News

New York - Croatia's Parliament Speaker Josip Leko met with his counterparts from Indonesia, Iran and Albania for talks on bilateral cooperation, on the fringes of the 4th world conference of presidents of parliaments in New York.

Zagreb - At the government's request, Parliament Speaker Josip Leko on Tuesday called an extraordinary parliamentary session for September 8-11. Parliament will discuss several important bills - bills of amendments to laws on welfare, excises, and the financing of local government, a consumer bankruptcy bill, and a bill on renewables and highly efficient co-generation.

New York - Croatia's Parliament Speaker Josip Leko on Sunday met with representatives of the Croatian community in New Jersey before the start of the fourth world conference of parliament speakers in New York on Monday. Croatian expats showed great interest in Croatia's state of affairs, notably in the country's economic situation.

Zagreb - The Croatian parliament on Wednesday unanimously obliged the Government to institute a procedure to exit the Arbitration Agreement on a border solution with Slovenia.

Zagreb - The Croatian parliament on Wednesday amended the Sports Act at the proposal of the Social Democratic Party and the Croatian People's Party, under which persons sentenced for rioting at sporting events would no longer be able to sit on the management boards of sport clubs or associations.

Zagreb - Parliament Speaker Josip Leko said on Wednesday, at the end of the parliament's spring-summer sitting, that the parliament had fulfilled its constitutional duties.

Zagreb - After concluding its current session the Croatian parliament has released a comprehensive report on its work since being constituted in December 2011 to date which presents figures describing parliament's activities, working bodies and of Speaker Josip Leko.

Zagreb - Croatia hopes to open an embassy and tourism board in South Korea this year as well as sign an agreement on air traffic with that country, Parliament Speaker Josip Leko announced on Monday after talks with his South Korean counterpart Chung Ui-Hwa.

Zagreb - Croatia supports all Southeast European countries in their efforts to join NATO, Parliament Speaker Josip Leko said at a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in Zagreb on Thursday.

Zagreb - The Croatian Parliament's Committee on the Constitution on Monday endorsed draft amendments to two laws which make it possible to dissolve town councils which refuse to adjust their statutes to legally guaranteed rights of ethnic minorities, however, committee members proposed that the amendments not be adopted under fast-track procedure but be discussed in two readings.

Zagreb - Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, Parliament Speaker Josip Leko and Prime Minister Zoran Milanović laid wreaths and lit candles at Zagreb's central Mirogoj Cemetery on Thursday, on the occasion of Statehood Day.

Zagreb - Croatian Parliament Speaker Josip Leko on Tuesday forwarded a message with best wishes on the occasion of Croatia's Statehood Day, observed on 25 June in memory of 25 June 1991 when Croatia's lawmakers adopted the declaration on the sovereignty and independence of the Republic of Croatia.

Brezovica - Addressing the commemoration, on the occasion of the Anti-Fascist Struggle Day in the Brezovica forest outside Sisak on Monday, Deputy Parliament Speaker Dragica Zgrebec said that hate speech and neo-fascist incidents in Croatia should be replaced by a language of reason.

Zagreb - Croatian Parliament Speaker Josip Leko on Friday issued a message on the occasion of the Day of the Anti-Fascist Struggle, June 22, saying that marking that day contributed to building a society of peace, tolerance and democracy.

Zagreb - Parliament Speaker Josip Leko on Tuesday received Romania's President Klaus Werner Iohannis who is on a two-day official visit to Croatia and during the talks they underscored the excellent relations between the two parliaments which are soon to be formalised.

Zagreb - The parliamentary Committee on agriculture on Friday unanimously upheld the government's opinion that Croatia should remain GMO free. Committee members, however, expressed reservations due to possible complaints that could occur subsequent to certain international agreements like the Transatlantic Trade Investment Partnership (TTIP).

Zagreb - The Croatian parliament on Friday adopted the Public Administration Development Strategy 2015-2020, defining long-term goals and guidelines for the modernisation of public administration in Croatia.

Zagreb - Accessibility, employment and quality education were just some of the problems highlighted in the annual report presented to parliament on Friday by the ombudswoman for the disabled Anka Slonjšak, which was upheld unanimously by law-makers.

Zagreb - The Croatian Parliament on Friday adopted a new Bankruptcy Act which will allow the launching of bankruptcy proceedings by default in companies whose bank accounts have been blocked for more than 120 days.

Podgorica - Parliament Speakers Josip Leko of Croatia and Ranko Krivokapic of Montenegro said in Podgorica on Thursday that the relations between the two countries were excellent and that parliamentary cooperation was an essential part of them.

Zagreb - Croatian-German relations are traditionally very good, both on the federal and state levels, and North Rhine-Westphalia is a particularly significant economic partner to Croatia, Croatian Parliament Speaker Josip Leko said on Tuesday after meeting with his counterpart from that German state, Carina Goedecke.

Zagreb - The Croatian parliament passed two agriculture-related laws on Friday - the Farmland Consolidation Act and the Croatian Chamber of Agriculture Act. The Farmland Consolidation Act will enable expansion of farms and plots of farmland, putting road and canal networks in order, irrigation and the regulation of ownership relations.

Tirana - Closer regional cooperation and contacts between the countries of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) are of great importance in dealing with current security challenges, terrorism and organised crime, as well as in implementing joint economic projects and stepping up integration with the EU, it was said at the 2nd session of the SEECP Parliamentary Assembly in Tirana on Saturday.

Zagreb - The Croatian Parliament on Wednesday resumed its session with a debate on a bill on the rights of victims of sexual violence in the Homeland War, with Veterans' Minister Predrag Matić underscoring that the law is a clear condemnation of the culture of non-punishment of sexual crimes committed during the war and that victims would receive recognition and compensation as a response to omissions the state had committed over the past 20 years.

Zagreb - Democracy is our world, our decision and future, Croatian Parliament Speaker Josip Leko said on Wednesday to law students participating in a parliament simulation project organised by the Croatian branch of the European Law Students' Association. Croatian democracy "envisages the responsibility of everyone in society," Leko said, reminding the students that under the Constitution and the principles of democracy, government came from and belonged to the people and that in Croatia it was divided into the legislative, executive and judicial authorities.

Jasenovac - Surviving former inmates, top Croatian officials, foreign ambassadors in Croatia, and many other delegations on Sunday attended a ceremony commemorating the 70th anniversary of the break-out of inmates from the Ustasha-run Jasenovac camp on 22 April 1945, paying tribute to 83,000 victims of this WW2 camp.

Rome - The Croatian Parliament positively assesses the European Commission's policy on strengthening dialogue with national parliaments, however, it believes that that dialogue should not be reduced to mere reporting but should serve as a platform for consultations on the making of European policies, Parliament Speaker Josip Leko said at an annual conference of speakers of EU parliaments in Rome on Tuesday.

Zagreb - Strengthening the trust of citizens in state institutions, fighting lethargy and attracting investments are just some of the benefits of involving citizens when preparing the budget, heard a round table discussion organised on Tuesday in parliament by the parliamentary finance and local government committee and the GONG civil society organisation.

Zagreb - Speaking on the occasion of International Roma Day, April 8, the Roma minority member of the Croatian Parliament, Veljko Kajtazi, said that the status of Roma in Croatia was satisfactory but not excellent and called on the majority population not to regard Roma as second-class citizens.

Sofia - Croatian Parliament Speaker Josip Leko on Wednesday wrapped up his trip to Bulgaria by visiting the "St. Kliment Ohridski" University of Sofia, meeting with the prorector and Croatian language students, with both sides expressing a wish to strengthen cultural and academic ties.

Zagreb - Common values that NATO member countries share like peace and security, respect of human rights and democracy must not be taken for granted, President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic and Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic agreed in their addresses to the parliament on the occasion of the sixth anniversary of Croatia's accession to NATO.

Sofia - Croatia and Bulgaria have several common interests over which they are in complete agreement - energy, the entry of both countries into the Schengen passport-free zone and the support of Croatia and Bulgaria for the accession of Southeast European countries to the European Union (EU) as the only guarantee of lasting peace in Europe, Croatian Parliament Speaker Josip Leko said after meeting with Bulgaria's senior officials in Sofia on Monday.

Mostar - Croatian Parliament Speaker Josip Leko on Thursday visited the Franciscan Monastery in Mostar, southern Bosnia and Herzegovina, where he met with the guardian, Fra Iko Skoko, and visited the building site of a future student dormitory and a soup kitchen, whose construction is co-financed by the Croatian government.

Zagreb - Croatian Parliament Speaker Josip Leko on Wednesday extended condolences to his counterparts in Germany, Spain and Turkey on the death of 150 passengers and crew members of a plane operated by Lufthansa's Germanwings that crashed in France on Tuesday.

Zagreb - Croatian Parliament Speaker Josip Leko on Wednesday received Serbian First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ivica Dačić and they welcomed the intensifying of the bilateral relations that were characterised by mutual visits by senior officials.

Zagreb - Parliament Speaker Josip Leko on Tuesday received for talks the head of the Islamic community in Croatia, Aziz Hasanović, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the recognition of Islam as an official religion in Croatia.

Warsaw - Poland and Croatia are interested in close cooperation in establishing energy and transport connections between Europe's north and south, and in close interparliamentary cooperation within European projects, Croatian Parliament Speaker Josip Leko and his Polish host, Speaker of the Sejm Radoslaw Sikorski, said during their meeting in Warsaw on Tuesday.

Zagreb - Addressing the Croatian parliament on Monday, the Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness, Jyrki Katainen, said that the EC's new Investment Plan was aimed at strengthening growth and job creation and that it should mobilise at least 315 billion euros in private investments over the next three years, with focus on developing communication and energy infrastructure and stimulating small and medium entrepreneurship.

Zagreb - Council of Europe (CoE) Parliamentary Assembly President Anne Brasseur called on Croatian politicians on Friday to speak out against a rhetoric of division and populism, intolerance and hate speech ahead of the next parliamentary election.

Zagreb - Deputy Finance Minister Igor Radjenovic on Thursday said that measures foreseen in the General Tax Act were aimed at more efficient and economical management of tax procedures.

Zagreb - Croatia has made huge progress in complying with its obligations towards the Council of Europe (CoE) but has still not ratified two conventions and this should now be a priority, CoE Parliamentary Assembly President Anne Brasseur said after talks with Croatian Parliament Speaker Josip Leko on Thursday.

Zagreb - The Croatian Parliament's Anti-Corruption Council on Tuesday endorsed a report on the prevention of corruption among members of Parliament, judges and state prosecutors, and several Council members supported the idea that information on all office holders, including judges, should be published in one place, as part of efforts to prevent conflicts of interest.

Zagreb - European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development Neven Mimica on Friday presented in the Croatian parliament "A New Start: The 2015 Work Programme", the first annual work programme of the new European Commission presided over by Jean-Claude Juncker.

Zagreb - Parliament Speaker Josip Leko on Tuesday received a delegation of the Women in the Homeland War association, which gave him the "Suncica" documentary, showing the testimonies of women raped by Serb paramilitaries and members of the former Yugoslav army in the 1991-95 war.

Prague - The fourth international forum "Let my people live" ended with the adoption of an inter-parliamentary declaration calling for zero tolerance to anti-Semitism and hate crime. Parliament speakers, including Croatia's Leko, expressed deep concern about growing verbal, Internet and physical violence against Jews, notably in Europe.

Prague - Croatian Parliament Speaker Josip Leko said at a conference dedicated to the fight against growing extremist ideologies in Prague on Tuesday that the democratic deficit provided a fertile ground for extremist ideologies and that only democratic solutions were the right way.

Zagreb - Deputy Parliament Speaker Dragica Zgrebec said on Tuesday that Holocaust Memorial Day, January 27, was a day to send a message that peace, freedom, equality, solidarity, respect for differences and the right to choice of every man, are a pledge for the future of mankind.

Prague - The Czech Republic will adopt Croatia's model of fiscalisation, Croatian Parliament Speaker Josip Leko said in Prague on Monday after meeting his Czech counterpart Jan Hamaček. - Croatia's experience with fiscalisation is one of the good things that the Czech Republic is adopting from Croatia, Leko told the press.

Zagreb - Parliament Speaker Josip Leko has received Eurochambres president Richard Weber, who is visiting Croatia at the invitation of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK) and he welcomed the talks on an HGK reform.