News

Zagreb - Democracy without truly and well informed citizens cannot function, said the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament Josip Leko at the seminar organized in the Croatian Parliament "Role of national parliaments in ensuring the independence of Public Service Broadcasting in Council of Europe Member States".

Zagreb - Josip Leko (Social Democrat Party) has been elected a Speaker of the Parliament unanimously. He succeeded the late Boris Šprem. The election was widely applauded by all 123 deputies present in the Grand Hall. Josip Leko has been the Deputy Speaker of the Croatian Parliament until today’s election.

Zagreb - After a long and exhausting struggle with a disease, the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament Mr. Boris Šprem passes away at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston early this morning (European time).

Strasbourg – A conference of speakers and presidents of the parliaments of the Member States of the Council of Europe started in Strasbourg on Thursday afternoon. The Deputy Speaker of the Croatian Parliament Mr Josip Leko is attending as well.

Zagreb – On the occasion of the forthcoming National Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on September 22, the Committee on the Family, Youth and Sport, headed by the Committee Chairwoman Ms Jadranka Kosor, hosted a round table conference on domestic violence.

Zagreb – The Deputy Speaker of the Croatian Parliament Mr Josip Leko has sent a message of goodwill to the Jewish community living in Croatia on the occasion of Rosh Hashanah, the New Year's Day of the Jewish calendar.The Deputy Speaker said:

Zagreb – Deputy Speaker Mr Josip Leko received a delegation from the National Council for the Restoration of Jewish Property of the Israeli Prime Minister's Office, headed by the Council’s President Mr Rafael Eitan.

Zagreb - A delegation from the Irish National Parliament Joint Committee on European Affairs headed by the Committee Chairman Mr Dominic Hannigan visited the Croatian Parliament where they were received by the acting Parliament Speaker and Deputy Speaker Mr Josip Leko and where they held two other meetings with Mr Daniel Mondekar, Chairman of the European Integration Committee, and with Mr Milorad Pupovac, Chairman of the Foreign Policy Committee.

Sinj – The 297th Knight’s Tournament of Sinjska Alka was held under the auspices of the President of the Republic Mr Ivo Josipović who congratulated the winner Alen Filipović Grčić on his first ever Alka victory. The winner’s qualities you demonstrated at the tournament are precisely those our country needs to fight the economic crises, the President said and, by tradition, handed the victor a golden ring with Croatian national arms and a sabre.

Knin – At the ceremony marking the Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day, the Day of Croatian Defenders and the 17th anniversary of the military operation “Storm” in Knin, top state officials, President of the Republic Mr Ivo Josipović, Prime Minister Mr Zoran Milanović and Deputy Speaker and acting Speaker of the Croatian Parliament Mr Josip Leko expressed their gratitude to all the defenders who ensured Croatia’s victory in the homeland war. Mr Paul Vandoren, Head of the Delegation of the EU to Croatia, attended the ceremony as well.

Zagreb – Marking the Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day and the Day of Croatian Defenders, high-ranking state delegations and a delegation of the City of Zagreb laid wreaths and lit candles at the Mirogoj Cemetery in honour of all those who lost their lives in the Croatian Homeland War.

Zagreb – Deputy Speaker of the Croatian Parliament Mr Josip Leko received the visits of three ambassadors to Croatia: Romanian Ambassador Mr Cosmin Dinescu, Belgian Ambassador Ms Nancy Rossignol and Ukrainian Ambassador Mr Oleksandr Levchenko.

Zagreb – Today the session of the Croatian Parliament was adjourned until after September 15, pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution. On this occasion, Mr Josip Leko, Deputy Parliament Speaker and acting Speaker of the Croatian Parliament, held a media conference where he reported on the Sabor's work since the 7th Parliament convened on 22 December 2011 until 13 July 2012.

Zagreb – Mr David Lidington, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland’s Minister of State responsible for Europe, visited the Croatian Parliament, where he was received by the Chairman of the Foreign Policy Committee Mr Milorad Pupovac and the Chairman of the European Integration Committee Mr Daniel Mondekar.

Zagreb – The Deputy Speaker of the Croatian Parliament Mr Josip Leko offered his condolences to the speakers of both chambers of the Russian Parliament over the victims killed in the floods in the region of Krasnodarsk in the South of Russia.

Vienna – On Wednesday the National Council of Austria ratified Croatia’s Accession Treaty to the European Union. Deputy Speaker of the Croatian Parliament Mr Josip Leko attended the parliamentary debate and voting process.

Zagreb - Designated by the Speaker of the Parliament Mr Boris Šprem to perform the duties of the Speaker, Deputy Parliament Speaker Mr Josip Leko held a number of meetings on July 2 and 3. He received the ambassadors of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Malaysia, Egypt, Montenegro and Finland.

Zagreb – On June 27, the Office of the Speaker of the Parliament announced the following decision: "Pursuant to the provisions of the article 33 subsection 2 of the Standing Orders of the Croatian Parliament, yesterday, on 26 June 2012, the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament Mr Boris Šprem took the Decision by which he designates the Deputy Speaker Mr Josip Leko to act in his stead for the duration of Mr Šprem’s inability to perform the duties of the Speaker.”

Zagreb – Top Croatian state leaders began the celebration of Statehood Day laying wreaths at the Mirogoj cemetery in the morning and finished the festivity at the concert held in the evening hours at the Croatian National Theater in Zagreb.

Zagreb - A delegation of Hessian parliamentarians and state officials headed by Deputy Minister-President of the Federal State of Hessen and Minister of Justice, for Integration and Europe Mr Jörg-Uwe Hahn visited the Croatian Parliament.

Budapest - Bilateral relations between Croatia and Hungary are traditionally good and fructuous and as such they set an example of good neighbourly relations, concluded the Croatian Parliament Speaker Boris Šprem and his Hungarian host Mr Laszlo Köver.

Budapest – Croatian Parliament Speaker Boris Šprem, who is undertaking an official visit to Hungary, met on Monday in Budapest with the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. They discussed the two countries’ bilateral relations and the cooperation of Central European countries in the context of Croatia’s accession to the European Union.

Zagreb – A delegation of the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, headed by Lord Dundee, visited the Croatian Parliament. They were received by the Croatian Parliament Speaker Mr Boris Šprem as well as by the chairmen and members of the Foreign Policy Committee and the European Integration Committee.

Zagreb - Chairpersons and Members of three committees of the Croatian Parliament – Physical Planning and Construction Committee, Committee on Transportation, Communications and Maritime Affairs and European Integration Committee – held meetings with a delegation of the Committee on Transport, Building and Urban Development of the Parliament of the Federal Republic of Germany, led by Mr Volkmar Vogel.

Zagreb – Croatian Parliament Speaker Mr Boris Šprem met with the President of the Republic of Kosovo Ms Atifete Jahjaga, who is undertaking an official visit to Croatia. They focused on the topics of the present situation in the region and the ways of strengthening the already cordial and friendly bilateral relations.

Zagreb – Luxembourg is most likely to ratify Croatia’s Accession Treaty before the Chamber rises for the summer recess, or in autumn at the latest, stated Mr. Laurent Moser, Speaker of the Luxembourg Chamber of Deputies during the return visit the Luxembourg parliamentary delegation he headed was paying to the Sabor.

Zagreb – A reception for state officials, Members of Parliament and the diplomatic corps was held today in the Parliament to celebrate the Croatian Parliament Day.

Zagreb – While marking the 20th anniversary of the membership of the Republic of Croatia in the United Nations, leading Croatian state officials concurred that the UN, largest international organization encompassing 194 world countries, had substantially helped Croatia gain independence and that the country would remain committed to UN principles.

Zagreb – Croatian Parliament Speaker Boris Šprem met with Johannes Hahn, European Commissioner for Regional Policy and the delegation he headed.

Zagreb – Croatian Parliament Speaker Boris Šprem met with Andrew Scheer, Speaker of the House of Commons of the Parliament of Canada, undertaking an official visit to Croatia.

Zagreb – A delegation of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina, headed by the Committee Chairman Mirza Kušljugić, visited the Croatian Parliament.

Zagreb – Croatian Parliament Speaker Boris Šprem received the visit of Wu Bangguo, Chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress paying an official visit to Croatia at the Speaker's invitation.

Zagreb – Croatia is grateful to Poland for its valuable contributions on Croatia's path to the European Union. Today Poland represents a good source of information on how to most efficiently use the EU funds, said the Croatian Parliament Speaker Boris Šprem after the meeting with the Marshal of the Polish Senate Bogdan Borusewicz.

Zagreb – The Health and Social Welfare Committee of the Croatian Parliament, chaired by Biljana Borzan, received the visit of a delegation of the Health Committee of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Parliament. During their stay, the guests from the Czech Republic also held meetings with Josip Leko, Deputy Speaker, and Vladimir Bilek, MP representing the Czech and Slovak national minorities in the Croatian Parliament.

Topusko – Croatian Parliament Speaker Boris Šprem attended the ceremony held in Topusko under the auspices of the Croatian Parliament to mark the 67th anniversary of the victory over Fascism, the liberation of Croatia and its capital city, the 68th anniversary of the historic 3rd conference of the National Anti-Fascist Council of the People's Liberation of Croatia (ZAVNOH) and Europe Day.

Zagreb – Today the Croatian Parliament hosted the presentation of the latest “Analysis on children and women’s rights in Croatia” carried out by the Institute of Social Sciences Ivo Pilar. The Analysis shows, among other things, that the economic crisis has particularly negatively affected children.

Zagreb – Croatian Parliament Speaker Boris Šprem took part in today’s simulated parliamentary debate held in the Parliament’s conference hall and organized by the Croatian branch of the European Law Students’ Association (ELSA). This year the traditional Parliament Simulation Project gathered participants from five law faculties in Zagreb, Osijek, Split and Rijeka who debated on the bill on riots prevention at sporting events.

Zagreb - The 15th meeting of the Croatia-EU Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) took place in the Croatian Parliament from 2 to 3 May. The meeting was co-chaired by Andrej Plenković, chairperson of the Croatian Parliament Delegation to the Croatia-EU JPC, and Gunnar Hökmark, head of the European Parliament Delegation.

Zagreb – Hrvoje Marušić, Director General for European Affairs from the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, presented the Multiannual Financial Framework of the European Union (MFF) 2014-2020 at the joint meeting of the European Integration Committee and the Finance and Central Budget Committee of the Croatian Parliament.

Brussels – Today the European Commission adopted the Monitoring Report on Croatia’s accession preparations for the EU membership. The Report stresses progress in the level of preparedness and highlights the areas where further efforts are necessary in order for Croatia to be fully ready for membership on 1 July 2013.

Strasbourg – Head and members of the Croatian Parliament Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe - Gvozden Srećko Flego, Igor Kolman, Frano Matušić and Ivan Račan – are taking part in the work of the second part of this year’s regular session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, taking place in Strasbourg from 23 to 27 April.

Jasenovac – The Croatian political leadership – President of the Republic Ivo Josipović, Prime Minister Zoran Milanović and Parliament Speaker Boris Šprem – gathered at the Jasenovac Memorial Site to commemorate the 67th anniversary of the inmates’ breakthrough from the concentration camp and to send the message that the crimes committed in Jasenovac must not be forgotten or denied and that fascist ideas will never again take hold in Croatia.

Zagreb – This week Croatian Parliament Speaker Boris Šprem received the visits of David Slinn, Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Msgr. Mario Roberto Cassari, Papal Nuncio to the Republic of Croatia.

Zagreb - The delegation of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Security of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, headed by Jozef Regec, Committee Chairman, visited Sabor this week.

Zagreb – A delegation of the Finish Parliament Audit Committee, headed by its Chairwoman Tuija Brax, visited Sabor this week. They held meetings with the chairpersons and members of the Finance and Central Budget Committee, European Integration Committee and the National Council for Monitoring Anti-Corruption Strategy Implementation.

Strasbourg – Observers from the Croatian Parliament will for the first time take part in the European Parliament plenary session starting today in Strasbourg.

Zagreb – Thomas Christiansen, Professor at Maastricht University and OPAL project coordinator, delivered a lecture on “The Role of National Parliaments in the European Union". The event organized by the European Integration Committee and the Institute for International Relations was held in the Croatian Parliament.

Zagreb - Croatian Parliament Speaker Boris Šprem has sent his best wishes to the believers in the Republic of Croatia marking Easter according the Julian calendar.

Zagreb – Croatian Parliament Speaker Boris Šprem received the Second President of the National Council of Austrian Parliament Fritz Neugebauer who is undertaking an official visit in Croatia.

Zagreb – Croatian Parliament Speaker Boris Šprem has sent his warm wishes to mark Passover to Ognjen Kraus, President of the Coordinating Committee of the Jewish Communities in the Republic of Croatia, to Kotel Da-Don, Chief Rabbi of The Bet Israel Jewish Community of Croatia and to all Jewish believers in Croatia.