News

Zagreb - Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković on Monday issued a message for International Workers' Day, stressing that everyone should work to constantly improve labour legislation to make it respond to new challenges, keep it applicable and take care of the welfare of workers and their families.

Zagreb - Croatia is willing to actively assist Albania in the process of accession to the European Union, Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković said during his meeting with the visiting Albanian President Bajram Begaj in Zagreb on Thursday.

Zagreb - On the occasion of the International Day Against Victim Blaming and the campaign "Denim Day - Wear jeans with a higher purpose!", Deputy Parliament Speaker Sabina Glasovac on Wednesday received for talks representatives of that national campaign, noting that violence cannot be justified.

Zagreb - Croatian National Bank (HNB) Governor Boris Vujčić said in Parliament on Wednesday that inflationary pressure is abating, although it remains significant, rejecting claims by some opposition MPs that accession to the eurozone has contributed to inflation growth.

Zagreb - Today and tomorrow, Prague is hosting the Conference of Speakers of the European Union Parliaments (EUSC), which today focused on the war in Ukraine. Addressing a panel on the EU response to the Russian aggression, Croatian Parliament Speaker Jandroković called on the countries attending the EUSC to attend the donor conference and to "show the friendly Ukraine the very concrete and very needed support also in that way."

Zagreb - State leaders, representatives of ethnic minorities, antifascists, surviving inmate Nevenka Končar and victims' family members on Sunday honoured the victims of the Jasenovac concentration camp with a procession from the Memorial Museum to the Flower monument, where roses were laid.

Zagreb - The Croatian Parliament on Friday supported by a majority vote changes to a law that had reduced pensions earned under special regulations on pension insurance, abolishing a 10% cut in those pensions, a measure that refers to around 96,000 pensioners. The amendments were supported by 125 MPs, one abstained and there were no votes against.

Zagreb - The Croatian Parliament on Friday voted in amendments to the Act on Public Order and Peace Offences, drastically increasing fines for misdemeanors which now can amount to as much as €4,000, with 77 MPs voting in favour and 50 against.

Zagreb - The Croatian Parliament on Friday endorsed by a majority vote Prime Minister Andrej Plenković's report from the first meetings of the European Council this year.

Zagreb - Presenting the report on the use of European structural and investment funds in 2021 and the first half of 2022, the Minister of Regional Development and EU Funds, Šime Erlić, said that the absorption of EU funds was proceeding well and that he was confident that Croatia would manage to spend its entire allocation from the Solidarity Fund by the end of the year. The opposition questioned the effects of the funds absorbed.

Zagreb - Poland and Croatia are close countries and allies with the potential to increase their cooperation in defence, security and energy, with the Krk LNG terminal seen as a new reliable supply route for countries in Central and Eastern Europe, including Poland, the Croatian Parliament speaker and the Polish foreign minister said on Thursday.

Zagreb - The ruling coalition and opposition parties in Parliament on Wednesday welcomed the government's proposal to repeal the 10% reduction of preferential pensions, introduced in 2010, which would increase pensions for about 96,000 pensioners, including 63,000 Homeland War veterans.

Zagreb - After a heated debate on Wednesday morning as to whether the Offences against Public Order and Peace Act should be amended under fast-track procedure, the Opposition in the Croatian parliament repeated in a calmer tone their objections to the proposal.

Zagreb - The parliamentary Gender Equality Committee has unanimously supported a motion to name reception rooms in the parliament building after deserving women from Croatian history, asking the parliament presidency to make the decision on this as soon as possible.

Zagreb - Guidelines for the demographic revitalisation of Croatia, developed based on research and cross-sectoral cooperation as part of the project "Network 2050 - Demography, From Challenge to Response", was presented at a round table in the Croatian Parliament on Thursday.

Zagreb - Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković issued an Easter message on Saturday, wishing all citizens of Croatia and those who believe in the resurrection of Christ a joyful and blessed Easter.

Zagreb - Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković has issued a congratulatory message on the occasion of International Romani Day, saying that the 2021-2027 national plan for the inclusion of Roma clearly confirms the political will to systematically improve the status of the Romani minority in Croatia.

Zagreb - Ahead of World Roma Day, observed on 8 April, Sabor Speaker Gordan Jandroković on Tuesday received a delegation of the International Romani Union (IRU) and Croatian MP Veljko Kajtazi, with the IRU delegation welcoming the government's efforts to improve the status of Roma in Croatia.

Zagreb - Both ruling and opposition MPs supported the proposal by the Parliamentary Committee for Families, Youth and Sports to mark 31 May 31 as the National Day of Foster Care in order to recognize foster parents , but they also warned of the decline in the number of foster parents.

Zagreb - The Croatian parliament on Friday decided that a bill on personal assistance will receive a second reading, with members of the parliamentary majority commending it and opposition MPs welcoming it but noting that it leaves a number of issues unresolved.

Zagreb - On Friday, the Sabor confirmed the Agreement on cooperation in the field of public security between the Croatian and Israeli governments.

Zagreb - Information commissioner Zoran Pičuljan said on Wednesday the silence of institutions and "exceptionally" high number of unlawful decision by public authorities were the main negative trends in the right to access information in 2020 and 2021.

Zagreb - HRK 4.39 billion (€583m) was invested in the Croatian Adriatic islands in 2021, the largest amount ever, Spomenka Đurić, state secretary at the Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds, said in Parliament on Wednesday while presenting a report on the effects of implementation of the Islands Act.

Zagreb - The Opposition and members of the parliamentary majority on Friday endorsed a bill ratifying an agreement between Croatia and Israel on cooperation in public security, warning that cyber crime is a growing threat to citizens and the economy and underlining the need to protect personal data. The State Secretary at the Ministry of the Interior, Žarko Katić, said that cooperation between Croatia and Israel in the fight against crime is very successful but that in recent years the need has arisen to expand it in the area of fighting crime and ensuring public security.

Zagreb - Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković met with representatives of beekeepers' associations on Thursday to discuss the situation in the Croatian beekeeping sector.

Zagreb - Croatia hopes that political forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina that advocate cooperation will prevail, Minister for Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman told a joint meeting of the Croatian Parliament's Committee on Croats Abroad and Committee on Foreign Affairs on Wednesday. The two committees met together to discuss the role of Croats and cooperation between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina on that country's Euro-Atlantic path.

Zagreb - The Croatian parliament on Friday amended the Trade Act whereby the number of working Sunday in a year is cut to 16.

Zagreb - The Croatian parliament on Friday unanimously adopted amendments to the Health Care Act and the Mandatory Health Insurance Act, which form part of the health reform.

Zagreb - The Croatian parliament on Friday endorsed reports submitted by Supreme Court President Radovan Dobronić on the state of affairs in the judiciary in 2020 and 2021.

Zagreb - The government is required to submit amendments to the Social Welfare Act to the Sabor before the summer recess, with special emphasis on improving the status and rights of caregiver parents, including the extension of the right to compensation after the death of the child they cared for.

Zagreb - The parliamentary Defence Committee on Thursday gave a positive opinion on projects to procure SPIKE anti-tank guided missiles, Patria armoured personnel carriers and rigid inflatable boats (RIB) and to modernise the radar system and upgrade the combat communications system of the Croatian Air Force (HRZ).

Zagreb - Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković and Canada Senate Speaker George Furey said on Thursday the two countries are friends and allies as well as agreed on the support to Ukraine.

Zagreb - Justice Ministry State Secretary Juro Martinović said on Friday that there was no conspicuous lack of staff  in the penitentiary system, and explained that currently jails are overcrowded due to a rise in transit crime.

Zagreb - Roma minority MP Veljko Kajtazi said on Wednesday, on the occasion of International Women's Day, that Roma women were often exposed to multiple discrimination and consequently social exclusion.

Zagreb - Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković met on Wednesday with Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Donika Gërvalla-Schwarz, who was on an official visit to Croatia. 

Zagreb - Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković on Wednesday extended his best wishes to the female members of Parliament and to all women in Croatia for International Women's Day, saying that there are still challenges in achieving full gender equality and equal opportunities.

Zagreb - Several Opposition lawmakers said on Wednesday that the government-sponsored draft amendments to the Trade Act, under which shops would be opened on 16 Sundays a year, did not mean that workers would not be required to work on all Sundays.

Zagreb - Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković survived a no-confidence vote in the 151-seat Parliament on Friday, as 56 lawmakers voted in favour of his resignation and 77 were against, with one abstaining.

Zagreb - The Croatian parliament unanimously adopted the Water for Human Consumption Act on Friday, which aims to encourage citizens to use more tap water and reduce the consumption of bottled water, which should lead to waste reduction. All 128 MPs attending the session voted in favour.

Zagreb - Vesna Fabijančić Križanić and Josip Salapić should be co-chairing the State Election Commission (DIP) in the next eight years and Slaven Hojski, Ivana Ljulj and Draženko Pandek should become its members. A proposal to that effect was formulated on Thursday and forwarded to the Sabor by its Elections, Appointments and Administration Committee and the parliament could vote on it on Friday.

Zagreb - Croatian MPs on Wednesday commended the work and results of the Agency for Mobility and EU Programmes, stressing that its work was free of any scandals and that it implemented programmes with multiple benefits.

Zagreb - The proposed bill on water for human consumption aims to encourage citizens to use tap water tap instead of water in plastic bottles, which will contribute to the reduction of waste, Health Ministry State Secretary Marija Bubaš told the parliament while presenting the bill on Wednesday. "The bill intends to encourage residents to use tap water, which could contribute to reducing the use of plastic, reducing plastic waste and greenhouse gas emissions and should have a positive impact on efforts to mitigate climate change," Bubaš said.

Zagreb - Chief State Inspector Andrija Mikulić said in the parliament on Wednesday that the State Inspectorate received two first-instance court rulings that state inspectors had accurately identified an unjustified increase in prices upon the euro adoption on 1 January.

Zagreb - The Sabor adopted a new Reconstruction Act on Friday by a majority vote, which should simplify and speed up the reconstruction of earthquake-affected areas, while the Opposition criticised the reconstruction efforts to date.

Zagreb - The Croatian Parliament on Friday adopted the report on the work of state attorney's offices in 2021 by a vote of 76 to 56, confirming its confidence in State Attorney-General Zlata Hrvoj Šipek.

Zagreb - Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković met with the Chair of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Borjana Krišto, during her visit to Zagreb on Thursday.

Zagreb - The parliamentary Committee on Information, Computerisation and the Media on Thursday endorsed a report on the work of the Hina Steering Board in 2021 by six votes in favour, one against and one abstention.

Zagreb - The Croatian parliament's Physical Planning and Construction Committee on Tuesday supported by a majority vote a draft bill on the reconstruction of buildings damaged by the earthquake, and in addition to the ruling coalition, the draft bill received support also from part of the opposition.

Zagreb - Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković on Wednesday extended his condolences to the families of the victims of the recent earthquake in Turkey and Syria, calling on MPs to observe a minute's silence for those killed.

Zagreb - Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković said on Friday, on the occasion of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, that one must never turn a blind eye to outbursts of hate against members of a different ethnic group or religion.