the number one place in Europe for one of the game-changers in the global economy in the coming years - the digital nomad.  

When I mention digital nomads in Croatia, people often think I am referring to bloggers or influencers looking for a free hotel in exchange for some online exposure. And while bloggers and influencers are digital nomads - they work remotely from an Internet connection - they are a tiny fraction of the story. Many more are consultants, IT professionals, entrepreneurs, high net worth individuals. 

The clearest example of how this works in the Croatian context was demonstrated by two digital nomads I met in Jelsa on Hvar last year. He was Russian, she was Ukrainian, and they both worked for an IT company in Munich. Their boss had told them that he only needed them physically in Munich 2 months a year, and they were free to work from home, or anywhere else, as long as they were available and online from the working hours of 09:00 to 17:00.

They decided to do a European tour of Croatia, Italy, Spain and Portugal, choosing Jelsa from April 1 to June 30. Their day started with a swim and coffee on the main square, then to work online in Munich. Lunch in a Jelsa restaurant, back online in Munich until 17:00, then off for a swim and an evening of entertainment in Jelsa.

Working in Germany, living and spending in Croatia. For three months, out of season.

There will be an estimated one billion digital nomads by 2035.

Estonia has made it incredibly easy for digital nomads to operate in Estonia, slashing red tape and allowing people to open businesses online. Recognising the considerable value that nomads bring to the economy, including how much they spend during their stay, the Estonian Government is now planning to introduce a long and short-term digital nomad visa, so that more nomads can benefit from the Estonian experience. This visa would come with conditions and requirements and would not be a free-for-all - you can learn more here. 

Meanwhile in Croatia... 

Let's leave bureaucracy aside for a moment. Croatia has arguably the best conditions for digital nomads to live and work in all Europe. Safety, English-language, lifestyle, accessibility, affordability, tourist destination, great food and wine, diversity, the list goes on. If it got just 3% of that 1 billion number above as the leading nomad destination in Europe, that would dwarf today's tourism numbers. And with nomads coming at different times, and for different reasons (read about the Denver nomad who is absolutely loving life in Osijek, for example),  That would be 30 million people a year not coming for a week to an already crowded beach, but for a month or three, spending much more. The pressure to keep on devastating the Adriatic coast would be reduced, and perhaps we could move towards a responsible tourism strategy.

It could be a perfect, perfect scenario. Estonia on the Adriatic. A land where the young generation joked about their parents needing something called a 'pecat' to stamp all kinds of non-virtual documents A country where everything worked with minimal administration, and where the creativity and diversity of a new digital nomad generation was producing unicorn after unicorn. 

And the sun shone, every day. 

And now let's add in our Croatian bureaucracy. A bureaucracy where Americans cannot retire here as they cannot get permanent residency. A bureaucracy where non-EU digital nomads have constant issues with temporary residency. A bureaucracy which inflicts misery on its citizens on daily basis, and is notoriously corrupt, costly, and inefficient. 

Rather than chairing the EU Presidency, Mr Prime Minister, why don't we all take a road trip to Tallinn and figure out how to get rid of all this pointless bureaucracy and encourage entrepreneurship instead? There are even EU funds to help us on the way. We always hear about how Croatia is a tiny country. Estonia is a tiny, TINY country, an ex-Soviet republic which started life 28 years ago with nothing. If they can do it, why can't we?

Read more - why Zagreb is increasingly attractive as a digital nomad destination. 

January 24, 2020 - Museum Night will be held across Croatia on January 31, 2020. A look at the program in Split. 

This year, the fifteenth Museum Night will be held, an event that began in 2005 with several Zagreb museums, which over the past few years has become the most significant event in Croatian museums. 

Museums have built this event with their programs, an audience that has supported it year after year, the general public, the media and partners. Based on numerous surveys of visitors to Croatian museums and quality records of visits to museums and other heritage institutions, it can be said that more than 5,000,000 visitors have frequented Croatian museums over the past 15 years during the event. One of the most significant achievements of the event is promoting the museums themselves and creating a new audience, as many visitors discover the museums and later became part of the permanent audience.

This year, Museum Night is commemorating two major anniversaries: the 200th anniversary of the Split Archeological Museum, founded in 1820, and the 140th anniversary of the Museum of Arts and Crafts in Zagreb, founded in 1880.

Furthermore, in 2020, it will be 184 years since the founding of the National Museum, the 152nd since the founding of the Strossmayer Gallery of Old Masters, and 142 years since the founding of the Museum of Natural History. 

Thus, the theme of Museum Night 2020 will be an opportunity for Croatian museums to once again remind the general public about the importance of 'museum history, present and future'. Communicating various content to the public - from museum collections, professional, scientific, educational and entertaining content to virtual tours of museum exhibits, historical buildings and protected heritage sites, and digital technologies have opened up unprecedented possibilities for presenting the museums. 

These two significant anniversaries - the Split Archaeological Museum and the Museum of Arts and Crafts in Zagreb - provide an incentive for museums to update the following topics, which are worth talking about more broadly and point to numerous programs at Croatian Museums and Heritage Institutions on Museum Night 2020:

- The relevance of the museum in contemporary society and future development

- Museum greats and personalities who are in charge of Croatian culture

- Museums as places for meeting and acquiring new knowledge

- Relationship between museums and local communities

- The influence of museums in creating positive public change

- Museums and cultural and creative industries

- Museums and sustainable development of cultural tourism

- Museum architecture and infrastructure

- New museums, new technologies and new audiences

Museums can also be defined as:

- learning centers

- centers of economic influence

- key partners in travel and tourism

- bearers of cultural renewal - (urban, social and economic regeneration)

- community gathering centers of all social classes

- centers of research, innovation, application of new knowledge and technologies

- centers of motivation for creativity

- Supporters of social change and intercultural understanding

- centers of friendship development and international cooperation

On the 15th Museum Night, let's confirm that Croatian museums have the knowledge, power, potential and audience that loves them.

In Split, guests can visit:

Archaeological Museum 

Ethnographic Museum

Meštrović Gallery

Croatian Maritime Museum

Brodosplit Museum

Split City Museum

Museum of Croatian Archaeological Monuments

Natural Museum and Zoo

Prokultura - House of Language and Culture Peristyle

School of Fine Arts - Gallery School

Art Academy

Mosor Star Village - Science, Culture, Art

The Croatian Museum Society has organized the Museum Night in Croatia since 2005. The author of the concept and the project manager are Vesna Jurić Bulatović and Dubravka Osrecki Jakelic, who decided to launch it as a city pilot project back in December 2005 with six Zagreb museums. Since 2007, Museum Night has grown into a national event involving more and more museums and cities each year.

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

Though the sought after produce and shopping aims may alter, Croats will likely always be hopping over the Bosnian border for something or other...

As Novac/Stanislav Soldo writes on the 23rd of January, 2020, previously, oil, milk, sugar were being bought over the border in neighbouring Bosnia and Herzegovina, and today it is mainly fuel, because the aforementioned basic foodstuffs are now being sold much more cheaply than they used to in large shopping centres in Croatia, which are increasingly attracting buyers from Bosnia and Herzegovina in a rather ironic trend reversal.

Thus, Dalmatians now travel over the Bosnian border to purchase fuel and cigarettes, while citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina come to Croatia for consumer goods that are sold in typical Dalmatian shopping centres.

Although fuel has now become significantly cheaper here in Croatia, it is still cheaper over the Bosnian border, and on top of that fuel stations in Bosnia and Herzegovina typically accept not only the Croatian kuna as payment, but euros and various types of card.

Because they can save about a hundred kuna, residents of Dalmatian border areas, such as the Neretva valley and wider region, Vrgorac, Imotski and the surrounding areas have been taking a quick trip over the Bosnian border and tanking there for years on end now.

The most sought-after Eurosuper 95 from over the Bosnian border costs 2.20 BAM (convertible marks), which, when converted to kuna, stands at around HRK 8.47, while in Croatia, the same fuel comes with a price tag of HRK 9.98.

Therefore, the price over the Bosnian border is lower by about HRK 1.51 per litre of petrol. Diesel in Bosnia and Herzegovina costs 2.30 BAM or HRK 8.85, while its price in Croatia is HRK 9.85, so, over the Bosnian border it is significantly cheaper per litre. The calculation is simple, and the monetary savings per litre of fuel are more than reason enough for more and more drivers from Dalmatia to fill their tanks out of Croatia and just over the Bosnian border.

Despite the lower price of fuel in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croats who still don't take advantage of the bargains refrain from doing so owing to fear that it may be of lower quality than that sold here in Croatia. Specifically, lower quality standards are applied in Bosnia and Herzegovina than in Croatia, so some types of derivatives contain higher amounts of sulfur than those purchased within Croatian territory.

However, a lower price breaks down the majority of barriers for all sorts of people, especially in these more difficult times when people's pockets are shallower and wallets often somewhat lighter.

In addition to refueling, certain brands of coffee can be drunk at fuel stations across the Bosnian border for about HRK 4, and cigarettes, which are on average cheaper by about HRK 5 per pack.

''Even if fuel and cigarettes in Bosnia and Herzegovina were to get more expensive, it will still be more profitable for us to buy it there than in Croatia!,'' customers from Dalmatia state. They are not afraid of potentially poor quality fuel being sold over the Bosnian border.

''Oh, they're just stories, you can usually get simple 95 or 98, which is better quality than it is in Croatia,'' they claim.

All this is reason enough to "pull" many Dalmatians across the Bosnian border at least twice a month for fuel and cigarettes or cut tobacco, which cannot be legally brought into the Republic of Croatia.

''I know cigarettes are harmful, but I can't stop smoking, that's the only pleasure I have. I have no money for a box of "Croatian" cigarettes. I used to buy cigarettes over the border, and now I only buy tobacco and I roll it myself,'' one pensioner stated, who barely makes ends meet with her 1,800 kuna pension. When purchasing it over the Bosnian border, a mere 20 BAM spent is enough for a whole month of enjoying nicotine for her.

Experienced Croatian cross-border shoppers and seasoned bargain hunters claim that sell shopping malls are receiving kuna in the shopping centres close to the Bosnian border with Croatia, but the exchange rate is not that favourable, so it is more profitable to pay with a card.

However, if you go deeper into Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Croatian kuna stops being accepted tender. They want only Bosnian convertible marks there, or you'll need to pay with a card. However, even in this case, it's also still well worth the purchase for most.

Another added benefit is VAT refunds at the Bosnian border and the only condition is that the goods must be removed from the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Make sure to follow our dedicated lifestyle page for much more.

There has been a lot of talk about the introduction of the 5G network in Croatia ever since the idea of the continental Croatian city of Osijek becoming the first Croatian 5G city first surfaced several months ago. Both negative and positive opinions on the first Croatian 5G city exist, and now the Croatian Government has confirmed that Osijek will indeed be the very first Croatian 5G city, and the entire city will be covered by 5G by the end of 2020.

As Marija Brnic/Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 23rd of January, 2020, in addition to Osijek, the continental Croatian cities of Karlovac and Bjelovar applied to become the first Croatian 5G city, as did the Northern Adriatic city of Rijeka, the European Capital of Culture for this year.

Osijek will be the first major Croatian city to build a 5G network within it by December the 31st this year, and then put it into full commercial operation. At today's session, the Croatian Government accepted the proposal, which has been led by a working group consisting of representatives of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure, HAKOM, and three well known network operators: HT, A1 and Tele2, since back in March last year.

"I believe that by doing this, we'll contribute to the development of the eastern part of Croatia," stated the Minister of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure, Oleg Butkovic, adding that the introduction of 5G technology in the City of Osijek will open the door to the introduction of this brand new technology throughout the Republic of Croatia.

As previously mentioned, the cities of Karlovac, Bjelovar, and Rijeka also applied for the 5G network, and in addition to synergies with the Slavonia, Baranja and Srijem Project, Osijek was decided on because it will not be particularly technically demanding for the construction of such mobile communications networks. 

The first Croatian 5G city has a university and industry, and a continually developing ICT start-up community, on top of all of that, the surrounding area has a great potential for deploying 5G technology in the sectors of both agriculture and tourism.

Make sure to follow our dedicated lifestyle page for much more.

January 23, 2020 - A Croatian group of scientists from the St. Catherine Special Hospital participated in the publication of yet another remarkable scientific paper, this time explaining the concept of pharmacogenomics testing based on the principles of artificial intelligence.

"Pharmacogenomics" is one of the world's leading scientific publications in the field of pharmacogenomics (PGx) and their latest issue included an article titled "Pharmacogenomics at the center of precision medicine: challenges and perspective in an era of Big Data".

The authors are a group of the Croatian and American scientists, led by Professor Dragan Primorac, who propose the model of the systematic introduction of PGx testing into clinical practice. Along with that, they propose the implementation of the concept into the health systems of various countries, using Artificial Intelligence (AI) models, as well as some sub-systems within the AI framework, such as so-called Machine Learning.

Through the specific algorithms analysing the data, the patients' data is compared with all the data already deposited in large databases (using the Big Data approach), with the goal of optimising diagnostic procedures, the prevention of disease on time, and personalised treatment. Unlike the typical model of machine learning where the algorithms are defined by certain parameters based on expert knowledge, the concept of AI primarily uses the neural networks, continually evaluating a large amount of data and processing it in a similar manner to human thinking.

Pharmacogenomics analyses a whole series of genes, or even the entire genome, and then studies the connections between the genetic predisposition of an individual and their reaction to a drug. It helps understand why some people respond to some medicines while others don't, why some people need to have the doses of their medicines adjusted to get the perfect therapeutic response, and it can even warn you if a patient won't respond to therapy at all or even when someone will experience toxic side effects.

The model proposed in the paper is based on the experiences by the St. Catherine Hospital and the PGx testing it has been performing in cooperation with OneOme American company (a spin-off company of the famous Minnesotan Mayo Clinic).

The testing uses the RightMed system and analyses 25 genes at the same time (CYP1A2, CYP2B6, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, the CYP2C cluster, CYP2D6, CYP3A4, CYP3A5, CYP4F2, COMT, DPYD, DRD2, GRIK4, HLA-A, HLA-B, HTR2A, HTR2C, IFNL4, NUDT15, OPRM1, SLC6A4, SLCO1B1, TPMT, UGT1A1, VKORC1), which are responsible for the synthesis of the enzymes important for the drug's metabolism (especially the genes of the enzymatic system of cytochrome P450), transport proteins, receptors, other proteins important for the functioning of drugs, as well as those from the HLA system, which is important for the reactions of oversensitivity to medicines.

The system allows for the prediction of the response of each patient for over 300 of the most frequently used medicines, and so the patients are given the possibility to find the one which will help them best. All of the algorithms used in the system related to the use of the genetic information and the selection of the drug and its dosage are following the Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium
(CPIC) guidelines.

The algorithm of the analysis of genes responsible for the drug metabolism of each patient will sort them into five categories of metabolizers: slow, intermediary, normal, fast or very fast. The paper also includes a very detailed SWOT (Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, Threat) analysis of the proposed strategy, which can lead to a significant new step in the development of modern medical sciences.

The importance of the introduction of PGx methods into routine clinical practice is best confirmed by the information recently published in the leading American medical sciences journal, JAMA, in which it was said that in the US, more than 2 million hospitalized patients have serious side-effects from the drugs they were given annually, and over 100.000 of them die. Some estimate that the number is even higher today. Today, side-effects from drugs constitute the fourth cause of mortality in all populations. In the US, the health system spends 136 billion dollars a year to mitigate the damage done by the side-effects of drugs. European data shows that between 7 and 13 percent of patients get admitted into hospitals because of the side-effects of drugs, and 30 to 50 percent of patients do not respond to therapy at all. 

Professor Dragan Primorac said that the "right therapy for the right patient at the right time" is the key phrase of personalized medicine, however that can't be achieved without an insight into the molecular status of the patient.

Our goal is to reduce the morbidity caused by the side-effects of drugs to the lowest possible level, as well as to integrate pharmacogenomics through the concept of AI with all the other diagnostic procedures into an integrated system which will lead to the optimisation of diagnostic and therapeutical procedures.

The proposed concept of the integration of PGx methods into clinical practice, developed by the scientists from the St. Catherine Special Hospital and the OneOme company, has attracted huge interest on the world's health market, and the first implementation of the model outside of Croatia is soon to start in German health institutions.

For more on the Croatian medical tourism story, check out the dedicated TCN section. 

Art or culture must reflect society and the moment in which we live, according to Dalibor Matanić, talented Croatian director of the world-acclaimed series “The Paper” (Novine). The series, based in Rijeka, can be streamed worldwide on Netflix and is available with English subtitles.

Every form of culture, including provocation, must be aimed at establishing dialogue. Creating a culture of dialogue is extremely important, to get out of the divisions and move away from where you were in '91. I want the most important question to be where you will be in 2020. It is a much more important question for today and for the society in which we live. Lots of noise and negative reactions are fueled by those who would like to control culture, and we know that this is not turning out very well, the director reveals to Danijela Bauk/Novi List January 21, 2020.

Third Final Season of ‘The Paper’ Premieres in Rijeka January 25

Dalibor Matanić has his hands full these days. He and his team for the acclaimed series "The Paper", are looking forward to the Rijeka premiere of the third and final season, will take place on Friday, January 25 at Art-Kino. And then another completely new challenge awaits him - directing the main opening program for Rijeka 2020 - the European Capital of Culture at the port of Rijeka, or the "Opera Industrial" program which will include more than 120 performers. There is also the recent premiere of "Zora" (Dawn), the sequel to the award-winning "Zvizdan" (High Sun), or the second part of the trilogy "Sunce" (Sun). He is also preparing a play "Berlin" for the Croatian National Theater. Recently, for the third time, he became a father. He and wife, actress Helena Minić, welcomed a son, who they named Neo.

But let's start at the beginning. The premiere of the first two episodes of the final season of "The Paper" will take place on January 25 at Art-Kino in Rijeka.

“We will show the first two episodes of the final and third season of ‘The Paper’. Everything is ready to go. I anticipate that this third season will be a very interesting and unexpected for our audience, as we probe deeper into the characters, their inner world, and deal with this final account of corruption and transition which we introduced during the first season. The main theme of the third season is the judiciary, in the first season we covered the media, in the second politics. But this time we are focusing on the characters, they are the ones who judge things, who carry us forward. This third season is focused mostly on characters, and less on action, the characters move into confrontations with their opponents, and with themselves. We go into the depths of the characters, and analyze them from the inside,” Matanić reveals.

This way of working, the in-depth character analyses was first made possible by a great acting team, but also by screenwriter Ivica Đikić, who upgraded and expanded the script.

Film Productions Like Jazz Sessions or Improvisations

“Our film productions sometimes seem like jazz sessions, or music improvisations during which just about everyone, including those in front and behind the cameras, give everything they have. Above everything else, Rijeka has enjoyed a place in the spotlight, as the city plays an important role in all three seasons of the series. I can truly say that we have had optimal conditions, a great cast with up to 90 actors per season, a city with a special vibe, the right atmosphere which resembled a music session. We also have a great production crew. It has been an ideal work culture and one of mutual respect. We felt the progress from season to season and were constantly discovering new ‘languages’”.

“That’s why I think the series is so successful too. We did not work according to an established format and did not strictly adhere to what was written in the script but were open letting the scenes evolve. It all coincided, with the script by Ivica Đikić, the producers from Drugi plan (The Second Plan), and fantastic actors led by Branka Katić and Dragan Despot. Ivica Đikić 's flexible scriptwriting allowed us to work this way and allowed us to improvise.”

‘The Paper’ Storyline Reflects Real World Croatian Situations

“There are screenwriters who don't allow interventions and stick to their script like a Bible. We did things differently and constantly updated both the story and the characters. That's why I believe we have had such a positive audience response. And that is why the audience discovered similarities to the real world during our second season. This is our reality, and some of the motives and characters remind the audience of real events and people. In the third season, we completely delve into the characters, discover their various layers, inner emotions, and I hope that the audience will find this approach interesting too. Especially since they are already familiar with the characters; we will give insight into some of their inner, hidden ‘worlds’. We’ll allow them to discover that all the characters are made of flesh and blood, and that nothing is black and white. We also find that humans often act like animals. I directed the third season, or the season of characters, as a kind of western – a modern western with skirmishes between characters along with the internal struggles of characters,” says the award-winning Croatian director.

And audiences have been responding to this high-caliber work. Rarely has any Croatian series sparked such widespread interest, with audiences eagerly expecting each new season. And the bar has been set high, as the first two successful seasons significantly raised expectations. After all, the increased competition of world series productions has raised their overall quality, so the audience is more educated, has higher expectations and recognizes quality output.

Croatian Corruption Rarely Portrayed in Bold Courageous Manner

“We really have an army of fans, not just casual viewers, but loyal fans who closely follow each detail of every episode of every season of the series. Our domestic audience, as well as those who watch the series from abroad, recognize that there are not very many brave series out there like ‘The Paper’, and foreign critics have often pointed this out. There are few attempts so courageous to portray corruption and transition in this manner. After all, ‘The Paper’ is not an easy series to watch, you could go to the bathroom and lose a story line which is critical for understanding the entire series. The audience is not stupid or simple-minded. They expect more, especially because they also follow foreign series productions. They see what is being filmed worldwide and compare us to foreign productions even though we are not on an equal footing with them. We are proud of our consistency ever since our very first season.”

“We have said that this series was a trilogy and we sticking to that plan. There won’t be any sequels after this season, although I personally believe that the whole team wouldn’t mind working on this set until they retire. This way of working, the everyday creative energy, which has filled us all with pleasure and happiness, is not common scenario as far as I know. We have worked together for four years and have spent about a year together. This must be sustainable, because it is also a kind of creative madness, like an amusement park or children's playground. But this set, vibe and atmosphere allowed us to shoot this series. After we finished filming, I said that I hope to have another opportunity to direct this kind of project, God willing.”

Overseeing Rijeka European Capital of Culture Program

Matanić will also oversee the opening of the ECOC (European Capital of Culture) at Rijeka's port on February 1.

“Directing the main program for the opening of the European Capital of Culture is actually a kind of continuation of the story we began with the promotional movie ‘Port of Diversity’. They asked me to give them a hand, and after all, these are friends and people I have already worked with. That moment, that collective awareness that Croatia is getting the European Capital of Culture recognition is very important. I think that Rijeka's ECOC is being managed by a great team of professionals who are not only working on an opening program, but also one that will run through the entire year.”

“Yes, I cheered for Rijeka, although some of other candidate cities were great too. And I'm glad that Rijeka won. Now we need to capitalize on this victory, and awaken awareness that culture is for everyone. We need build a bridge to the audience, so that they perceive that something truly important is happening. We must educate and open minds, because culture must not be self-sacrificing or incomprehensible. After all, the basis of the ECOC's philosophy is to bring culture from institutions to the streets and bring it closer an audience who might not otherwise be reached. One needs to find a key, a code for how to bring people to the message behind a work of art.

Art or Culture Must Reflect the Society We Live In

That key, or that code is important. Lately, a lot of ruckus has been raised about the erection of Kožarić's "Therefore Hay" and the announcement of the placement of a star on top of the Rijeka Skyscraper, as a temporary art installation by Nemanja Cvijanović. Matanić himself knows a lot about this kind of ruckus. At one time, his video for the ECOC’s "Port of Diversity" provoked strong negative reactions. So, does he believe that art must be just beautiful and enjoyable, or does it still have to question society and the present, especially in projects for the ECOC?

“I am the wrong person to ask if the culture should be just comfortable or cultivated. Art or culture must above all reflect the society and the moment in which we live. Every form of culture, including provocation, must be aimed at establishing a dialogue. Safe culture doesn’t accomplish anything, modern art must respond to all good and bad in society, and to every anomaly. But again, what is extremely important is that dialogue respects on both sides; then that dialogue will accomplish something good. Creating a culture of dialogue is extremely important, to escape the divisions and move away from where you were in '91. I want the most important question to be where you will be in 2020. It is a much more important question for today and for the society in which we live. Lots of shouting and negative reactions are fueled by those who would like to control culture, and we know that this is not turning out very well.”

Film ‘Zora’ Premiere and Fall Debut at Croatian National Theatre

After the premiere of "The Paper" and the opening of the ECOC; Matanić is also set to premiere the movie "Zora" (Dawn), the sequel to "Zvizdan" (High Sun), which won the jury award at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival in the competition "Izvjestan pogled” (Un Certain Regard).

 “’Zora’, the second part of the ‘Sunce’ trilogy, will premiere this summer. Personally, I can say that ‘Zvizdan’ was a more accessible film, much more than ‘Zora’ will be. ‘Zora’ is a more avantgarde and moves radically forward. We deal with all the obstacles that can destroy love, and love must be strengthened to defeat cynicism and negative social movements. We are also concerned with people, individuals and society. The work is set in a bland future, a few years ahead of the present and ‘anticipates’ some things that might happen if we didn't respect human postulates,” says Matanić.

But that's not all. At the end of the year, his first theatre production will premiere at the HNK (Croatian National Theatre) in Zagreb, where he will stage the play "Berlin" by Ivor Martinić.

“It is also a sequel to the play ‘The Damned’ after the cult film of the same name by Luchino Visconti produced at SNG Maribor, whose dramatization was also written by Ivor Martinić. In this play we will point out that fascism is dangerous and that we must not dance around this issue in contemporary culture. Croatian fascism is the greatest evil that impacted our country and I find such ideas unacceptable today. It is our responsibility to make this country better, to make Croatian society better. Artists and culturalists are not businessmen, economists or politicians. We do not have a lot of power, but we can point out problems and anomalies, and I think that is our responsibility. And the audience responds well to these efforts. I believe that we all desire deep within ourselves to live in a more normal and peaceful place, rather than in an atmosphere of constant tension, or Balkan cauldron where something is constantly cooking and boiling,” Matanić concludes.

‘The Paper’ Has Promoted Rijeka As Filming Location

“The Paper” series has done a great deal, not only for Croatia, but also for the worldwide promotion of Rijeka. The series is currently available worldwide through Netflix's streaming service and locations in Rijeka and surrounding areas are presented not only to audiences, but to worldwide production companies and filmmakers, who are increasingly interested in filming in and around the city.

“A lot of foreigners and journalists have come to Rijeka after watching ‘The Paper’ and we know this firsthand. We have filmed and showcased Rijeka like no one ever has before. Therefore, it has become a unique and attractive location for foreign productions, which are increasingly being filmed in the city and surrounding locations. Rarely does a city or region have proximity to the sea and mountains, unusual city vistas and attractive natural sites. If we were to film for ten more seasons, we would still not be able show all the locations and views that Rijeka has to offer. It is very interesting that a city that is not very large offers so much diversity, and that makes it quite fascinating. I think it's simply a well-deserved compliment to the city.”

“Recently, Mercedes was shooting an advertisement at the same location we used for ‘The Paper’. But beyond the fantastic micro-locations and different vistas, there is this warmth of the city and its residents who accept everyone with open arms. We have always felt more than welcome, and that is very important. We never felt that we were disturbing anyone. But this is Rijeka, it's always been like that. Yet it is a multicultural city that accepts difference and that means everything. We have really felt this in the best possible way. I know what I'm talking about, because I've shot in several other Croatian cities and towns.”

Follow our Lifestyle page for more information and updates on talented Croatian directors and artists. For more information on Dalibor Matanić, check out his YouTube page.

ZAGREB, January 23, 2020 - The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has expressed its agreement with the priorities of the new Croatian presidency of the Council of the EU and has said they strongly resonate with the Committee's own agenda to promote a robust and prosperous Europe based on common values.

The priorities of Croatia's EU presidency, the first since it joined the Union in 2013, were presented to the EESC by the country's Minister for Foreign and European Affairs, Gordan Grlić Radman at the EESC plenary session on 22 January, the EESC said in a statement on Thursday.

The priorities that the Croatian presidency intends to move forward during its term coincide with those promoted by the EESC, particularly where they relate to sustainability, EESC president Luca Jahier said.

"We welcome Croatia's emphasis on a Europe that develops by ensuring better conditions and prospects for all European citizens, through balanced and sustainable growth. We are convinced that the sustainable development agenda must be the EU's top priority for the next decade, because it perfectly balances economic prosperity, environmental issues and social inclusiveness," Jahier said.

The other three priorities of the Croatian presidency are: A Europe that protects, a Europe that connects and an influential Europe.

"We can only subscribe to these priorities," Jahier said, adding that the Croatian debut on the European stage came at a significant time for the future of the EU, coinciding with the beginning of the EU's new institutional cycle and the very final stage of Brexit.

Europe is faced with many other pressing troubles such as the adverse effects of climate change, populism or the widening of economic and social inequalities between member states, threatening to shake the very foundations of the European project, the statement said.

"Hardly any other country has taken over the presidency, faced with so many challenges. I can assure you that the EESC is eager to contribute and support the work of the Croatian presidency," Jahier said.

More news about Croatia and the EU can be found in the Politics section.