News

Zagreb - Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković on Thursday offered his best wishes to Croatian citizens in a message issued on the occasion of Antifascist Struggle Day, which commemorates June 22, 1941, when one of the first antifascist units in Europe - the 1st Sisak Partisan Unit - was formed, noting that the victory over fascism in World War II, to which the antifascist movement in Croatia had contributed, had determined the future of present-day Europe.

Zagreb - The parliamentary Committee for Croats Abroad conducted a meeting on Wednesday on the sustainable stay and return of displaced and refugee Croats to Bosnia and Herzegovina, in particular to its Serb entity, with the committee's chairman, Božo Ljubić (HDZ), saying that Bosnia had lost a large portion of its population in and after the 1990s war, with the Croat entity recording the greatest losses.

Zagreb - Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković on Wednesday received the Archbishop of Sarajevo, Cardinal Vinko Puljić, who took part in a Croatian parliament session on the stay and return of refugees and displaced Croats to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Zagreb - Representatives of the "The Truth About the Istanbul Convention" civil initiative on Wednesday delivered to parliament books with the signatures of 377,635 Croatian voters for calling a referendum to repeal the Convention. They submitted a request for calling the referendum to registrar Davor Orlović.

Sofia - The meeting was chaired by Kristian Vigenin, Chairperson of the Committee on European Affairs and Oversight of the European Funds, National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria with the participation of the Chairman of the European Affairs Committee Domagoj Ivan Milošević and the members of the Committee Joško Klisović and Davor Ivo Stier.

Zagreb - Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković in Zagreb on Tuesday held talks with the Croat member of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Presidency, Dragan Covic, who briefed him about the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina ahead of the 7 October election.

Zagreb - As part of the programme of Croatia's presidency over the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers the Croatian government's Gender Equality Office on Tuesday presented the Council of Europe's Gender Equality Strategy for the period from 2018 to 2023, which differs from the previous one in that one goal has been added - protection of rights of migrant, refugee and asylum-seeking women and girls.

Zagreb - Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković met in Zagreb on Friday with the visiting President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Michele Nicoletti.

Zagreb - Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković on Wednesday extended best wishes on the occasion of Croatian Parliament Day and called on lawmakers to respect the will of the people, strengthen the culture of democratic tolerance, understanding and respect, underscoring that that was the only way to change the public perception of state institutions and restore the public's trust in them.

Zagreb - In the last 20 years Croatia has spent nearly 5.5 billion kuna (743 million euros) on mine clearance operations, and 595 people have been injured by mine explosions since the end of the 1991-1995 war, including 203 fatally, the Croatian parliament was told on Friday.

Zagreb - A ceremony was held in Parliament on Friday to mark 15 years since the establishment of the Croatian Association of Counties (HZZ).

Zagreb - Parliamentary groups on Wednesday supported a report by the Children's Ombudswoman for 2016 and 2017 with lawmakers emphasising the importance of protecting children's rights.

Zagreb - Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković on Tuesday visited Bjelovar-Bilogora County, inaugurating a business incubator for IT startups and visiting the construction site of a EUR 24 million bioenergy plant.

Zagreb - The 20th anniversary of the death of Defence Minister Gojko Šušak was observed with wreath-laying ceremonies at Zagreb's Mirogoj Cemetery on Thursday, with Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković praising Šušak for making a huge contribution to Croatia's victory in the 1991-1995 war of independence.

Zagreb - The state leadership, led by Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović and Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković, as well as numerous veterans and citizens laid wreaths and lit candles in Okučani on Tuesday to pay their respects to the defenders killed in Operation Flash, in which the army and the police liberated the western Slavonia region 23 years ago.

Zagreb - Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković on Monday issued an International Workers' Day message, saying the centuries-long struggle of workers should be a reminder of all that has been achieved in strengthening their rights as well as an incentive to create better work conditions, social security, justice and solidarity.

Zagreb - At the end of his two-day visit to Sweden on Thursday, Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković was received by Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and invited the Swedish heir apparent to visit Croatia.

Zagreb - Interparliamentary cooperation should be strengthened and deepened through regular meetings and discussions, Swedish Deputy Parliament Speaker Ewa Thalen Finne, Swedish parliamentary officials and Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković agreed at talks held on the first day of his official visit to Sweden, which ended with Jandrokovic's meeting the mayor of Stockholm and the minister for migration.

Zagreb - Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković is currently on a two-day reciprocal official visit to the Swedish parliament at the invitation of Sweden's Speaker Urban Ahlin, parliament said in a press release on Wednesday.

Zagreb - Addressing the Conference of Speakers of the European Union Parliaments in Tallinn, Croatia's Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković underscored on Tuesday that strengthening European cooperation in the field of defence will additionally strengthen the continent's security to the benefit of all its citizens.

Zagreb - Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković and Bundestag Chairman, Wolfgang Schauble, held talks on the margins of the Conference of Speakers of the EU Parliaments in Tallinn on Tuesday, and their talks focused on the current topics, notably the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and on enhancing Croatia-Germany relations.

Zagreb - Sabor Speaker Gordan Jandroković on Monday signed a declaration of cooperation among the parliaments of Croatia, Romania and Finland in support of the preparation and fulfillment of the parliamentary dimension of the EU presidency.

Zagreb - The Croatian Parliament's Justice Committee on Thursday unanimously endorsed the government nomination of Dražen Jelenić as the new Chief Public Prosecutor.

Zagreb – Croatian citizens showed great interest in visiting the building of the Croatian Parliament during the Open Day event which took place for the first time on the occasion of May 30, the Day of the Croatian Parliament marking the first Constitution of the multiparty Parliament.

Zagreb - Parliament Speaker Josip Leko on Friday received representatives of associations taking part in a war veterans' protest outside the War Veterans Ministry, saying he was glad they were taking part in the drawing up of a new law on the rights of veterans and their families.

Knin - The central commemorations of the 20th anniversary of Operation Storm and of Croatia's Victory Day observed on August 5 began in the southern town of Knin on Wednesday morning with a flag-hoisting ceremony at Knin Fortress and the unveiling of a monument dedicated to the memory of Croatia's first president Franjo Tuđman.

Zagreb - Speaking at a parliamentary reception on the 24th anniversary of Independence Day, Speaker Josip Leko said on Thursday that remembering those "important and far-reaching events" should be a signpost for the future and congratulated fellow citizens on this occasion, wishing everyone progress in a democratic and just Croatia.

Zagreb - Romania is a strong partner to Croatia, President of the Chamber of Deputies of Romania Valeriu Stefan Zgonea said on Wednesday after talks with Croatian Parliament Speaker Josip Leko, at which the two officials said that their common goal was to help southeast and east European countries on the road to the EU and NATO.

Zagreb - The ninth anniversary of Croatia's membership of NATO was marked at a ceremony held in the parliament on Thursday, with political and military officials in attendance agreeing that by achieving its first strategic goal Croatia had strengthened its overall status on the international scene.

Zagreb - The parliamentary Committee on the Family, Youth and Sports on Tuesday supported by a majority vote the ratification of the Istanbul Convention.

Zagreb - Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković on Tuesday received Russian Ambassador Anvar Azimov for talks on bilateral relations.

Zagreb - Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković on Tuesday received Finnish President Sauli Niinisto for talks on Croatia-Finland relations, preparations for presidency over the Council of the European Union, the EU's future and security challenges in Europe.

Zagreb - Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković said on Monday, while formally opening a simulation of parliament's plenary session organised by the ELSA association of law students, that it was necessary to develop discussions in a democratic atmosphere and that arguments should be substantiated while avoiding pinning labels on people with different views.

Zagreb - Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković on Monday received Algerian Foreign Minister Abdelkader Messahel for talks which focused on bilateral relations between the two countries.

Zagreb - Croatian National Bank (HNB) governor Boris Vujcic said in Parliament on Thursday that it was difficult to find anywhere in the world a crisis that could be compared to the one in the Agrokor conglomerate, stressing however that although the crisis had not significantly affected Croatia's economy, it was necessary to make undermining the financial stability punishable under law.

Sofia – Chairman of the Domestic Policy and National Security Committee, Mr. Ranko Ostojić participated at the Second Meeting of the Joint Parliamentary Scrutiny Group on the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) founded pursuant to the Conclusions of the Conference of Speakers of the European Union Parliaments in April 2017.

Zagreb - Parliament on Friday adopted the Law on Strategic Investment Projects which is aimed at strengthening the investment climate and making procedures for preparing investment projects simpler and faster.

Zagreb - Parliament on Friday passed the Family Farms Act which is expected to lead to an improvement in the state of affairs in agriculture, enable distinguishing family farms from other businesses, and help bring order to the market of agricultural and food products.

Zagreb – At the initiative of Mr Marin Škibola, MP, the Financial and Central Budget Committee and the European Affairs Committee of the Croatian Parliament held a joint session on the Strategy for the Adoption of the Euro in Croatia, presented in October 2017 by the Croatian Government and the Croatian National Bank (CNB).

Zagreb - Ireland acknowledges the huge contribution Croatian immigrants have made to its society, visiting Irish Parliament Speaker Seán Ó Fearghaíl said after talks with his host, Sabor Speaker Gordan Jandroković, in Zagreb on Thursday.

Zagreb - Deputy Parliament Speaker Zeljko Reiner on Thursday received a delegation of the World Jewish Restitution Organization to discuss stepping up the restitution of property seized during and after WWII and possible changes to the law on the restitution of property seized in the former Yugoslavia.

Zagreb – The Defence Committee and the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Croatian Parliament jointly organized a thematic session where Mr Damir Krstičević, Defence Minister, presented the programme of the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) incorporated in the European Union's Common Security and Defence Policy.

Zagreb - Due to the amount of work that needs to be done before Easter recess, parliamentary deputies will begin the plenary week on Monday instead of Wednesday, while the parliamentary Committee on the Constitution is scheduled to convene on Tuesday to discuss amendments to a draft Standing Orders.

Zagreb - European Commissioner for Budget and Human Resources Günther Oettinger met on March 8 with the members of the European Affairs Committee and the Finance and Central Budget Committee to present the priorities of the European Multi-Annual Financial Framework (MFF) post- 2020.

Zagreb - Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković on Thursday met with Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif who is on an official visit to Croatia.

Zagreb - Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandrokovic on Monday held talks with visiting Maltese President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca on parliamentary cooperation and overall bilateral relations, notably on the economic front.

Zagreb - Parliament on Friday did not elect a Conflict of Interest Commission chair as neither Natasa Novakovic nor Dalija Oreskovic, who chaired it until the end of her term on February 11, received the required 76 votes, while four members were elected.

Zagreb - Parliament on Friday adopted a new Farmland Act, of which Croatian farmers expect a lot, with 78 votes in favour, 49 against and three abstentions. The new law returns the power to manage state-owned farmland to towns and municipalities, shutting down the agency established for that purpose.

Zagreb - Political stability is the main prerequisite for the country's economic growth and development and was therefore a priority in the Croatian government's first year in office, Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković said on Wednesday at this year's first business lunch of the American Chamber of Commerce in Croatia.

Zagreb - The European Commission Vice-President for the Digital Single Market, Andrus Ansip, said in the Croatian Parliament on Tuesday that the digital single market was very important for Europe's future.