News

Zagreb - The Croatian Parliament on Friday marked the 22nd anniversary of genocide committed at Srebrenica, eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina, with Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković stressing that the Srebrenica tragedy would continue until the last victim was identified.

Zagreb - The Croatian Parliament amended the Criminal Procedure Act for the seventh time on Friday. The amendments include several novelties: police interviews with suspects will be recorded and used as evidence in further proceedings; a distinction is made between the terms "victim" and "injured party"; victims' rights have been strengthened, including the right to protection against intimidation and the right to have one's case heard without unjustified delay.

Zagreb - Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković, President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović and Prime Minister Plenković laid wreaths and lit candles at Zagreb's Mirogoj cemetery on the occasion of Statehood Day, which is observed in memory of 25 June 1991 when the Croatian parliament adopted the historic decision to launch Croatia's disassociation from the other republics of the then Yugoslav federation.

Zagreb - Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković on Thursday issued a message on Antifascist Struggle Day, observed on June 22, saying that "today we remember the formation of the First Sisak Partizan Unit, which was the first organised unit of the antifascist resistance."

Zagreb - The Croatian parliament on Monday increased maternity and parental allowances by unanimously adopting a law to that effect, with 122 votes in favour.

Zagreb - Croatia's Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković and the visiting Polish President Andrzej Duda on Tuesday agreed that Croatia and Poland had concurring views on many topics including foreign affairs topics at the global level.

Zagreb - Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković received Romania's Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu on Monday and they agreed that in order to strengthen economic cooperation it was necessary to open air routes between Zagreb and Bucharest.

Zagreb – The Speaker of the Croatian Parliament Mr Gordan Jandroković chaired the Fourth Plenary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the South East European Cooperation Process (SEECP), held on Saturday in Zagreb within the framework of the Croatian Chairmanship-in-Office of the SEECP.

Zagreb – At a ceremony marking Croatian Sabor Day on Tuesday Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković gave a speech in which he emphasized that the country's legislative body, the parliament, had to continue working on ensuring political stability and advancing legislation, calling on MPs to demonstrate unity regarding the accomplishment of state and national interests just as they demonstrated unity on European topics, and to cooperate in ensuring political stability and strengthening state institutions as well as economic growth and development.

Zagreb - Croatia needs a single, all-encompassing national strategy of how to become a brand, President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović and Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković said on Monday, underscoring that Croatia has to highlight its diversity and should not base its image simply on tourism and natural attractions.

Zagreb - On the occasion of the 26th anniversary of Croatian Armed Forces Day, representatives of the state leadership on Sunday laid wreaths and lit candles at the monument "The Voice of Croatia's Victims - Wall of Pain," at the Tomb of National Heroes, at the Central Cross in the Alley of Killed Homeland War Veterans, at the grave of Croatia's first president Franjo Tudjman and the graves of former defence minister Gojko Šušak, generals Zvonimir Červenko, Martin Špegelj and Imra Agotić at Zagreb's central Mirogoj cemetery.

Opatija - Meeting of the SEECP Parliamentary Assembly Standing Committee was held in Opatija within the framework of Croatian Chairmanship-in-Office, gathering parliamentarians from SEECP participating countries who discussed the preparatory procedure for the fourth Plenary Session of the SEECP Parliamentary Assembly to be held in Zagreb, 8 – 10 June 2017.

Zagreb - European Parliament President Antonio Tajani said in Zagreb on Friday that he would support Croatia's accession to the Schengen Area as soon as possible in light of threats facing the European Union.

Zagreb - A memorial service was held at Bleiburg field in Austria on Saturday in memory of the disarmed Croatian soldiers and civilians killed there and on the Way of the Cross death marches through Yugoslavia at the end of WWII.

Zagreb - The two-day conference, called "Protecting human rights and strengthening democracy in Europe", was organised under the high patronage of the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament to mark the 25th anniversary since the establishment of the office of Human Rights Ombudsman in Croatia.

Zagreb - The Croatian government on Thursday forwarded to Parliament a bill on the prevention of unfair trading practices in the food supply chain, which is designed to protect domestic producers from unfair treatment by traders. The purpose of the bill is to protect domestic farmers and the food industry, Agriculture Minister Tomislav Tolušić said, stressing that 22 of the 28 EU member-countries already had such legal regulations in force.

Zagreb - The newly-elected Speaker of the Croatian Parliament, Gordan Jandroković of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), said in his inaugural address on Friday that he would work on fostering the basic constitutional values, political pluralism, the rule of law, the protection of human and minority rights, mutual respect and ethical behaviour.

Zagreb - The EU regulation about border checks must not jeopardise freedom of movement as one of the fundamental values of the European Union and create major traffic jams at border crossings, Croatian Parliament Speaker Božo Petrov said in Bratislava on Monday.

Zagreb - A negative atmosphere, inconsistent implementation of the bilateral agreement on protection of minorities and inadequate education in the Croatian language were only some of the problems cited by representatives of the Croat minority in Serbia at a round table discussion held by the Croatian Parliament's Committee on Croats Abroad on Thursday.

Zagreb - The seventh anniversary of Croatia's accession to NATO was marked on Thursday by a commemorative event organised in the national parliament at which speakers spoke about unconventional threats faced by today's world to which the alliance should seek suitable and efficient responses.

Zagreb - The government on Thursday forwarded to parliament a mortgage bill aligned with European Union acquis communautaire which brings better consumer protection and tightens up creditors' obligations in informing consumers and introducing other benefits.

Zagreb - Croatia will strongly advocate NATO's enlargement because it believes that the future of Southeast Europe, its stability and progress depend significantly on membership in NATO and the EU, Parliament Speaker Božo Petrov said on Tuesday after meeting NATO Parliamentary Assembly President Paolo Alli on the occasion of the 8th anniversary of Croatia's membership in NATO.

Zagreb - On World Autism Awareness Day, Sunday, April 2, the Croatian Parliament was lit up in blue, joining in the United Nation's campaign for support to autistic persons. Diagnostic data show that around 12,000 people with autism live in Croatia. This year, the day was marked under the slogan "Break barriers together for autism – Let's build an accessible society". (Hina)

Zagreb - Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina are two neighbouring, friendly countries and they can resolve their outstanding issues through good will, Croatian Parliament Speaker Željko Reiner said on Tuesday after a meeting with the Chairwoman of the Bosnia and Herzegovina House of Representatives, Borjana Krišto

Zagreb - Meetings of the General Committee on Economy, Infrastructure and Energy and the General Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Security Cooperation were held in the Croatian Parliament on 17 and 18 March within the framework of Croatian Chairmanship-in-Office of the South-East European Cooperation Process.

Zagreb - The prospect of EU membership for Southeast European countries is very important, Croatian Parliament Speaker Božo Petrov said in Rome on Friday, where he was attending a conference of EU parliament speakers on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome.

Zagreb - Croatia's lawmakers on Friday unanimously voted for the ratification of the Paris Agreement, a treaty within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) dealing with greenhouse gas emissions mitigation and climate change responses.

Zagreb - Prime Minister Andrej Plenković on Wednesday informed the Croatian Parliament about European Council meetings, saying that it was particularly important to Croatia that last week's summit in Brussels had discussed the European Union membership prospects of Southeast Europe and that a message of encouragement had been sent to those countries.

Pristina - Member of the Croatian Parliament Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP), Vedran Babić participated on behalf of the President of the SEECP Parliamentary Assembly at the Trans-European Networks Policy and Connectivity Interparliamentary Conference.

Zagreb - Parliament Speaker Božo Petrov said on Thursday that exporters were the drivers of the Croatian economy and that right and brave policies must be adopted to stimulate export-oriented economic development. Exports have helped Croatia's GDP growth the most, Petrov said at a meeting with representatives of the Lider Club of Exporters, congratulating them on that success.

Zagreb - Most participants in Monday's session of three parliamentary committees on the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between the European Union and Canada said they expected and wanted the Croatian parliament to be among the first to ratify it, but representatives of unions and Green Action said the public was insufficiently informed about CETA and that a public discussion should be held about it.

Zagreb - There are good prospects for development of economic cooperation between Croatia and the Czech Republic in the fields of energy, tourism, infrastructure, the food industry and retail, Croatian Parliament Speaker Bozo Petrov said on Tuesday opening a Czech-Croatian Economic Forum on investment opportunities in Croatia.

Zagreb - The Speaker of the Croatian Parliament, Božo Petrov, met with Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka and the Speaker of the Senate, Milan Stech, at the start of his official visit to Prague on Monday.

Zagreb - Croatia's Parliament Speaker Božo Petrov and the visiting Albanian Foreign Minister Ditmir Bushati on Thursday held talks in Zagreb and underscored that Croatia and Albania were strengthening their cooperation in many spheres, notably in regional infrastructure projects, according to a press release issued by the Office of the Sabor Speaker.

Zagreb - Croatian Parliament Speaker Božo Petrov announced in Sarajevo on Tuesday the continuation of Croatia's full support for Bosnia and Herzegovina's efforts to preserve its stability and territorial integrity as well as its aspirations to joint Euro-Atlantic associations.

Zagreb - European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Vytenis Andriukaitis, who was on a working visit to Croatia, on Thursday met with representatives of the parliamentary committees on health and social welfare, on agriculture, and on European affairs, to notify them about European Commission activities in the field of public healthcare, disease prevention and food safety.

Zagreb – Croatia's Parliament Speaker Bozo Petrov and delegation of MP´s on Friday laid wreaths at the Jewish section of the Mirogoj cemetery in Zagreb to mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Zagreb - Lawmakers on Wednesday held a debate on a domestic violence protection bill with the intention of warning the public that domestic violence was on the rise and that society was not doing enough to prevent it, to protect the victims and in particular, to protect women.

Zagreb - Prime Minister-designate Tihomir Orešković presented his programme in parliament on Friday, saying that the main goal of his government would be to improve the economic and social situation in Croatia and increase living standards.

Zagreb - The 25th anniversary of the international recognition of the Republic of Croatia was celebrated on Monday at the Croatian parliament solemn session which was attended by the highest Croatian state officials, numerous dignitaries of political, religious and academic life and by the European Council President Donald Tusk.

Zagreb - Croatia's parliament (Sabor) is scheduled to convene for a regular sitting next week and this year the 9th 151-seat legislature is expected to transpose European Union acquis communautaire into new 71 laws, including the law restricting the use of tobacco products. All of this is in line with the 2017 Plan on Aligning Croatia's Legislation with the EU Acquis Communautaire, drafted by the government, which sent it to parliament for adoption.

Zagreb - First meeting of the Standing Committee of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) Parliamentary Assembly, within the framework of Croatian Chairmanship-in-Office, was held in the Croatian Parliament on Saturday, 3rd December.

Zagreb - The Croatian parliament on Friday adopted the tax reform package with a majority vote and the new bills should enter into force on January 1, however, unsatisfied because their amendments were rejected, the Opposition led by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) walked out during the vote.

Belgrade - 48th plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC) was held in Belgrade from 29 November to 1 December within the framework of the Serbian Chairmanship-in-office. Parliamentary Assembly of the South-East European Cooperation Process was represented, with an observer status, by a member of the Croatian Parliamentary Delegation to SEECP PA, Vedran Babić, MP.

Zagreb - Croatian Parliament Speaker Božo Petrov on Thursday received US Ambassador Julieta Valls Noyes, their first meeting since he stepped into office in mid-October. The focus of the meeting was on cooperation within NATO and on strengthening bilateral cooperation, notably in the energy sector.

Zagreb - Croatian Parliament Speaker Božo Petrov on Tuesday received the ambassadors of Ukraine, Hungary and China with whom he discussed bilateral relations, and the strengthening of both political and economic cooperation.

Zagreb - The Croatian parliament ratified Montenegro's accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) on Friday. The law ratifying the Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty on the Accession of Montenegro was carried by 96 votes in favour, three against and two abstentions. Present during the vote was the Speaker of the Montenegrin parliament, Ivan Brajović.

Zagreb - Most political groups in the Croatian parliament on Wednesday endorsed ratification of Montenegro's NATO accession treaty saying that the alliance's further expansion was of great importance to long-term stability in Southeast Europe and that it would also strengthen the security of Croatia.

Vukovar - The eastern Croatian town of Vukovar as well as the whole of Croatia on Friday observed Vukovar Remembrance Day in memory of 18 November 1991 when Vukovar fell into the hands of more numerous forces of the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) and Serb paramilitaries, after which around 22,000 Croats and members of other non-Serbs were expelled and several thousand Croatian soldiers and civilians interned in Serb-run prison camps.

Zagreb - After a three-day debate on a set of tax bills, the 9th Croatian parliament on Thursday forwarded into second reading all 15 tax bills, thus ending its first session, with Speaker Božo Petrov calling the second session for November 23.