News

Zagreb - The Croatian Parliament on Friday rejected President Zoran Milanović's proposal to appoint Sandra Artuković Kunšt as President of the Supreme Court. Only 31 MPs voted in favour, while 82 voted against the nomination in the 151-seat legislature.

Zagreb - The Croatian Parliament on Friday unanimously adopted amendments to the Act on the Restriction of the Use of Tobacco and Related Products, introducing the term "heated tobacco products" and banning the use of flavours in them, as well as the sale of nicotine-containing products to minors.

Zagreb - The Croatian parliament on Friday unanimously elected Mišel Jakšić as a Deputy Speaker, thereby confirming the internal decision of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) to replace Peđa Grbin, who has recently been elected Mayor of Pula and decided to resign as a Sabor Deputy Speaker.

Zagreb - The Sabor on Friday adopted a new Pension Insurance Act, which is aimed at increasing the average pension from the current €645 to at least €800 by the end of the government's term, and which introduces a new pension adjustment formula and a permanent annual bonus, and abolishes early retirement penalties.

Zagreb - Amendments to the Capital Market Act will make information on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) accessible to a broad range of investors via the European Single Access Point (ESAP), both in the EU and globally, State Secretary at the Ministry of Finance Davor Zoričić told Parliament on Wednesday.

Zagreb - The 2023 Annual Report on the implementation of Croatia's National Development Strategy until 2030 shows that the country is making significant strides in economic and social development, ruling party MPs said in Parliament on Tuesday, while the opposition claimed Croatia was facing a demographic and economic collapse.

Zagreb - The Croatian Parliament on Friday unanimously declared 5 June Croatian Flag Day, commemorating the inauguration of Josip Jelačić as Ban of the Triune Kingdom of Croatia, Slavonia and Dalmatia on 5 June 1848 - an event directly linked to the origin of the Croatian flag as we know it today.

Zagreb - Defence Minister Ivan Anušić presented the 2024 Annual Defence Report to the Sabor on Tuesday, announcing continued increases in defence investment and the equipping of the Croatian Armed Forces. He also stated that special attention in the coming period would be given to improving the material rights and status of soldiers.

Zagreb - According to reports for 2024, as many as 37% of people over the age of 65 in Croatia live at risk of poverty. Institutional care and home assistance remain unavailable to many, and care homes have capacity for only 3.5% of the elderly population.

Zagreb - Sabor Speaker Gordan Jandroković on Friday wrote in his congratulations on Statehood Day that Croatia must be continuously improved and made an even better place to live, and underlined that the true key to achieving this lies in determination, unity, solidarity, and faith in our own capabilities.

Zagreb - MPs on Friday supported the ratification of agreements on the avoidance of double taxation, the prevention of tax evasion, and the avoidance of tax non-payment between Croatia and Saudi Arabia, as well as between Croatia and Liechtenstein. These agreements aim to enhance legal certainty and strengthen mutual economic cooperation.

Zagreb - Payment terminals, ATMs, ticket machines and other services will need to be made accessible to people with disabilities and those with reduced mobility, according to a bill on accessibility requirements for products and services that was supported by a majority of MPs on Thursday.

Zagreb - Banks will no longer be allowed to charge fees for basic services if the account holder receives a salary, pension, or other regular income into that account, according to proposed amendments that were unanimously welcomed by members of parliament on Wednesday.

Zagreb - After a two-week break due to local elections, MPs will return to their seats on Tuesday for a one-week session during which they will debate seven bills.

Zagreb - The twelfth simulated session of parliament for high school students, organized by the Croatian Parliament's Citizen Service, was held in the Parliament on Tuesday. Students from 54 high schools in Croatia took on the role of representatives in order to exchange their views on the "Tourism Act" in the debate.

Zagreb - On the occasion of Denim Day, the international day for combating victim-blaming in cases of sexual violence, female MPs gathered for a roundtable to highlight the rise in brutal violence against women and to call for institutional protection of victims and a shift in societal attitudes.

Zagreb - The consolidation of agricultural land is expected to accelerate soon after the parliament on Wednesday amended the law on the consolidation of agricultural land, which lays the groundwork for this process.

Zagreb - Members of the Croatian Parliament and Government present in the chamber on Wednesday observed a minute’s silence in tribute to Pope Francis, who, as noted by the Speaker, "was and remains a powerful advocate for all who suffer in any way, and a passionate champion of peace."

Zagreb - The Croatian Parliament's Appointments and Administration Committee unanimously accepted on Wednesday the request by Aleksandra Jozić Ileković, Chair of the Commission for the Prevention of Conflicts of Interest, to be relieved of her duties at her own request.

Zagreb - Croatia’s top officials, ethnic minority representatives, and survivors gathered on Tuesday in Jasenovac to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the breakout from the Ustasha-run concentration camp.

Zagreb - Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković extended his Easter greetings on Saturday.

Zagreb - Croatia and Poland are firm partners with no outstanding bilateral issues, and enjoy particularly strong defence cooperation, Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković said on Tuesday during Polish President Andrzej Duda's visit to Zagreb.

Zagreb - Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković received Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, as part of his official visit to the Republic of Croatia.

Zagreb - The Croatian Parliament on Friday passed the Law on State-Subsidised Housing, through which the government aims, among other things, to support first home buyers under the age of 45 who will receive a refund of 50% of VAT or the full amount of real estate transfer tax.

Zagreb - The Croatian parliament on Friday rejected a Social Democratic Party-proposed conclusion that would have tasked the government with initiating the dismissal of State Attorney General Ivan Turudić within 30 days. Sixty-nine MPs voted against the SDP’s conclusion, 51 voted in favour, while two abstained.

Zagreb - Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković on Friday closed the fifth session of the Croatian Parliament following a vote and announced that the next session would begin on 23 April, after the Easter holiday, with another break scheduled two weeks ahead of the local elections.

Zagreb - The Croatian Parliament on Friday amended the Criminal Procedure Act, adding the offence of bribing Members of Parliament to the catalogue of criminal offences.

Zagreb - The e-Građanin (e-Citizen) system currently has 2.085 million users, Minister of Justice, Public Administration and Digital Transformation Damir Habijan said in Parliament on Thursday, adding that the goal is to digitalise the entire state administration by 2030.

Zagreb - Members of the Sabor's Committee on Maritime Affairs and unionists on Wednesday expressed support for the new management of Jadrolinija, whose president said that their primary goal is to enhance safety on ships while the competent minister announced the procurement of new vessels.

Zagreb - Construction Minister Branko Bačić said on Tuesday, while presenting amendments to the Act on Socially Supported Housing in Parliament, that various housing policy measures will be implemented to accelerate the construction of new apartments and attempt to limit the rise in property prices.

Zagreb - Some of the opposition parties said during the debate on the proposal to amend the State-Subsidised Housing Construction (POS) Act on Tuesday that it would not have a positive impact on housing affordability.

Zagreb - Agriculture Minister David Vlajčić informed the parliamentary Agriculture Committee on Friday that between €270 and €275 million will be allocated to Croatian agriculture in the next two months.

Zagreb - Members of the Croatian Parliament from both the ruling majority and the opposition on Thursday praised the final draft of amendments to the Gambling Act, which introduces a ban on betting terminals in hospitality venues from the beginning of next year.

Zagreb - In the parliamentary debate on the report on the use of EU funds fin the first half of 2024, HDZ MPs said on Tuesday that Croatia is successful in absorption of funds and that the results are visible at every step, while the Opposition stated that the situation is far from perfect.

Zagreb - Sabor Speaker Gordan Jandroković said on Monday at a summit held by the Ukrainian parliament to mark the third anniversary of the liberation of the city of Bucha, that Croatia advocates a fair and viable peace that will be acceptable to Ukraine.

Zagreb - The Croatian Parliament on Friday elected five members to the HRT Programming Council by secret ballot. Among 13 candidates, it elected Edib Ahmetašević, Damir Bučević, Ozana Ramljak, Sanja Sarnavka, and Vitomir Šimić.

Zagreb - Protecting peace and preserving European values should be among the European Union's priorities, Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković and European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said in Zagreb on Friday.

Zagreb - Croatian National Bank (HNB) Deputy Governor Sandra Švaljek, said on Thursday that inflation is an issue which is "mostly" behind us, but that other risks are emerging which could complicate life for citizens and entrepreneurs more than inflation.

Zagreb - The parliament will discuss on Thursday reports from the Croatian National Bank (HNB) on the financial situation, the degree of price stability, and the implementation of monetary policy for the second half of 2023 and the first half of 2024.

Zagreb - Presenting the Croatian Parliament with a report on investments in islands in 2023, a government representative informed lawmakers of the new developments for islands and islanders brought by a new bill on islands, which is open for public consultation until April 7.

Zagreb - Greater internet oversight, protection from illegal content and better-informed users are among the benefits brought by the regulations on the single market for digital services and data governance, Justice, Administration and Digital Transformation Minister Damir Habijan said in parliament on Friday.

Zagreb – Proposed amendments to the Thermal Energy Market Act will allow each buyer or property owner to pay for heating based on actual consumption. Those who do not install dividers or calorimeters will be required to pay a fee to promote heating efficiency, it was stated in Parliament on Thursday.

Zagreb - Ombudsman for Persons with Disabilities Darijo Jurišić said during a parliamentary debate on the 2023 annual report on Wednesday that even though some progress has been made in employing persons with disabilities, it remains extremely limited.

Zagreb - Labour and Social Policy Minister Marin Piletić on Tuesday dismissed opposition claims in Parliament that amendments to the Social Welfare Act are being introduced hastily and without expert consultation. He announced a continued and steady increase in social welfare benefits.

Zagreb - The Croatian Parliament on Tuesday observed a minute's silence to honour the 59 victims of Sunday's nightclub fire in Kočani, North Macedonia.

Zagreb - The Opposition said on Tuesday that the amendments to the Social Welfare Act, proposed by the government under a fast-track procedure, bring progress but fail to address one important group - the elderly, while HDZ MPs emphasised that the government is working to raise social security for all groups.

Zagreb - The Croatian Parliament on Friday held a minute of silence in memory of the President of the Supreme Court Radovan Dobronić, who died last Saturday after a long and serious illness.

Zagreb - The parliamentary Committee for Information, Informatization and Media held a session on the future of Croatian Radio Television (HRT) on Thursday, but no conclusions were reached.

Zagreb - The Croatian parliament will discuss on Thursday the government's proposal to extend the reduced 5% VAT rate on deliveries of natural gas, firewood, pellets, briquettes, wood chips, and district heating until the end of March 2026.

Zagreb - In 2023, there was a 13% increase in cases of children's rights violations compared to the previous year, with an especially alarming 80% rise in school violence, warned the Children's Ombudsperson, Helenca Pirnat Dragičević, while presenting the annual report in Parliament on Wednesday.