Croatia

ECB calls on Croatia, Bulgaria to do more before joining euro

Bulgaria and Croatia still have work to do in fixing their economies and improving their institutions before joining the euro, European Central Bank board member Fabio Panetta said today. The reforms undertaken…

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Bulgaria and Croatia enter last phase pre-Euro zone membership

Bulgaria and Croatia took a big step toward adopting the euro currency, potentially becoming the newest members to the bloc after years of economic crises and shocks. The European Central…

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Croatia’s ruling HDZ wins parliamentary vote

Croatia’s ruling centre-right Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) convincingly won a parliamentary election on Sunday, held at a time of rising coronavirus infections and a sharp economic downturn due to the…

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Croatia’s ruling centre-right party set to win election

Croatia's ruling centre-right Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) is set to win a parliamentary election on Sunday, held at a time of rising coronavirus infections and a sharp economic downturn due…

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Croatia’s parliamentary election underway

Croatia held an election on Sunday at a time of rising coronavirus infections and a sharp economic downturn from the pandemic, with the outcome likely to lead to political negotiations…

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Croatia to hold parliamentary vote amid economic, COVID-19 uncertainties

Croatians vote on Sunday to choose a government whose abiding challenge will be to haul the economy out of recession triggered by the coronavirus outbreak, with an awkward ruling coalition…

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Croatia to finance shorter work week for coronavirus-hit companies

The Croatia government will finance a shorter working week for coronavirus-hit companies whose turnover fell at least 20% from the same month last year, the prime minister said on Monday.…

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Croatia introduces border restrictions for the citizens of several other Balkan countries

Croatia announced border restrictions for the citizens of several other Balkan countries after a spike in cases of the coronavirus and an outbreak at an exhibition tennis tournament organized by…

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Six detained in Croatia for inciting anti-Serbian violence

Croatian officials slammed an anti-Serb incident that saw a group of youths display a banner in the capital Zagreb reading: "We will fu** Serbian women and children." Conservative Croatian Prime Minister…

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France, Italy, Spain, Poland and Croatia declared ‘safe’ for flights to Malta from July 1 – Restrictions on all flight destinations would be lifted on July 15

The Prime Minister has this morning announced six new countries to Malta’s list of destinations considered as “safe flights”. These are France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Croatia and Greece. There will…

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Hotels reopen in Croatia as it tries to lure back foreign tourists

Over the last days over 133 hotels and 65 campsites reopened in Croatia, igniting hopes that this summer season will not be completely lost to coronavirus. All beaches are now…

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rescEU masks delivered to Spain, Italy and Croatia

Following last week's delivery to Italy, more batches of FFP2 protective masks were distributed throughout the weekend to Spain, Italy and Croatia from rescEU - the first ever common European…

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EU approves €1 billion in incentives to support Croatian economy

The European Commission has approved two Croatian schemes to support the Croatian economy in the context of the coronavirus outbreak. Croatia notified to the Commission under the Temporary Aid Framework…

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Photo Story: Children’s playgrounds closed in Croatia

Two men wearing protective face masks walk in Ban Josip Jelacic Square in downtown Zagreb, Croatia, 30 March 2020. Croatian authorities have decided to order the closure of cafes, restaurants…

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Photo Story: Aftermath of the earthquake that hit Croatia

Scenes from this morning’s earthquake in Zagreb after a 5.3-magnitude earthquake that hit near the capital in Croatia. A magnitude 5.3 earthquake has shaken Croatia damaging buildings and cutting off…

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Croatian PM appeals to keep social distancing after earthquake

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic called on citizens to remain outside their homes after a powerful earthquake rocked the country on Sunday morning. Plenkovic and Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic…

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UPDATED: Magnitude 5.3 earthquake rocks Croatia, 15-year-old killed

A magnitude 5.3 earthquake struck the Croatian capital of Zagreb on Sunday at 6.30 a.m. (0530GMT) at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), according to the German Research…

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New Croatian president says independent media, judiciary and the scientific community are the strongest defense against any form of tyranny

Croatia’s new president Zoran Milanovic urged more solidarity in society as he formally took office and called for vigilance against populist approaches to issues such as climate change that may…

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CiConsulta GeoPolitical Insights – The EU’s Croatian Presidency – A Maltese and European Perspective

Croatia takes over the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the six month period between Jan-June 2020, under the motto “A Strong Europe in a World…

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Croatian Presidency priorities discussed in the European Parliament

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković presented the priorities of the Croatian presidency to the European Parliament and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Under the motto “A Strong Europe in a…

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Croatian President laments corruption embedded in Croatian society

Corruption is embedded in Croatian society at school where children who cheat in tests are celebrated as “heroes”, the country’s president has said. Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, who is leaving her position…

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Von der Leyen: EU must keep promises to Albania and North Macedonia on accession

The 'door is open' for Albania and North Macedonia to join the European Union under current rules, Ursula von der Leyen insisted on Friday at the launch of Croatia's presidency.…

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Ex PM Zoran Milanovic wins Croatian election

Zoran Milanovic, Croatia's center-left former prime minister, has won the country's presidential election, defeating center-right incumbent Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic in a second-round vote. Milanovic, of the Social Democrats (SDP), won 52.7% of the vote according to results…

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Croatia to elect new leader amid EU presidency (Update)

Croatia’s bitterly contested presidential race is headed for a runoff this weekend to decide whether a conservative or a liberal will become the new head of state while the country…

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Croatia takes over EU presidency

Croatia first-ever presidency of the European Union will start from 1 January 2020, for a six month period. Joining in 2013, Croatia is the most recent EU member state.…

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Falling populations pose ‘existential’ risk, Croatia warns EU

The EU must confront an “existential” problem of population decline faced by a swath of its member states, Croatia’s prime minister has warned. Andrej Plenkovic, the country’s centre-right prime minister,…

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Croatia finds former prime minister guilty of corruption and graft related to energy supply

A Croatian court found the head of Hungarian energy group MOL and Croatia's former prime minister guilty of graft on Monday, marking the latest development in a nearly decade-long legal battle…

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Croatians believe that the fight against corruption must be the priority of Croatia’s EU Presidency

CROSOL – the Croatian Platform for International Citizen Solidarity, in collaboration with Ipsos Puls, has published the results of a public opinion poll on Croatia’s presidency of the EU Council…

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Runoff vote required for Croatia’s presidential elections

Croatia's tight presidential race will go to a runoff vote in two weeks, after exit polls and initial returns indicated that none of the candidates had won the office outright.…

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Croatia votes to elect President

Croatia was voting on Sunday in a tight presidential election, with the ruling conservatives seeking to keep their grip on power days before the country takes over the European Union's…

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Croatian police arrest and dismantle organised crime group in large international investigation

The Croatian National Police Office for Suppression of Corruption and Organised Crime in collaboration with the prosecutor’s office, tax administration, customs and in cooperation with Europol conducted a complex international…

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Presidential election in Croatia to be held on December 22

Croatia will hold the first round of its presidential elections on December 22, the country's prime minister has said. Andrej Plenkovic made the announcement on Thursday during a government session.…

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Photo Story: A room with a view

The fuselage of a 1991-made former SunAdria Holland Fokker-100 airplane sits in Robert Sedlar's garden in Strmec Stubicki, Croatia. Robert Sedlar put this disused airplane in his garden with the…

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Croatia joins Schengen area

After being an EU member for six years , the European Commission has given Croatia the greenlight to join the Schengen zone. Euronews reports that after four years of assessment…

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Juncker Plan backs Croatia’s first social impact fund

Thanks to EU support, Croatian and Slovenian startups will benefit from Croatia's first social impact fund, Feelsgood. The European Investment Fund contributed half of the capital of this €30 million-strong…

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Zagreb to See Over 160 Events During EU Presidency

The coordinator of Croatia's EU presidency, Gordan Markotić, said that during the country's chairmanship of the EU 161 events would be organised in the Croatian capital city and that around…

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Reports indicate no chance of Croatian Schengen entry for at least two more years

Croatian media is reporting that the Republic of Croatia will not be part of the Schengen area for at least another two years, despite the fact the European Commission is…

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ECB to test five Croatian banks

The European Central Bank said on Wednesday it would carry out a stress test of five Croatian banks, a preliminary step in Zagreb’s bid to join the euro zone. Zagrebačka…

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Croatia’s President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarevic to run for second five-year term

Croatia President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarevic will run for a second five-year term on behalf of her ruling party, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, who also heads the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), said…

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Massacre in Zagreb

Croatian police have opened an investigation into the murder of six people inside a house in the capital, Zagreb. In what Croatian media have called a "massacre," three women, two men…

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Eurozone Ministers welcome Croatia’s formal bid to join the Euro

The prospects for Croatia’s participation in the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM II) were discussed in Brussels by the Eurozone finance ministers on 9 July, all of whom welcomed Zagreb’s formal bid to…

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Labour shortage a burning issue in Croatia

The President of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK) Luka Burilović said that Croatia had benefited from its membership of the European Union, however, the labour shortage was becoming…

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Croatia officially applies to join Euro

Croatia has officially applied to join the euro. POLITICO reports that Zagreb’s finance ministry and central bank sent a letter of application, it obtained, on Thursday to the European Commission’s euro…

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Tourism industry in Croatia appeals for more foreign workers

Croatia’s association of tourist firms (HUT) and the national association of employers (HUP) said in a joint appeal to the Government in Zagreb to allow more foreign workers into the…

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EU-wide operation against counterfeit products, Law enforcement agencies in Malta involved in the operation

More than 4.7 million counterfeit products seized, over 16 400 social media accounts suspended and 3 300 websites closed in the EU-wide operation Aphrodite II against trafficking of counterfeit goods.…

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Europe Votes: Croatia, the projections

Exit Polls: The centre-left Socialists and Democrats group are expected to gain a seat while the centre-right European People's Party and liberals ALDE are each forecast to lose one, according…

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Ferry stranded in rough sea off the coast of Croatia

A ferry carrying almost 350 people is drifting in the Adriatic Sea after experiencing technical problems. The ferry 'Aurelia' left the Italian city of Ancona late on Wednesday heading for…

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Spring is in the air – Croatia

Zagreb young boy plays in the park on a sunny day in downtown Zagreb, 25 April 2019. Last few days Croatia and Zagreb record a high Spring temperature of between…

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Croatian journalists take to the streets to protest the curbing of media freedom

The Washington Post reports on the protest in the Croatian capital Zagreb by local journalists to protests curbing of media freedom in the country. Hundreds of Croatian journalists on Saturday…

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Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic leadership earns her respect across the globe

Quartz: "At Sunday’s final between France and Croatia, though, Croatian president Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović was a literal bright spot in the crowd. Dressed in a red-and-white team jersey, Grabar-Kitarović spent most of…

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Monday Morning Briefing

Good morning, France wins the World Cup while Trump arrives in Helsinki for his summit with Putin. Before leaving the UK he stresses that the EU is a foe of…

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France beats Croatia 4 – 2 in World Cup Final

France have won the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ after defeating Croatia 4-2 in a thoroughly entertaining Final at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow in what was a fitting end…

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World Cup: Why France can, must and will win the World Cup

FIFA.COm When a team reaches the FIFA World Cup™ Final, it is because they have overcome every obstacle and shown exceptional qualities, and in doing so have turned their dreams of…

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World Cup: Why Croatia can, must and will win the World Cup

FIFA.COM: The 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ Final is just around the corner, as 1998 winners France prepare to face first-time finalists Croatia at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. Ahead of…

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Who will win the cup? Why France must win it? Why Croatia can? Why both will it?

Why should France or Croatia win the World Cup? Will it be France’s solidity which will beat the Croatian mental strength and character? Will it be Croatia’s miraculous collective which…

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Sunday Morning Briefing

Good morning Wishing everyone a good Sunday. Here's our morning briefing. In an official statement, the government of Malta said that Prime Minister Joseph Muscat pledged to participate in…

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That’s not the president of Croatia in those viral bikini photos

Croatian president Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović was in the president's box at Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, on Wednesday July 11 to watch her country storm to victory over England in the World Cup…

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