News

Zagreb - Opposition parties in the Croatian parliament warned on Wednesday that the minimum wage did not cover living costs because half the people receiving the minimum wage had trouble making ends meet, while members of the ruling coalition claimed that the minimum wage had never increased faster.

Zagreb - The Croatian Parliament's Committee on the Constitution on Thursday began hearings of the first 11 of 63 candidates for Constitutional Court judges, which is the first step before Parliament chooses 10 new judges by a two-thirds majority. The terms of 10 of the 13 current judges expired in June.

Zagreb - Last year, the Croatian police achieved the best results in many aspects of their work since statistics were tracked, Minister of the Interior Davor Božinović said in Parliament on Thursday.

Zagreb - MPs on Tuesday supported a final bill ratifying an agreement between the governments of Croatia and Ukraine on cooperation in mine action, while the opposition warned that many in Croatia still live near suspected mine-contaminated areas.

Zagreb - Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said in parliament on Tuesday that by the end of his government's term the average net pay would rise to €1,600, while the minimum net pay would rise to €970 by the New Year.

Zagreb - Members of parliament on Friday welcomed the final Bill on Audiovisual Activities which introduces new financial incentives for the development and production of audiovisual works, but the Opposition warned that the funds envisaged are insufficient.

Zagreb - The Parliament's Committee on the Constitution, Standing Orders and Political System on Thursday determined 63 valid applications for the posts of ten Constitutional Court judges whose terms expired in June, scheduling public hearings of the candidates for 17-25 October.

Zagreb - The Fiscal Policy Commission, considering the government's proposal to revise the 2024 budget, has warned of the importance of prudent budget planning and called for a return to anti-cyclical fiscal policy next year.

Zagreb - Finance Minister Marko Primorac said in Parliament on Thursday, while presenting the proposal to revise the 2024 budget, that this year Croatia will meet the Maastricht debt and deficit criteria for the first time in history.

Zagreb - Presenting the 2023 report on the work of the state prosecutor’s offices in parliament on Wednesday, State Attorney General Ivan Turudić warned that if urgent action is not taken, state prosecutor’s offices will face a severe staffing crisis, leading to a drop in their current effectiveness rate of 96%.

Zagreb - The Croatian Parliament marked its day on Tuesday, with Speaker Gordan Jandroković recalling that on 8 October 1991, one of the most significant sessions in the history of the Sabor was held.

Zagreb - Members of the Croatian parliament on Thursday mainly supported the bill on the transfer of 35 state-owned properties to trade unions and the Trade Union Real Estate Fund, but wondered why it has taken 27 years to solve this issue.

Zagreb - The opposition on Wednesday sharply criticised Agriculture Minister Josip Dabro for not coming to parliament to present a bill of amendments to the Agriculture Act, warning that agricultural subsidies have never been higher while production has never been lower.

Zagreb - Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković on Wednesday congratulated members of the Jewish faith on the occasion of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.

Zagreb - Croatia's parliament on Wednesday will discuss draft amendments to the Agriculture Law, which are designed to reduce fraud risks and fraudulent use of European Union funds for the farm sector.

Zagreb - At the end of the parliamentary Justice Committee's thematic session on Friday, which was marked by one-upmanship between the HDZ and the Opposition, the motion proposed by the committee chair Nikola Grmoja (Bridge) about the continuation of the session was turned down.

Zagreb - MPs on Wednesday unanimously agreed that 30 August should be declared a day of remembrance for fallen firefighters to honour their sacrifices and raise public awareness about the dangers of their profession.

Zagreb - The Parliament's Committee on Information, Computerisation and Media on Wednesday endorsed a bill on the Implementation of the EU Digital Services Act, which is aimed at preventing illegal online activities and disinformation.

Zagreb - Parliament will discuss amendments to the law on games of chance on Wednesday, which aim to introduce restrictions in this area and shift towards reducing gambling and betting addiction.

Zagreb - On Friday, the Croatian Parliament observed a minute of silence in memory of three women murdered 25 years ago, on 22 September 1999, at the Municipal Court in Zagreb, as well as all other women victims of violence.

Zagreb - Members of the Croatian Parliament on Friday welcomed legislative amendments aimed at expediting cadastral surveying of construction land, agreeing that this will enhance legal security for citizens and accelerate economic development.

Zagreb - The Croatian parliament will convene for a new session after its summer recess on Wednesday, at the "Franjo Tuđman" military academy in western Zagreb after the legislature's relocation from the Sabor hall, which is undergoing the post-earthquake reconstruction.

Zagreb - The parliamentary Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure Committee rejected by a majority vote on Thursday a proposal by opposition MPs which called for the relevant ministry to provide a report within a month on the state of the Jadrolinija shipping company.

Zagreb - The Croatian Parliament (Sabor) at its new location, within the Croatian Military Academy "Dr. Franjo Tuđman", will be fully ready for the new session starting in a week on September 18, Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković said on Wednesday.

Zagreb - Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković met with his Slovenian counterpart Urška Klakočar Zupančić on Sunday for talks on the state of bilateral relations and outstanding issues between the two countries.

Knin - Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković said in Knin on Monday that Operation Storm was a legitimate and just military and police operation, but that there are some who would like to cast a shadow on the Homeland War and question the establishment of the present-day Croatian state.

Zagreb - Boris Vujčić was re-appointed for the third consecutive term as the Governor of the Croatian National Bank (HNB) on Friday, with 79 members of Parliament voting in favour and 55 against.

Zagreb - The parliament rejected on Friday a proposal by 17 opposition MPs to establish a commission of inquiry on the work of the national COVID-19 crisis management team.

Zagreb - Strong transatlantic ties and a commitment to Article 5 of the NATO Treaty have enabled long-term security for the citizens of Allied countries, Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković said at a NATO Parliamentary Summit in Washington on Tuesday. 

Zagreb - Parliament enters its final week of sitting on Tuesday before a two-month summer break, during which week six agenda items will be discussed, and the session will conclude on Friday with a vote on the bills discussed and personnel decisions.

Zagreb - The Croatian Parliament's Agriculture Committee on Monday warned of the need to find answers to weather threats during a thematic session dedicated to revitalisation of the forests affected by natural disasters and strengthening their resistance to the impact of climate change.

Zagreb - Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković will participate in a NATO parliamentary summit on Monday and Tuesday in Washington, D.C., where he will present Croatia's views on the situation in Ukraine and the need to strengthen the alliance's role in global security.

Zagreb - The Croatian parliament held a commemoration on Friday for 11 July, the Day of Remembrance for the Genocide in Srebrenica and the 29th anniversary of the Srebrenica tragedy, welcoming the adoption of the UN Resolution on the Srebrenica Genocide and warning against attempts to downplay the tragedy.

Zagreb - Ombudswoman Tena Šimonović Einwalter warned on Thursday that in 2023 most of the complaints submitted to her office concerned the healthcare system, noting that citizens complain the most about the exercise of their rights to health, healthcare and health insurance.

Zagreb - The ruling majority and the opposition on Wednesday welcomed a bill on the implementation of the European regulation on crypto-asset markets which aims to protect consumers and investors.

Zagreb - Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković says in his message on the occasion of Croatia's Antifascist Struggle Day, observed on Saturday, that all who have given their lives for Croatia deserve permanent gratitude.

Zagreb - The parliament on Friday adopted amendments by a majority vote to the Government Act enabling the establishment of two new government offices - for social partnership and for public relations. The bill, adopted under fast-track procedure, was supported by 80 deputies, 51 voted against and three abstained.

Zagreb - The Sabor adopted the Gender Equality Ombudsman's 2022 Report on Friday with 109 MPs voting in favour, 19 voting against it including MPs from the Homeland Movement (DP), a junior partner in the ruling coalition, and Bridge, while two MPs abstained. 

Zagreb - The Sabor on Wednesday continued its session with a debate about changes to the Audiovisual Activities Act, which, Culture and Media Minister Nina Obuljen Koržinek said, will facilitate the work of producers and enable more stable financing, which was welcomed by MPs.

Zagreb - Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković said on Monday that the election of ten new Constitutional Court judges requires a two-thirds majority of parliamentary deputies, meaning the ruling party must reach an agreement with at least part of the opposition.

Zagreb - The Parliament's Committee on the Constitution, Standing Orders and Political System on Friday called on the competent bodies to propose to it in the next 30 days candidates for ten new Constitutional Court judges.

Zagreb - The sharp rhetoric between the opposition and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković continued at the new parliament's first Question Time on Wednesday when SDP MP Ivana Marković asked him what kind of Croatia he envisioned in the context of the new coalition partner in the government, the Homeland Movement.

Zagreb - Sabor Speaker Gordan Jandroković on Thursday wrote in his letter on the occasion of Statehood Day that awareness of the pillars of the Croatian state should be encouragement for Croatians to continue building a state with stable institutions, high security and rising living standards.

Zagreb - The Croatian Parliament on Friday elected Sabina Glasovac and Siniša Hajdaš Dončić, both of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), as Deputy Speakers from the opposition, thus filling all five Deputy Speaker positions.

Zagreb - The Sabor on Friday decided on the composition of all of its working bodies but the Committee on Human Rights and the Rights of National Minorities, and elected several delegations.

Zagreb - Parliament will discuss on Wednesday reports on an audit of the annual report on the execution of the state budget for 2022 and on the operations of Croatian Radio Television (HRT).

Zagreb - Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković told the newly-elected MPs at the Sabor's inaugural session on Thursday that this is not the time for cheap political exhibitionism but for quality political discussion and the passing of laws for the benefit of citizens.

Zagreb - The 11th Croatian parliament on Thursday appointed three out of five deputy speakers, those being Željko Reiner of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), Ivan Penava of the Homeland Movement (DP), a junior partner in the parliamentary majority, and Furio Radin, the representative of the Italian minority.

Zagreb - Gordan Jandroković on Thursday was appointed Speaker of the Croatian Parliament for the third time, a feat not accomplished by any of his 11 predecessors in the 34 years of the modern Sabor.

Zagreb - Croatian President Zoran Milanović has convened the first meeting of the new Parliament for Thursday 16 May.