News

Zagreb - Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković sent greetings on the occasion of Ramadan Bayram to the the leader of the Islamic Community in Croatia, Mufti Aziz Hasanović, and to Islamic believers, expressing pride in the atmosphere of mutual respect among members of different religious communities.

Zagreb - Croatian National Bank (HNB) Deputy Governor Sandra Švaljek said on Thursday that inflation accelerated in February and could remain around last year’s level of about 4.5% under the baseline scenario. Presenting a report to parliament, Švaljek said inflation rose to 3.8% in February from 3.4% in January (3.9% vs 3.6% under the harmonised index). Updated projections, factoring in the Middle East conflict, are due by the end of the week.

Zagreb - The opposition on Thursday warned that inflation in Croatia remains about twice the eurozone average and cannot be curbed by current government measures, while the ruling HDZ stressed that the country’s record-high credit rating is an important boost for citizens.

Zagreb - Justice Minister Damir Habijan told Parliament on Wednesday that despite a high annual case influx, courts remain efficient, while the opposition questioned whether an MP's remark about "one missing document" implied political bargaining or blackmail.

Zagreb - Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković met on Wednesday with a delegation from the Municipality of Cetingrad and the Cetin–1527 Association to discuss a proposal to designate 2027 as the "Year marking the 500th anniversary of the Croatian Parliament at Cetin".

Zagreb - Ahead of Wednesday's debate on the Supreme Court president's reports on the state of the judiciary for 2022, 2023 and 2024, opposition MPs requested a break, accusing the HDZ of pushing Croatia into a constitutional crisis, while HDZ MPs insisted their party is working to maintain the stability of all institutions.

Zagreb - Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković and Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys agreed on Tuesday that defence investment is strategically important for the security of the entire European Union.

Zagreb - A delegation from the parliamentary Agriculture Committee on Tuesday visited facilities of Podravka Agri in Baranja, Croatia's largest agricultural company, to review its operations and development plans.

Zagreb - Full equality between women and men may take at least another 130 years at the current pace of progress, Croatia's Gender Equality Ombudswoman Višnja Ljubičić said on International Women's Day.

Zagreb - The Opposition said on Tuesday that the bill implementing the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) fails to address issues such as political pressure on journalists, unsafe working conditions, SLAPP suits, media ownership concentration and non-transparent advertising by state-owned companies.

Zagreb - Culture and Media Minister Nina Obuljen Koržinek told parliament on Tuesday that the final text of the law implementing the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) aims to safeguard media independence from political influence.

Zagreb - During a parliamentary debate on last year’s third-quarter voter register report, the opposition on Tuesday claimed there are nearly 400,000 more registered voters than adults listed in the census, arguing this undermines equal voting rights.

Zagreb - State Secretary at the Ministry of Economy Ivan Rakocija told the Croatian Parliament on Friday that free zones remain important for companies operating there, even though their number and appeal have declined since Croatia joined the EU.

Zagreb - Opposition MPs criticised the government's 2026 plan to align Croatian law with EU legislation, saying it is submitted as a table of act titles without content or explanation. MP Ljubica Lukačić from the ruling HDZ also called for improvements.

Zagreb - Migration and international protection reforms divided MPs on Thursday, with the left largely welcoming the legal improvements, while the right warned that Croatia must not become a migrant "hot spot".

Zagreb - While opposition MPs raised numerous questions about the Affordable Housing Bill, deputies from the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) described it as a "historic step", with Danica Baričević accusing the opposition of continuing its "political barrage".

Zagreb - Physical Planning, Construction and State Assets Minister Branko Bačić told parliament on Wednesday that the government’s affordable housing bill aims to slow rising property prices and increase the number of affordable homes.

Zagreb - State Secretary at the Ministry of Economy Goran Romek said in the Croatian Parliament on Tuesday that amendments to the Public Procurement Act will require all procurement above €15,000 to be conducted via the simple procurement module in the Electronic Public Procurement Classifieds (EOJN).

Zagreb - After a debate that lasted more than four hours, three parliamentary committees, by votes of the ruling majority, on Monday approved Alen Ružić as the new Minister of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy.

Zagreb - Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković on Saturday congratulated the Croatian futsal team on winning the bronze medal at the European Championship held in Latvia, Lithuania and Slovenia.

Zagreb - The Croatian Parliament's Committee on Information, Digitalisation and Media on Wednesday endorsed the final bill implementing the EU Transparency and Targeting of Political Advertising Regulation, and Hina's 2024 annual report.

Zagreb - Regional Development and EU Funds Minister Nataša Mikuš Žigman said in Parliament on Wednesday that balanced regional development remains a government priority, highlighting over €2 billion invested through EU mechanisms and citing rising GDP across all Croatian regions since 2016.

Zagreb - Parliamentary opposition MPs warned on Tuesday about prison overcrowding and staff shortages, while Justice Minister Damir Habijan announced that two modular prisons in Varaždin and Lipovica, each with 150 places, would be completed in July, adding 300 new beds.

Zagreb - A package of free banking services linked to a payment account into which consumers receive regular income has been taken up by 70,000 citizens, Finance Ministry State Secretary Tereza Rogić Lugarić said on Tuesday in the Parliament during a debate on the final bill of the Credit Institutions Act.

Zagreb - The Speaker of the Croatian Parliament, Gordan Jandroković, on Friday received the Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Mathias Cormann, who is on an official visit to Croatia.

Zagreb - Information Commissioner Anita Markić told Parliament on Thursday that the implementation of the Right to Access Information Act in 2024 showed further improvements in the handling of requests, with declines in both requests for information and related complaints. Markić said that 18,853 requests were received in 2024, 20% fewer than in 2023, and that public authorities resolved over 90% of requests within the statutory deadline, with more than 70% of them granted.

Zagreb - State Secretary at the Ministry of Labour Ivan Vidiš said on Wednesday that, compared with 2023, last year saw an increase in the share of insured persons receiving a combined pension from the first and second pillars.

Zagreb - A proposal by the Croatian parliament’s Health Committee to designate 12 May as the National Day of Persons with Physical Disabilities received unanimous support from lawmakers in the Sabor on Wednesday.

Zagreb - Despite declining interest in free zones in recent years, their role remains important, State Secretary at the Economy Ministry Ivan Rakocija said on Wednesday as he presented to parliament a bill regulating their establishment and management.

Zagreb - Sabor Speaker Gordan Jandroković, on Monday expressed his condolences to the President of the Congress of Deputies of the Spanish Parliament, Francina Armengol Socias, following a railway accident in southern Spain which took 39 lives.

Zagreb - Members of the Croatian Parliament agreed on Thursday that the international order is changing and that Europe and the world are no longer as they were just a few years ago, with territorial ambitions no longer an aberration.

Zagreb - After a month-long recess, Croatian MPs resume work on Thursday as Parliament begins its ninth session, running until 27 March over 34 plenary days.

Zagreb - Sabor Speaker Gordan Jandroković on Monday received NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, drawing his particular attention to the potential destabilisation of southeast Europe and underlining the importance of the Alliance in countering the influence of other actors in the region.

Zagreb - Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković on Tuesday sent his greetings to all believers who celebrate Christmas according to the Julian calendar, expressing the wish that the spirit of this great Christian feast inspire mutual respect among all people in Croatia.

Zagreb - Disputes over the set of laws in the construction and zoning sector, the reintroduction of compulsory military service, as well as reactions to Thompson's concert at Zagreb's Hippodrome marked the work of the Croatian Parliament in 2025, while the governing majority, although slim, remained stable.

Zagreb - Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković on Wednesday wished citizens a happy 2026, saying political stability and confidence in one’s own capabilities were essential for future achievements.

Zagreb - Speaker of the Croatian Parliament Gordan Jandroković has sent a Christmas message to all Croatian citizens and to Croats at home and abroad, highlighting the importance of unity, solidarity and peace.

Zagreb - The Croatian Parliament's Presidency on Monday discussed proposed amendments to the parliamentary rules of procedure, with intra-coalition consultations nearing completion. Wider talks with the opposition will follow.

Zagreb - Thirty-five years ago, on 21 December 1990, the first Croatian Parliament adopted the first Constitution of the Republic of Croatia, which paved the way for its independence and sovereignty, and this charter, adopted a few days before Christmas, is also known as the Christmas Constitution.

Zagreb - Parliament on Monday adopted under fast-track procedure a law paving the way for the construction of a radioactive waste management centre, providing the regulatory basis for disposing of waste from the Krško nuclear power plant as well as from Croatian hospitals and industry.

Zagreb - The parliamentary Credentials and Privileges Commission on Monday postponed a decision on a request to lift the immunity of MP Dalija Orešković (DOSIP) after failing to secure a quorum.

Zagreb - The Croatian Parliament on Monday passed new laws on construction, spatial planning, and energy efficiency in buildings.

Zagreb - The parliamentary Committee on Physical Planning on Tuesday adopted, by majority vote, a package of three construction and spatial planning bills, while the opposition once again demanded that the bills be withdrawn from procedure, or at least sent to a third reading.

Zagreb - The Bethlehem Light of Peace arrived in Croatia on Sunday for the 33rd consecutive time, and at the ceremonial handover in front of Zagreb Cathedral, Sabor Speaker Gordan Jandroković said that the Light symbolises faith, love, hope and peace, values that are especially needed in the world today.

Zagreb - The state budget for 2026, with projections for 2027 and 2028, was voted in in the 151-seat Sabor on Friday, with 77 MPs voting for. In addition to the majority, independent MP Boška Ban also voted in favour, and her amendment to the budget was accepted.

Zagreb - The Croatian Parliament on Friday passed a set of amendments to tax laws introducing additional tax relief for business sponsorships of nonprofit and socially beneficial projects, as well as administrative relief for businesses, with an estimated total value of €72.6 million.

Zagreb - Alongside amendments proposed by MPs from the ruling majority to the draft 2026 budget, government representatives on Tuesday also approved several amendments from the IDS-led opposition group, including funding for the renovation of Pula Airport.

Zagreb - Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković on Tuesday received Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden, who is on an official visit to Croatia.

Zagreb - A presidential candidate for the Supreme Court, Mirta Matić, stated on Monday in response to questions from the Parliamentary Judiciary Committee that she has never faced any proceedings against her, neither criminal nor ethical.

Zagreb - Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković, who took part in the summit of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean on Saturday in Cairo, held under Egypt’s presidency of that international forum, called for more substantive cooperation in the region.