Zeljko Trkanjec
Croatia aims for speedy post-COVID recovery this summer despite inflation
Returning to complete normalcy after the pandemic shock will be challenging as inflation causes additional headaches. However, stakeholders insist that the situation in Croatia is improving quickly, and the government is decisive in taking advantage of the momentum. “It is...
Mayor: The pandemic gave birth to new ideas for Dubrovnik’s future
“The time of the COVID crisis for us was a period of restart, which gave us time to rearrange, to rethink,” Mato Franković said, adding that the new projects aim to stabilise economic recovery after two years of significant losses.
Caution is required when waging an economic war
The argument taken up by analysts and experts to convince themselves that Russian President Vladimir Putin would not attack Ukraine was that a war would run counter to economic logic. They overlooked the fact that Putin expected victory in a...
Croatia racing to mitigate impact of Ukraine war on agrifood sector
Croatia has made ensuring food security a key focus in light of the crisis in Ukraine, rolling out a number of measures to help producers cope with the fallout from the war. EURACTIV Croatia reports.
Russia-made military drone crashes in Croatian capital
An unmanned aerial vehicle of military design fell in the Jarun area of southwest Zagreb on Thursday night, according to the Croatian government, who added that police and military were investigating.
Action plan for strengthening electricity network to integrate renewable energy sources
The government has improved legislation that facilitates processes, including the recently passed new Electricity Market Act. Read this article in Croatian. The Croatian State Archives hosted the promotion of two expert studies on renewable energy sources in Croatia, initiated by...
Ukraine voices ‘deep disapointment’ over Croatian president’s comments
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry summoned Croatian Ambassador Anica Džamić on Wednesday (26 January) following Croatian President Zoran Milanović's scathing comments about Ukraine, including that it is one of the most corrupt countries in the world and does not belong in NATO.
The Brief, powered by Goldman Sachs — Bosnia crisis and the failure of stabilocracy
The National Assembly of Republika Srpska (the Serb half of post-war Bosnia-Herzegovina) voted last Friday to start work on pulling their autonomous entity out of Bosnia’s armed forces, judiciary and tax systems. The assembly said the RS government should propose within six months laws to regulate these matters at entity level.
Fake COVID passports flourish in southeastern Europe
While the European Commission and EU countries struggle to contain the latest surge in coronavirus infections, thousands of vaccine-averse Europeans are paying for fake COVID passes while not getting the jab. EURACTIV network reports.
Turmoil on the horizon for North Macedonia after prime minister quits
Following North Macedonia's local elections, the Balkan country found itself without a prime minister, with the majority of municipalities falling into the hands of the opposition and with the possibility of snap elections looming - all of which could impact its EU accession bid.
US envoy to press for long-delayed reforms in Bosnia
Washington has sent a special envoy to Bosnia and Herzegovina to help with a long-delayed electoral and constitutional reform in the Balkan country, against the backdrop of heightened tensions among its Bosniaks, Croats and Serbs.
Croatia’s ruling conservatives face smooth ride, with scattered opposition
Fifteen months into his second mandate, Croatia's Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic and his conservative HDZ find themselves in a singularly comfortable position: The fragmented political opposition has sunk to historic lows and is unable to mount any serious challenge.
Slovenia suspected of seeking ‘peaceful dissolution’ of Bosnia-Herzegovina
The Slovenian Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) has been summoned to the country's foreign ministry to explain recent rumours about alleged plans by Ljubljana for the dissolution of the country hosting her and a redrawing of borders across the Western Balkans.
EU enlargement in 2021: Moribund or revenant?
In the Western Balkans, where all EU applicant countries (bar Turkey) are located, the year ahead will be dominated by Europe's quest for a vaccine and efforts to restart the economy in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
‘Many injured’ as strong quake strikes Croatia, Slovenia shuts nuclear plant
An earthquake of magnitude 6.4 struck a town in Croatia on Tuesday (29 December), with the emergency services saying many people had been injured and video footage showing people being rescued from rubble near the epicentre.
Jourová slams EU governments’ selective media funding to spread propaganda
Some EU governments are channelling national money only to those media that are the “willing servants of state propaganda”, which is not in accordance with what the EU wants, Věra Jourová, the EU Commissioner for Values and Transparency has said, EURACTIV's media partner, Croatian daily Jutarnji list, reported.
The Brief, powered by EHFG – Bosnia’s war and peace
In recent European history, it is difficult to find a political experiment that has flopped as spectacularly and as silently as the Dayton Peace Accord.
Bulgaria spells out conditions for unblocking North Macedonia’s EU path
Bulgaria vetoed the decision to open EU accession negotiations with North Macedonia on Tuesday (17 November), a move which indirectly also affects Albania, another Western Balkans candidate which has advanced on its EU path in tandem with Skopje.
Terrorism and Muslim communities: Europe’s ‘right’ battle
In recent weeks, violent terrorist attacks have shocked France and Vienna, after cartoons of Prophet Mohammed were published by French satiric publication Charlie Hebdo to mark the start of the trial for the 2016 terrorist attacks in Paris.
Kosovo’s President Thaci resigns after war crimes indictment confirmed
Kosovo's President Hashim Thaçi, a former senior commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army guerrilla group, resigned with immediate effect on Thursday (5 November) after learning that the Kosovo war crimes tribunal had confirmed his indictment for war crimes.
Lavrov: US-led Russophobes in Europe hinder Moscow-Zagreb relations
Some “Russophobe” EU member states directed by Washington are hindering the strengthening of the relations between Russia and Croatia, Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov has been quoted as saying ahead of his tour of the Balkans, which excluded Croatia.
Ethnic Croats to prop new Serbian government
Serbia's new government will have a shorter term, as the next general election will be held in April 2022 at the latest, simultaneously with the presidential polls and municipal elections in Belgrade, Serbian president and leader of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), Aleksandar Vučić, said on Tuesday (20 October).
Croatia’s ‘secret club’ scandal exposes cronyism, corruption
A secret club in the Croatian capital where the elite flouted lockdown rules and escorts were brought in from Serbia. Vintage wine and whiskey flowed. Bribes changed hands. A recent 'club scandal' rocked Croatia's political and business scene more than any other in the past decade.