News

Zagreb - The parliamentary Committee on the Family, Youth, and Sports said on Wednesday, on National Anti-Bullying Day, that there is growing peer violence on social networks, underscoring that this year the competent ministry has allocated much greater funds for the prevention of peer violence.

Zagreb - The Parliament's Constitution and Standing Orders Committee will on March 2 interview four candidates for the Public Ombudsman who could be elected on March 7.

Zagreb - European Parliament (EP) together with the parliamentary dimension of the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU), has organised this year's European Parliamentary Week 2021.

Zagreb - Public Ombudswoman Lora Vidović has submitted to the Croatian Parliament a special report on the right to a healthy life, in which she shows the connection between human rights and environmental protection.

Zagreb - Parliament on Friday adopted a bill of amendments to the Croatian Qualifications Framework Act to define 13 instead of 11 existing education qualification levels.

Zagreb - Croatian lawmakers on Thursday welcomed a government proposal under which electrochemical protection would have to be installed in all external ATMs, but said that the deadline of five years to do so was too long and should be shortened.

Zagreb - The State Secretary at the Transport Ministry, Alen Gospočić, said on Wednesday in Parliament that 2021 was "the year of the railway" and that a major reform of the railway system would be launched, with projects currently amounting to three billion euros.

Zagreb - Members of the Judiciary Committee and the European Affairs Committee held a videoconference with the European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders and discussed the first European Commission 2020 Annual Rule of Law Report and the accompanying Country Chapter on the rule of law situation in Croatia.

Zagreb - Chair of the European Affairs Committee Domagoj Hajduković, Deputy Chair Bojan Glavašević and Member of the Committee Davor Ivo Stier participated in an online Interparliamentary Conference of committees for EU affairs organised by the Austrian Parliament as part of the Twinning Project "Empowerment and further support to the Parliaments of Bosnia and Herzegovina in EU integration tasks”.

Zagreb - Members of parliament on Wednesday held a debate on amendments to the Competition Act and supported strengthening the role of the Croatian Competition Agency (AZTN).

Zagreb - The parliament on Thursday discussed the government-sponsored bill on electronic media, and opposition MPs found most problematic the draft provisions on the responsibility of publishers for user-generated content on electronic publications, that is, comments under articles.

Zagreb - The Croatian Parliament on Friday adopted the National Development Strategy until 2030, an overarching strategic document for national development that will provide a framework for the preparation of all local, regional and national strategies.

Zagreb - Parliament on Friday declared Croatia's Exclusive Economic Zone (IGP) in the Adriatic. All 141 lawmakers who were present during the vote in the 151-seat parliament voted in favour of the IGP. The decision to declare the IGP will enter into force eight days after being published in the Official Gazette instead of 1 February as had originally been planned.

Zagreb - The COVID-19 crisis has had a devastating impact on the creative and cultural industries which, along with air transport, were hit hardest, Minister of Culture and Media Nina Obuljen Koržinek said in Parliament on Thursday while presenting the new bill on copyright and related rights.

Zagreb  - Parliamentary groups on Thursday supported stronger protection of creative industries on the Internet, as well as stronger and better protection of authors, performers, and publishers.

Zagreb - During a parliamentary debate on amendments to the Energy Efficiency Act, which should help establish a mechanism for energy saving, the Opposition on Wednesday warned that solar energy was not used sufficiently in Croatia and that the share of renewable energy sources in Croatia was a mere 28%.

Zagreb - Miroslav Tuđman, a Member of Parliament from the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), prominent scholar, politician, and son of Croatia's first president Franjo Tuđman, died on Sunday at the age of 75. 

Zagreb - Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković on Monday signed a book of condolence opened in the parliament for HDZ MP Miroslav Tuđman who died on Sunday from complications caused by COVID-19.

Zagreb - The Croatian parliament on Wednesday observed a minute's silence in memory of the Holocaust victims, marking the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, with Speaker Gordan Jandroković saying that it was everyone's duty never to forget the victims or let them down.

Zagreb - The highest state delegations on Wednesday laid wreaths at the sculpture "Moses" at the Jewish section of Zagreb's Mirogoj cemetery on the occasion of the International Holocaust Remembrance Day and the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust.

Zagreb - The government has sent a draft national consumer protection programme for the period 2021 - 2024 to Parliament, defining objectives, benchmarks, priorities and activities in implementing consumer protection policies.

Zagreb - PM Plenković said in the Parliament the most important achievement last year was the agreement on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) under which Croatia has at its disposal €12.7 billion, having to pay €661 million annually into the EU budget over the next seven years. The Next Generation EU instrument totals €750 billion and Croatia is entitled to €9.6 billion from that mechanism, which does not require national co-financing, he said.

Zagreb - Construction Minister Darko Horvat said in Parliament on Tuesday that earthquake damage had been reported on 42,037 buildings and that the state would pay for the construction of new homes or the finding of replacement ones for owners whose houses would have to be torn down.

Zagreb - Parliament started its regular spring session on Tuesday with a minute's silence in honour of the people killed in devastating earthquakes that hit Croatia, of eight young people who died of gas poisoning during a New Year's Eve celebration in Posusje, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and of all COVID casualties.

Zagreb - Farmers in earthquake-hit areas need concrete help immediately so that they can stay and live and work there, it was said at a meeting of the parliamentary Agriculture Committee on Friday. Farmers are faced with many problems - damaged houses, farm buildings and equipment, polluted wells and buyers who are taking advantage of the situation and offering low prices for their cattle, the committee heard. 

Zagreb - Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković on Tuesday sent Christmas greetings to believers who celebrate it according to the Julian calendar. The Speaker recalled that 2020 was "a challenging year, which is why must not forget those in distress who need our support so much. He called for solidarity, tolerance and kindness to our nighbours.

Zagreb - Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković on Wednesday called on all Members of Parliament do donate a part of their salary for December to help earthquake victims in Sisak-Moslavina County.

Zagreb - Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković visited Petrinja on Wednesday and said that if necessary the Parliament would be convened earlier than scheduled.

Zagreb - Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković, who on Wednesday toured parts of Sisak-Moslavina County hardest hit by the earthquake, said that Croatia would not leave those people and would stay by them.

Zagreb - Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković on Tuesday extended his condolences to the families of casualties in a devastating earthquake that struck Croatia with its epicentre in the town of Petrinja, some 60 kilomeres southeast of Zagreb, and which also caused extensive damage to the towns of Sisak and Glina.

Zagreb - Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, and President Zoran Milanović on Monday toured the centre of Petrinja which, according to Petrinja Mayor Darinko Dumbović, suffered quite a lot of damage in the earthquakes that hit it this morning.

Zagreb - Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković issued a message for Christmas to Croatian citizens in the homeland and abroad, underscoring Christian values and calling for togetherness and responsible behaviour in the face of the pandemic that hit Croatia and the entire world.

Zagreb - Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković recalled on Tuesday that 30 years ago today parliament adopted the so-called Christmas Constitution and thanked Croatia's first president, all the creators of the Constitution and all members of the first Parliament who voted for it.

Zagreb - The parliamentary groups of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) and the opposition Homeland Movement (DP) said on Monday that Croatia should ratify the international convention for the safe recycling of ships and the agreement on the safety of fishing vessels.

Zagreb - The government on Monday forwarded to the parliament a motion to ratify the Council of the EU decision on the system of own resources of the European Union whereby the upper ceiling for contributions by the member-states will be raised for the purpose of financing the recovery instrument.

Zagreb - Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković on Thursday extended his best wishes to the Jewish faithful for Hanukkah or the Festival of Lights.

Zagreb - Health Minister Vili Beroš presented the national strategy for cancer prevention in parliament on Thursday, saying that the number of people suffering from malignant diseases was continuously increasing.

Zagreb - Parliament on Friday amended a set of laws by majority vote related to the fifth round of the tax reform which will enter into force on January 1 and bring HRK 2 billion in tax relief.

Zagreb - The Government on Thursday sent to the Parliament a Draft National Cancer Strategic Framework (NCSF) until 2030, which is aimed at upgrading comprehensive monitoring, prevention, and treatment of malignant diseases.

Zagreb - The social welfare system is burdened by many problems, waiting lists for admission to retirement and nursing homes are too long, and conditions in some of those homes are below minimum standards, MPs warned during a debate on amendments to the Social Welfare Act on Thursday.

Zagreb - The Parliament on Wednesday discussed amendments to the Act on the Protection of the Population Against Infectious Diseases introducing penalties for non-compliance with measures designed to protect against COVID-19, which the ruling majority supports and the Opposition considers belated. Health Minister Vili Beroš said that the measures were balanced and were designed to protect citizens' health and lives and that they would be in force as long as it took to respond to the pandemic. He stressed that the measures included the compulsory wearing of protective masks to prevent the transmission of the disease.

Zagreb - A parliamentary debate on the performance of the Office of Chief State Prosecutor (DORH), set for Thursday, will be delayed until the end of the isolation of the Chief State Prosecutor, who tested positive for coronavirus, Deputy Speaker Furio Radin said on Wednesday.

Zagreb - While the ruling HDZ's MPs on Wednesday commended the Government's bills from the fifth tax reform round, the Opposition insisted the amendments were superficial, that they would benefit the rich, and that Croatia needed a new tax model.

Zagreb - Parliament on Friday gave the green light for the deployment of Croatian army personnel to nine international peacekeeping missions in 2021 and 2022. The proposal was put forward under six decisions each of which was put to a vote. They received between 108 and 112 votes in favour.

Zagreb - Parliament on Friday gave the green light for the deployment of Croatian army personnel to nine international peacekeeping missions in 2021 and 2022. The proposal was put forward under six decisions each of which was put to a vote. They received between 108 and 112 votes in favour.

Zagreb - The Croatian Parliament on Friday adopted amendments to the Enforcement Act, reducing the costs of enforcement proceedings, introducing electronic communication and exempting Christmas and Easter bonuses, holiday grants, and meal allowances from debt collection. 

Zagreb - The Croatian Parliament on Wednesday amended its rules of procedure by a majority vote, aligning it with a Constitutional Court decision which quashed a regulation that limited the number of MPs who could participate in sessions, state opinions, and reply due to anti-coronavirus measures.

Zagreb - Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) lawmakers on Wednesday welcomed a provision of the final bill on foreign nationals whereby the Sabor would, at the proposal of the government, define the principles to implement a comprehensive immigration policy for a period of at least five years.

Zagreb - Parliament on Wednesday revised the 2020 state budget for the second time with projections for 2021 and 2022, rejecting all 13 amendments submitted by the opposition. Seventy-six MPs voted for the revision, while 50 voted against.

Zagreb - The Croatian Parliament on Wednesday adopted the annual report on the work of Government by a majority vote, and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said that the current year was special in many ways, noting that the months ahead of us will be difficult and full of new challenges.