News

Zagreb - Davorko Vidović of the Social Democrats group, the largest opposition group in the Croatian Parliament, was appointed a new, fifth Deputy Parliament Speaker on Wednesday. This decision was made by a majority of MPs - 114 of them, while one abstained, with Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković congratulating Vidović on the appointment and wishing him success.

Zagreb - Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković said on Wednesday, on the last day of the autumn session, that the Parliament had passed about a hundred laws in that period, and he commented on the protests against epidemiological measures, calling on the silent majority to be the voice of reason.

Zagreb - The Croatian Parliament on Wednesday adopted the new Conflict of Interest Prevention Act which significantly expands the number of persons to whom it applies, envisaging the submission of declarations of assets once a year and faster proceedings before the Conflict of Interest Commission.

Zagreb - The Light of Bethlehem, the light of peace and hope, is shining in the Croatian Parliament as of Tuesday, where Scouts Croatia traditionally placed it outside the Parliament Chamber.

Zagreb - Members of the Croatian Parliament on Thursday started a heated debate on a bill on the protection of the population against infectious diseases which envisages fines up to HRK 50,000 for responsible persons not complying with the COVID-19 certificate mandate in bodies governed by public law.

Zagreb - The Croatian Parliament on Wednesday passed the state budget for 2022 with projections for 2023 and 2024, with 77 MPs voting in favour, one more than the required 76, and 49 against.

Zagreb - The Croatian Parliament on Wednesday confirmed a year-long extension of the deadline for the submission of applications for Croatian citizenship under the current law since the coronavirus pandemic has made it more difficult for everyone to apply.

Zagreb - The state secretary at the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development, Ivo Milatić, said on Tuesday that in addition to HRK 390 million set aside for the energy renovation of family housing, as much money would also be allocated to companies for the same purpose.

Zagreb - The opposition on Monday called the five amendments worth HRK 11 million to the draft 2022 state budget which the government accepted from the opposition "peanuts," announcing that they will not vote for it and that they will demand a property tax.

Zagreb - The state secretary at the Defence Ministry said on Thursday, during a parliamentary debate on the sending of Croatian troops to eight peace missions and operations, that "for now" there were no requests that Croatia participates in war operations.

Zagreb - The Croatian Parliament will begin next week's session already on Monday after 475 amendments have been submitted to the 2022 budget proposal, Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković announced at the start of the Parliament session on Thursday. 

Zagreb - The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah was marked officially in the Croatian Parliament on Thursday, by lighting the Hanukkah candles.

Zagreb - During Wednesday's debate on a draft 2022 state budget, opposition MPs said it showed a lack of reforms, no change of direction, and that it did not offer solutions as prices are rising and living standards decreasing.

Zagreb - Addressing the impact of the devastating earthquakes, increasing social welfare payments and parental allowances, ensuring the fiscal viability of local government units are the fields to which the Government pays special attention in the 2022 budget, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said on Wednesday.

Zagreb - Both the parliamentary opposition and the ruling majority on Tuesday supported a proposal to ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance so that it becomes part of the legal order of the Republic of Croatia.

Zagreb - The Croatian Parliament on Thursday observed a minute of silence to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

Zagreb - State Secretary at the Ministry of Transport, Tomislav Mihotić, confirmed in Parliament on Thursday that electronic toll collection (ETC) would be introduced throughout Croatia, and the intention is for the system to be unified in the entire European Union.

Zagreb - Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković on Tuesday sent condolences to North Macedonia Assembly Speaker, Talat Xhaferi, and the families of the casualties in a bus accident in Bulgaria. 

Zagreb - Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković on Monday commented on Saturday's protest against COVID certificates and asked what sort of personal freedom it was that "brings death and takes numerous lives that shouldn't have been lost?"

Zagreb - The fourth edition of the Croatia Rural Parliament and the 19th Mediterranean Fair of Healthy Food, Medicinal Herbs, and Green Entrepreneurship will be held in Šibenik on 25-27 November.

Zagreb - Several tens of thousands of citizens from around Croatia and neighbouring Bosnia and Herzegovina marched through Vukovar to commemorate the war victims of Vukovar on the 30th anniversary of the city's fall into the hands of the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) and Serb paramilitaries.

Zagreb - Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković on Thursday received the visiting Saudi Minister for Islamic Affairs, Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Sheikh.

Zagreb - Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković confirmed on Wednesday that as of 15 November, when the measures of the national COVID-19 crisis management team come into force, a COVID certificate or negative test would be needed to enter the Parliament.

Zagreb - Ahead of Homeland War Remembrance Day and Remembrance Day for Vukovar and Škabrnja, to be marked on 18 November, a photographic exhibition called "Vukowar 1991", by Damir Radnić and Viktorin Jurić, was opened in Parliament House on Wednesday.

Zagreb - Croatian lawmakers on Thursday endorsed amendments to the Excise Taxes Act proposing exemption of small spirits producers from excise taxes when these products are used for veterinary-medical purposes or as a food additive.

Zagreb - Finance Minister Zdravko Marić told the Parliament on Wednesday that the total cost of combatting the COVID pandemic has exceeded HRK 40 billion (€5.3 billion) from the state budget alone in just under two years, however, the effect of COVID is a one-off event, regardless of how strong it may be.

Zagreb - During Wednesday's debate on a 2021 budget revision, ruling coalition MPs praised the efforts the Finance Ministry was making in difficult times, while the Opposition asked where the money was going and claimed that expenditures were not under control, notably in health.

Zagreb - A government representative on Friday rejected all opposition amendments to the Minimum Wage Bill, of which most were put forward by MP Katarina Peović of the Workers' Front, and accepted only an amendment by Croatian Pensioners' Party MP Silvano Hrelja, who is part of the parliamentary majority.

Zagreb - The Croatian parliament amended the Reconstruction Act on Friday, paving the way for simplifying and speeding up the post-earthquake reconstruction of Zagreb and surrounding counties and removing the bottlenecks that have emerged in the reconstruction process.

Zagreb - The parliament on Friday discussed amendments to the Farmland Act, which are expected to facilitate the use of state-owned farmland and enable its allocation, as well as a bill on the sustainable use of pesticides.

Zagreb - The Sabor on Friday adopted Prime Minister Andrej Plenković's annual report on the government's work with 76 votes in favour, 41 against and two abstentions, after he submitted the report on Wednesday, announcing an increase in the minimum wage and parental allowance.

Zagreb - Prime Minister Andrej Plenković announced on Wednesday in the parliament that the minimum net wage would increase by HRK 350 or 10.3% as of January, from HRK 3,400 to HRK 3,750, that is to €500.

Zagreb - Before Prime Minister Andrej Plenković submitted an annual report on the government's work, the parliamentary opposition said on Wednesday what they would like to hear from him, while the ruling HDZ said the government fulfilled its obligations in the challenging past year.

Zagreb - The parliamentary majority on Wednesday welcomed amendments to the Reconstruction Act as an improvement that would step up post-earthquake reconstruction while the Opposition insisted that they would not expedite the process.

Zagreb - The parliamentary majority on Wednesday appointed Robert Šveb the new director-general of the HRT public broadcaster, while the opposition Bridge party would not participate in the vote and walked out of the session.

Zagreb - The parliamentary majority on Tuesday supported the appointment of Robert Šveb as director-general of the HRT public broadcaster while the Opposition refused to support him, noting that if he was appointed, the HRT would continue failing to be a public service and serving the ruling party.

Zagreb - Radovan Dobronić, who has been appointed as Supreme Court president, was sworn in on Monday in the presence of Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković and as the chief justice of that court he is by default the president of the State Electoral Commission.

Zagreb - The parliament on Friday adopted a law regulating an institutional framework for the use of EU funds until 2027 and amended the Law on the Croatia's National Centre for the External Evaluation of Education (NCVVO).

Zagreb - Croatian parliamentary parties on Friday welcomed the adoption of the law ratifying the Croatian-German Visiting Forces Agreement, with some expressing concern about the article on criminal jurisdiction and coercive measures.

Zagreb - Despite consistently criticising the way the coronavirus crisis is being managed and health policies in general, opposition lawmakers on Friday stood in defense of Health Minister Vili Beroš, criticising protestors who rallied outside his home and disturbed his family.

Zagreb - Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković said on Friday, Parliament Day and the 30th anniversary of the decision on independence, that the Sabor had fulfilled all its key tasks.

Zagreb - The Croatian parliament on Friday held a special session to commemorate its day, 8 October, when in 1991 it made a decision to sever all state and legal ties with the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY), whereby Croatia was declared an independent state.

Zagreb - Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković on Wednesday received Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who was on an official visit, parliament said in a press release.

Zagreb - The parliamentary Judiciary Committee on Wednesday gave a positive opinion on judges Radovan Dobronić and Marin Mrčela as candidates for Supreme Court president while Dobronić, whom the President already announced as his recommendation to the Sabor, received unanimous support from the committee.

Zagreb - The Croatian parliament on Friday adopted the Electricity Market Act, under which Croatian households will be able to buy electricity from EU suppliers, and EU consumers will be able to choose power providers from Croatia.

Zagreb - The Croatian parliament on Friday passed the amendments to the Electronic Media Act and the Copyright and Related Rights Act.

Zagreb - Croatia's Fiscal Policy Commission has called on the government to use the expected recovery and the lifting of coronavirus-related restrictions next year to ensure stronger consolidation of public finance and full application of fiscal rules as of 2023.

Zagreb - Croatian MPs on Friday endorsed the ratification of investment protection agreements between EU member states and Vietnam and Singapore, which are aimed at improving the investment climate.

Zagreb - Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković on Thursday received outgoing Chinese Ambassador Xu Erwen and they said the Pelješac Bridge would remain a symbol of the friendly Chinese-Croatian relations. 

Zagreb - Culture and Media Minister Nina Obuljen Koržinek said on Thursday the new copyright law would protect copyrights in the digital sphere and result in a stronger and more secure environment for cultural and creative industries.