Croatian Doctors Are Going on a Strike After Zagreb Protest
March 29, 2023 - Croatian doctors have announced a strike. Mirjana Livojevic, a doctor from the hospital in Sisak, recalls the last doctors' strike. It was ten years ago when she started working on her own. In ten years, she concludes, some things have remained the same, some have changed for the better, but some still have not. She said the strike could not wait, called Plenkovic out, and listed four demands the doctors would not give up on.
Index reports the conversation from RTL Direkt.
So you've definitely decided that a strike is the next step?
"Yes, I must say that we are certainly going on strike; we have not agreed on the exact date and form in detail," she said.
Is it a unique decision of all associations?
"It is a unique decision of all five umbrella associations in healthcare and all members at the meeting," she stated.
When is the earliest date?
"We cannot give exact dates because that decision will be made by the assembly of the Croatian Medical Union; they have the only right to do so. The assembly was previously scheduled for May 13, but that date is quite far away, so it is likely that an extraordinary assembly will be convened, which will then arrange a date," the doctor said.
"We will not wait for a decision on the strike," she added.
What is the legal procedure, a strike in the healthcare system must take place so that patients' health is not endangered in any way, right?
"That's right; our profession is very specific. For us, the patient always was and always will be in the first place. We will find a way to fight for our rights so that no one is endangered," she stated.
Doctors went on strike ten years ago during the SDP government, and they were introduced a work obligation, do you fear this will happen now?
"That was when I just started working. I remember that strike and the introduction of work obligations. Ten years have passed, things have changed a lot, some for the better, some for the worse, and some have remained the same, and that's one big reason why we are forced to go on strike. We were not heard," she said.
You held a protest ten days ago. Have you met with Minister Beros since then?
"Absolutely no one from the Ministry contacted us. We asked both before the protest and during for a meeting with the government. We were ignored by the Prime Minister and all government members, including Beros, who is in charge of the department and who should be the most interested," she said.
"I saw somewhere that Plenkovic and Beros met and that the prime minister authorized him to continue the talks," she claimed.
Are you calling on Plenkovic to solve the problem?
"We have been calling on him since the protest," she said.
No effect?
"It's not very nice to ignore people. On the one hand, they ignore you; on the other hand, they say they're open," she believes.
What would have to happen to call off the strike?
"The demands that are clear and simple should be met. The four demands that we have been repeating since September," the doctor said.
Compromise?
"We are not giving up on the four demands. Perhaps we can compromise within each, but none will be given up," she said.
Example?
"If it comes to that, and it will, after the formal announcement of the strike, there is a period called the conciliation process where the ministry will have the opportunity to express their ideas, where the unions will express theirs, then we can talk and agree on a compromise. We have days to resolve it, which is the period to resolve the situation so there is no strike. It depends on what they are ready to do, not to promise or establish a working group, but to do it," she concluded.
For more, make sure to check out our dedicated News section.
Croatia to Sign Trilateral Agreement to Control Illegal Migration
March 29, 2023 - Italy, Slovenia, and Croatia are launching trilateral cooperation to control illegal migration, as announced by the Prime Ministers of Croatia and Slovenia, Andrej Plenkovic and Robert Golob.
As Index writes, the Slovenian Prime Minister said at a press conference in Brdo castle near Kranj that Schengen made it easier for many Slovenians to travel to Croatia and that Ljubljana's support for Croatian membership was the "correct decision" in its national interest, as shown by the higher number of arrivals of Slovenian citizens this year.
Unfortunately, Golob continued, in the same period, there was also an increase in the number of illegal migrants entering Slovenia, which is why it is in the common interest to establish as good a control over the external borders of the European Union as possible.
Therefore, the two countries, which are only transit for illegal migrants, together with Italy, the country that is their final destination, will start a trilateral cooperation for monitoring migration.
The Slovenian Prime Minister said that Slovenia and Italy are not going in the direction of directly helping Croatia to protect the border because that is within Croatia's jurisdiction and "it has enough of its forces," but rather "in-depth" surveillance, from the border to the final destination, is being considered.
Trilateral cooperation, the most important for Italy as a destination country, could be launched very soon, even before Golob visits Zagreb, which is planned for May, the Slovenian Prime Minister said.
Plenkovic: We want to send a message of reliability
Plenkovic said at the conference that Croatia has an "extremely demanding" task of guarding the EU's external border, which 6,700 police officers work on and which is why "huge" investments in police readiness and surveillance technology have been made.
He emphasized that Croatia is ready for trilateral cooperation and that the Minister of the Interior, Davor Bozinovic, visited Italy the day before "precisely on the topic of migration policies."
Plenkovic said that Croatia wanted to send a "message of reliability" and added that Golob referred to the "good impressions" of Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who visited the National Coordination Center for Border Control (NCC) at the beginning of the month.
"We are ready to sign the agreement on police cooperation that has already been prepared, and I believe that these technical aspects will be resolved by the time Prime Minister Golob arrives in Croatia," said the Croatian Prime Minister, adding that the cooperation will be "effective, reliable and compliant with regulations."
Bozinovic: Food shortages and earthquakes increase migration
Minister Bozinovic said at the very beginning of the month that the number of illegal migrants entering the EU is approaching the level of 2015 and 2016.
Bozinovic then said that migrants, like before, mostly come from the Middle East and North Africa, but that due to the liberalization of the visa regime in the neighborhood, "primarily in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina," residents of countries such as Burundi and Cuba are also arriving.
He emphasized that one of the causes of the greater number of migrations were the consequences of Russian aggression against Ukraine, which disrupted the world's economic flows and pushed a large number of people below the poverty line but also threatened the food supply of precisely those areas that had previously had such difficulties.
The large number of arrivals was also influenced by the catastrophic earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, which occurred where many refugees from Syria and other countries resided.
For more, make sure to check out our dedicated News section.
Croatian Olive Oil Among Best in the World, Wins Gold Medals in NY
March 29, 2023 - It is no secret that Croatian olive oil is among the best in the world. And it excelled yet again at the annual competition in New York, with only Italy and Spain, the largest global producers of olive oil, winning more medals.
"Bravo Tom, Bravo Eva!" congratulations were directed at the Croatian olive oil producers, winners of the first prizes at the NYIOOC 2023, report Agroklub/Poslovni.
"Here at last, Oblica," replies Tomislav Duvnjak, head of the St. Ivan Olive Oil Center in Vodice. He doesn't hide his satisfaction that his oil from the local variety is this time decorated with gold. Last year, at this same competition, his extra virgin oil St. Ivan Oblica won the silver medal.
Duvnjak is otherwise known as the man who two years ago encouraged olive growers from Dalmatia, Croatia's largest olive-growing region, to organize a shipment of oils to New York for the world's largest and most prestigious olive oil competition.
Since then, they have recorded the greatest successes. Last year, in competition with 1,244 samples from 28 countries worldwide, Croatian olive oil producers, mainly from Dalmatia and Istria, won 96 awards (69 gold and 27 silver).
"We are third in the world. It is the biggest success so far", commented Duvnjak.
Only Italy (158 medals) and Spain (128) are ahead of Croatia, countries that are also the largest producers of olive oil in the European Union, but also in the world. In terms of olive oil quality, Croatia is followed by the United States of America (94 medals), Greece (79), Turkey (65), Portugal (35)... This year, 1,100 samples from the northern hemisphere countries arrived at the NYIOOC, of which 126 oils came from Croatia (61 from Dalmatia).
With Duvnjak's St. Ivan Oblica, an award also went to the Eva Marija Levantinka brand owned by OPG Eva Marija Čurin from Gdinj on the island of Hvar. It is an extra virgin oil that is characterized by its fruitiness. This OPG was founded in 1997 and is located in the favourable area of Gdinj, on the eastern side of the island of Hvar. The estate comprises five hectares of specialized olive groves with 1,000 trees and overlooks the Adriatic Sea (225 meters).
"All the fruits are hand-picked in the first half of October and processed within 24 hours using a cold extraction system", points out Eva Marija Čurin, who has already proven herself by winning several awards at domestic and international competitions for olive growers and oil producers.
For more, make sure to check out our dedicated News section.
Luciane Choucate, Brazilian Chocolatier Makes Artisan Chocolates in Croatia
March 28, 2023 - Although the shelves of Croatian shops are full of various chocolates, which come in seemingly countless flavors, there are very few domestic producers of quality and artisan chocolates. Most of them are true enthusiasts, focused on the quality of raw materials, committed to developing the best recipe, and achieving a unique chocolate taste. They make them carefully, in small batches, with quirky toppings, for all those who like to enjoy their chocolate meaningfully and slowly. Luciane Choucate, a Brazilian chocolatier, makes her chocolates right in the heart of Croatia, in Samobor.
Luciane Choucate comes from Salvador, the capital of Bahia on the northeast coast of Brazil, and has been associated with chocolate since she was young. Partly because her hometown is one of the key areas for cocoa production, without which there would be no chocolate: "My state is the largest producer of cocoa in Brazil, where production began in the middle of the 18th century. Thanks to cocoa, a strong agricultural industry developed, with numerous social and political consequences. Today, Bahia stands out for producing, in my opinion, the best quality cocoa in the world," Luciane told Jutarnji.
"My story with chocolate started when I was 13 years old. I had two cacao trees in my yard, so I tried to make chocolate from the beans but didn't have very good results. Many years later, as an adult, passion led me to try again, but this time I educated myself first. I attended bean-to-bar courses in Canada and Brazil and educated myself about the production and processing of cocoa on farms and in agro-industry institutes, considering that the raw material determines the final taste of the chocolates. And I tried, tried, and tried... More than ten years have passed since I started producing bean-to-bar chocolates. Since I already had my small production in Brazil, when I arrived in Croatia in 2018 I started looking for ways to find the necessary raw materials and equipment within the EU. Now I can also produce a small batch of high-quality chocolate here," Luciane is proud.
When it comes to chocolate, he points out that the main challenge in Croatia is acquiring the primary raw material, i.e., cocoa beans: "In Brazil, I was able to visit farms, observe the harvesting and processing, and choose the batches of cocoa fruits (lots) that interested me the most, even choose cocoa by variety. Here in the EU, I buy cocoa from companies that import cocoa beans, but I'm already working on getting the best cocoa in the world, the one from my state, Bahia. I have good contacts with very high-quality producers there," she explained. The procurement of cocoa beans itself is a complex and important process, not only for the sake of quality but also for the flavour profile that individual cocoa beans can provide: "Just like wine, which depends on the grape variety, soil, and climate, no cocoa vintage is the same. And that is amazing!!! As my husband likes to say, nature does not have an ISO 9000 quality standard. Every vintage brings new opportunities, challenges, and flavours. Just like wine that comes from different grape varieties, cocoa also has different varieties, such as Catongo, Para-Parazinho, Ipiranga, and others. Chocolates can also be blends of several varieties or from cacao trees from only one locality," she pointed out.
Living in Croatia and a smaller town like Samobor has great advantages for Luciane: "What stands out most here for all Brazilians is safety. It is freedom. My family and I have adapted very well to Croatia, we have made many friends, and life in Samobor is a dream for those who have always lived in big cities. Croatia is a beautiful country, with mountains, rivers, lakes and the sea that is very close. Nature is respected... We love living here," explains the warm-hearted Brazilian and adds: "Another very important thing! Just like Brazilians, Croats are passionate about coffee! I like to sit and enjoy coffee at my own pace," she smiled.
Luciane currently offers four types of chocolate, dark with 72% cocoa, milk with 52%, milk with 52% cocoa and coffee, and white chocolate. The positive reactions of her customers when they taste Lu Choucate chocolates for the first time never fail: "The reaction is always very good. People are impressed with the taste of real chocolate, how they can taste the fruit of the cocoa tree, as well as the fact that dark chocolate can be very smooth and milky chocolate can be strong. Or how white chocolate, otherwise a source of discord, is actually not that sweet". She also described her process of coming up with chocolates: "I always research and listen to what people like and want. I always strive to keep the cocoa content high and work to get the best possible flavour out of it. I start by designing the recipe, ensuring the cocoa solids and cocoa butter ratios are well balanced without losing the cocoa flavor. Then we produce chocolates in small batches to test the whole process and do many tastings, where friends are always welcome to give their opinion."
Lu Choucate chocolates can be ordered via @luchoucatechocolatier on Instagram and Facebook and via the e-mail address This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Luciane notes that she is actively working to make her chocolates available in specialized stores. The price of one chocolate bar is three euros, but she points out that her customers usually order several at once, which she encourages for the sake of the financial sustainability of production. She has no shortage of good ideas, from the thoughtful expansion of the range to business development: "The plan is to set up a factory/shop with a cafe where people will be able to see the production of chocolate that they taste in all stages," she emphasized and added: "I never get tired of hearing comments of people who have truly tasted chocolate for the first time. I love it! I'm passionate about my work," she says with a smile and returns to the rented kitchen where the latest batch of delicious artisan chocolates will soon be created.
Bean-to-bar chocolate production
Production begins on the farm by selecting the best batches of cocoa fruits (lots), harvesting, fermentation, and drying. Lot selection even includes random cut testing of cocoa pod samples to confirm proper fermentation and drying.
Manual selection is done in the factory to separate only the best grains and remove all impurities. Only perfect grains are then roasted. The roasting affects the final taste of the chocolate, and the beans can be milder or more roasted, depending on the recipe and the potential of the cocoa bean itself.
After roasting, the cooled beans are broken, and the shell is separated, which results in smaller cocoa nibs. "The grains go through purification, for which I use mills or melangers that have stone rollers that mix the grains," Luciane described. This reduces the size of the particles, and the resulting chocolate liqueur is exposed to oxygen, eliminating unwanted volatile substances. Next, the melanger refines and concocts the cocoa simultaneously, which can last 48, 72, or more hours. Now the formed chocolate is tempered, during which crystallization is controlled, and then poured into molds. In the end, the chocolate bars are packed and ready for consumption. This whole process takes two to three weeks.
For more, make sure to check out our dedicated Lifestyle section.
5 Things Rwanda Does Better Than Croatia
March 28, 2023 - Two countries devoured by war a generation ago. Learning from excellence is an inspiring thing - 5 things Rwanda does better than Croatia.
It is a strange thing, being an expat. Or an immigrant, as some people prefer me labelled. A country you live in becomes a part of you, will never leave you.
And after over 20 years in Croatia, I have never lived longer anywhere else. And I am very happy here.
But there is one other country I lived in for almost a year that refuses to leave me.
Rwanda.
1994 in Rwanda was among the biggest hellholes of the 20th century. Arriving just a week after a genocide which killed 800,000 people in 100 days (almost 12% of the population) is an experience I wiill never forget. Nor those intense months afterwards, working 20 hours a day to provide food security for the survivors to start again. Rwanda - much like Dalmatia - is my blood, but for very different reasons. She made me cry as a 53-year-old when I finally went for my first counselling at the tender age of 53 last year.
I have followed the journey of that tortured Central African countries for the last 30 years, a journey of dictatorial democracy, reconciliation, and tentative steps of hope for the future.
It is a country that I have allocated more than my fair share of my emotional well-being to over the years, as well as my tears. I will never forget the face of my 4-year-old daughter on April 6, 2014 - the 20th anniversary of the genocide.
It was 6 am on the idyllic island of Hvar when my youngest woke and came to say hi to her blogger father on the couch, who was in tears. A combination of memories and this excellent article in the New York Times, called Portraits of Reconciliation.
"What's wrong, Daddy?" asked the confused child, who had never seen a grown man - let alone her father - cry.
"Nothing," I answered, holding her tighter than I have ever held a human in my life.
"It was just something bad that happened in Africa a long, long time ago." And then I strengthened my grip.
Comparison is the thief of joy, and no two countries are alike. It would also be wrong to claim that 'democratic' Rwanda is a true democracy, as the experiences of my Rwandese friends will testify. And yet...
One of the poorest countries in the world, which lost an eighth of its population in 100 days, the latest - but certainly not the first - genocide. Some 30 years later, it has emeged a lot brighter than many might have predicted. And when I look at my adopted homeland of Croatia, I see parallels, and I see lessons to be learned. Here are 5 things that I think Rwanda is doing better than Croatia - all of which would be very welcome for Croatia to emulate - which it can.
1. A ban on plastic bags in the whole country since 2009
I have lost count of the number of articles I have read - and written - about hotels which are proving their environmental credentials by banning the use of things such as plastic straws. Rwanda banned plastic bags in the whole country back in 2009. The whole country, enforced with fines and even the threat of imprisonment.
2. Emergency blood delivered by drone within 30 minutes all over the country
Medical emergency? How to get that emergency blood? For more than 6 years now in Rwanda, a doctor names his requirements, and within 90 seconds, a drone is on its way with a life-saving package - ETA maximum 30 minutes.
3. Reconciliation
As a Brit, with no experience of civil war in my country, it is hard for me to comment with authority on the effects of civil war. Having lived in both Rwanda and Croatia, however, I can see the healthier way forward - reconciliation. And while my 7-year-old child got her first nightmare with her homework in school (Read more in Is it Really Necessary to Poison the Minds of the Next Generation?), the comprehensive rehabilitation process performed in Rwanda has gone a long way towards healing. No longer Tutsis and Hutus, we are all Rwandan now.
Contrast that with the ongoing torment of Vukovar, a city not reconquered, but handed back, where schools are still divided, those who perpetrated horrific crimes encounter their victims on a daily basis, and where politicians stoke the hatred for politcal gain a generation on.
,
4. Tourism
The land of 1000 islands had been usurped by the land of 1000 hills. On the face of it, Rwanda doesn't have that much going for it regarding tourism, apart from a few mountain gorillas, but man, have they done an amazing job with what they have. So much so that in 2019, Bloomberg named Rwanda as one of the top 10 destinations in the world for billionaires. And they had plenty more to say on the subject in How Rwanda Became the Unlikeliest Tourism Destination in Africa. And not just Bloomberg, here is the Robb Report - Rwanda Is Building a Low-Footprint, Luxury Tourism Industry From Scratch—and Succeeding.
An intresting strategy - building a tourism industry rather than just waiting for tourists to arrive as in Croatia...
5. Tourism Promotion
And perhaps my favourite of the five - tourism promotion. In 2018 Croatia was one of the most-searched countries on the planet, its players and fans adored all over the world for their World Cup heroics in Russia. If ever any country had the moral high ground to claim to be the tiny country that dared to dream, and to cash in commercially on that footballing success, it was Croatia.
And yet, with the Kings of Accidental Tourism congratulated themselves on a job well done (not by them, but by others, as usual), tiny Rwanda, a country that had never been to the World Cup, never had a player in the Premier League, stole the show with a sponsorship deal with Arsenal - the first sponsorship deal between a tourism country and a Premier League team - which saw Visit Rwanda seen on Arsenal shirts around the world 35 million times a day. You can read more in my article a few years ago in Lessons from Rwanda: Promoting Tourism Through Football, African-Style.
****
You can subscribe to the Paul Bradbury Croatia Expert YouTube channel here.
What is it like to live in Croatia? An expat for 20 years, you can follow my series, 20 Ways Croatia Changed Me in 20 Years, starting at the beginning - Business and Dalmatia.
Follow Paul Bradbury on LinkedIn.
Croatia, a Survival Kit for Foreigners is now available on Amazon in paperback and on Kindle.
Luxury Istrian Resort Introducing Offer to Entice Golf Lovers
March the 28th, 2023 - One luxury Istrian resort is set to raise the level of its offer this year, with a special emphasis placed on enticing golf lovers to the beautiful Istrian peninsula.
As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, one luxury Istrian resort, known as a prestigious five-star golf and spa resort, is opening its doors this year again. Located in Istria, near Savudrija and Umag, Kempinski Hotel Adriatic is bringing in some new content with which it will raise its business to an even higher level.
From this year on, this popular luxury Istrian resort will offer its services throughout the entire year, which will allow guests to enjoy the charms of Istria and indeed the rest of Croatia during the winter months as well.
Another piece of business news that will delight all passionate golfers is the rebranding of the golf course and the exclusive news that Golf Adriatic has become the first "PGA National Golf Course" in Croatia and in this part of the region.
"The PGA" is the first association of professional golfers in the world, founded way back in in 1901. The organisation provides support to its members and their work is aimed at promoting golf. If you've ever followed many of the blunders Croatia has got itself into when it comes to creating certain golf courses (think Dubrovnik, for example), you'll know that this will definitely be a plus for golf lovers across Europe and indeed the rest of the world.
As part of this prestigious organisation, Golf Adriatic has the right to absolute exclusivity as the only PGA certified golf course in the Republic of Croatia and the possibility of organising golf tournaments on an international level.
Being a part of such a prestigious organisation will contribute to further development and growth, as well as enhanced recognition of this luxury Istrian hotel on an international level.
For more, make sure to check out our dedicated business section.
EURO 2024 Qualifiers: Two Kovačić Goals Bring Croatia Away Victory against Turkey
March 28, 2023 - After drawing against Wales at Poljud on Saturday, Croatia beat Turkey in the second round of the EURO 2024 qualifiers.
Croatia and Turkey met in Bursa on Tuesday for the second round of EURO 2024 qualifiers. This was Croatia's last match before the Nations League finals, which is held this June in Rotterdam.
Coach Zlatko Dalić lead Croatia tonight for the 72nd time, which ties him with the undisputed record holder Miroslav Blažević.
Croatia and Turkey had played ten times so far before this match. Croatia's first victory in a major competition was against Turkey (Euro 1996), but perhaps also the biggest shock - losing on penalties in the EURO quarter-finals in Austria and Switzerland in 2008.
Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić made three changes in the starting lineup. Josip Stanišić, Borna Barišić, and Mario Pašalić entered the starting 11 instead of Josip Juranović, Borna Sosa, and the injured Marko Livaja.
Lineups
TURKEY: Günok, Celik, Söyuncu, Demiral, Kadioglu, Kökcu, Calhanoglu, Özcan, Ünder, Ünal, Aktüroglu
CROATIA: Livaković, Stanišić, Šutalo, Gvardiol, Barišić, Modrić, Brozović, Kovačić, Pašalić, Perišić, Kramarić
The match started at 20:45 in front of nearly 40,000 fans. Around 1500 Croatia fans were in attendance.
Brozovic lost the ball in the penalty area in the 5th minute, forcing Livakovic to make a quick save to keep Turkey from taking an early lead. Livakovic had to save the day not even five minutes later after a Sutalo slip allowed Turkey to get a shot off. And in the 11th minute, a Turkey goal was called offside.
Croatia started waking up shortly after and pushed into Turkey's half. Stanisic got a shot off wide of the goal in the 16th minute.
But even with their lack of concentration, Croatia found the back of the net. Stanisic was played wide on the right wing and sent the ball to Pasalic who played a one-two with Perisic and laid it off to Kovacic in the box for 0-1 Croatia!
Croatia's lack of concentration continued after they took the lead, and another close encounter with Livakovic nearly leveled the result. Stanisic dribbled into the box and failed to get a good shot off in the 32nd minute.
Croatia really struggled to find their footing in the first half, but the injury to Turkey's captain did not do them a favor, either.
Even with their poor play, Croatia found a way to the back of the net again. Brozovic and Modric stole the ball in Turkey's half, found Pasalic on the left whose shot went off the keeper's fingertips, and to Kovacic who scored his second goal for 0-2!
The first half ended 0-2 for Croatia.
Croatia attacked well in the 53rd minute, but both Kovacic and Pasalic failed to get a shot off in time.
And Croatia's best chance of the second half came five minutes later. Modric played a low ball into the box from the right side, and Pasalic side-footed to the goal with an incredible reaction from the Turkey keeper.
Dalic made his first sub - Juranovic came on for Pasalic in the 65th minute.
Turkey picked up the pace from the 70th minute and even had a good chance on goal which went wide of the far post.
A brilliant attack by Kovacic, Perisic, and Kramaric almost resulted in another goal, but Kramaric's shot just missed the goal.
Two corners for Turkey in the 80th minute had Croatia on their toes, but with 10 minutes to go, the game was still 0-2.
Modric and Kramaric came out for Majer and Musa in the 84th minute.
Five minutes of stoppage time were added. Ivanusec came on for Perisic.
Turkey had a dangerous chance in the 2nd minute of stoppage time which Livakovic brilliantly saved, but the game ended in Croatia's favor.
Croatia meets next in June for the Nations League Finals in Rotterdam. Croatia plays the semi-final against the Netherlands on June 14.
To follow the latest sports news in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.
All Croatian Fuel Prices Lower as of Today, New Costs Published
March the 28th, 2023 - As of today, all Croatian fuel prices are lower than they were following a government session held over the phone yesterday. The new Croatian fuel prices, before they inevitably go back up again, are published below.
As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, a telephone government session was held yesterday at which the Decree on determining the highest retail prices of oil derivatives was adopted, the Croatian Government reports.
The regime according to which the highest retail prices are calculated according to the formula based on the basic price of fossil fuel in the previous fourteen-day period, with a limited premium of 0.0995 EUR/l (0.75 HRK/l) for diesel and petrol, and 0.0531 EUR /l (0.40 kn/l) for blue diesel, and in the amount of 0.8229 EUR/kg (6.20 kn/kg) propane-butane mixture for bottles, i.e. 0.3716 EUR/kg (2.80 kn/kg) for large containers, will remain valid for a further fourteen days as of today.
The new Croatian fuel prices in effect as of today's date are as follows:
1.39 EUR/l (10.47 HRK/l) for petrol (a reduction of 0.01 EUR/l)
1.34 EUR/l (10.10 HRK/l) for diesel (a reduction of 0.06 EUR/l)
0.84 EUR/l (6.33 HRK/l) for blue diesel (a reduction of 0.06 EUR/l)
1.29 EUR/kg (9.72 HRK/kg) LPG for tanks (a reduction of 0.13 EUR/kg)
1.85 EUR/kg (13.94 HRK/kg) LPG for bottles (a reduction of 0.13 EUR/kg)
If there were no government measures introduced to control Croatian fuel prices and if their retail prices were completely freely formed at the level of premiums of energy entities before the first Regulation, they would amount to:
1.62 EUR/l (12.21 kn/l) for petrol
1.57 EUR/l (11.83 kn/l) for diesel
0.96 EUR/l (7.23 kn/l) for blue diesel
1.53 EUR/kg (11.53 kn/kg) LPG for tanks
2.16 EUR/kg (16.27 HRK/kg) LPG for bottles
For more, make sure to keep up with our dedicated news section.
Invento Summit Sees Leaders of Croatian Startup World Come Together
March the 28th, 2023 - The recently held Invento Summit in Zagreb brought together the leaders of Croatian startups and others from the world of investment and technology, including Photomath's creator, Damir Sabol.
As Suzana Varosanec/Poslovni Dnevnik writes, over the last decade or so, the Croatian startup ecosystem has changed an enormous amount, and while young entrepreneurs used to depend on themselves and themselves only, they can now count on advice, mentorship and even money from those who have succeeded, and there are no longer so few of those here in Croatia.
Damir Sabol, currently the most talked about entrepreneur in the entire country, who is waiting for regulatory approval of the sale of his third company - Photomath - to the global giant Google, said from the Invento Summit that after the sale, the approval process of which is quite arduous, he plans to help others.
"I see myself helping other people achieve what they want," Sabol said, noting that everyone expects him to do something, and contrary to expectations, he believes that the time has come to dedicate himself to others. The power of giving back was also the motto of the Invento Summit regional conference, which gathered more than 200 experts in technology, business development and investments in Zagreb on Friday.
Sabol, one of the conference panelists, certainly has an awful lot of skill to pass on. He has been in the world of entrepreneurship practically since his student days, and as he recalled, when he told his colleagues from FER that he was going to found his own company, nobody believed him.
"The prevailing attitude was that you can get a job and work for others, but not that you can found your own company. We have to change that," emphasised the founder of Photomath. He also noted that we must work on better communication. "Americans know how to communicate well, which is very important and that's their advantage. In this country, on the other hand, neither the education system nor employers insist on having proper communication skills,'' stated Sabol, who continued in his belief that ideas should be shared and not merely kept to oneself.
Although the idea itself doesn't have to be crucial for success, it was not so in the case of Albert Gajsak, the well known 24-year-old founder of CircuitMess.
"He had an idea, but no plan on how to realise it,'' Tomislav Car, the co-founder of Infinum, and today the director of Productive, recalled the beginnings of this young and successful entrepreneur. Car is otherwise the only investor in Gajsak's idea, as well as the mentor of the business, which turned out to be a good and smart move, because CircuitMess currently generates revenues of 2.3 million dUD ollars and cooperates with Walmart, the largest retail chain in the entire world. This collaboration began when Car decided to pay for a plane ticket for a then young high school student, Albert Gajsak to go to a European robotics competition.
"My parents didn't have money for that ticket, so I sent emails to all the IT companies I knew, asking them to help me out," recalled Gajsak, who was bored with school because there weren't enough practical exercises for him to engage in. That was also his motive to start a private business, the product of which is STEM toys.
In addition to CircuitMess, Car also invested money and time in Rentlio, he said at the Invento Summit. It is important, he believes, that young people have a role model and that they understand that a lot can be achieved with a bit of hard work.
"I have a nice car, so when children stop me and ask how I got it, I tell them that they have to study and go to school, and they don't believe me. In Croatia, the prevailing opinion is that only politicians and thieves can drive a nice car," stated Car.
Sharing knowledge, and then money, was also the motive of the entrepreneurs who founded the Slovenian VC fund Silicon Gardens. Gregor Rebolj said that it is in their interest to help young entrepreneurs out. "When we help, we don't ask for anything in return except that they also help themselves and don't turn their backs on their ideas," he stated.
For more, check out our business section.
More Than 80% of Citizens Want Free Market for Croatian Bus Companies
March the 28th, 2023 - More than 80 percent of Croatian residents surveyed would ideally want a free market for Croatian bus companies. Domestic carriers have been struggling through troubled waters for some time now, and it seems no perfect solution has yet been found.
As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, the Association of Croatian Bus Carriers (UHAP) is still not remotely satisfied with the approach being taken by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure to the amendments to the Law on Road Transport and demands market liberalisation.
They pointed out that the public bus transport market in Croatia has not been liberalised, nor is it in line with European Union (EU) regulations. While almost all other member states have opened up their markets for the benefit of the population, the aforementioned ministry has not yet made a concrete move in the same direction for Croatian bus companies, according to UHAP.
According to them, there is a group of carriers operating in the Republic of Croatia who persistently want to maintain the current situation and "use the opportunity to get money for public service work without a public tender under''. If the liberalisation of the market for Croatian bus companies is not carried out, the Transport Ministry will continue to be under the attack of various sorts of blackmail, the association pointed out.
"Cabotage, which makes up only 1% of the Croatian market, cannot be the only major focus of changes within the law, without working on other segments as well,'' stated the president of the association, Kresimir Cumbrek, who emphasised the fact that the recently carried out IPSOS research confirmed that more 80 percent of citizens want an open and free market for Croatian bus companies with better service and more competitive, cheaper ticket prices.
"It's already more than clear as day to them that free, fair and greater competition will bring them lower prices, better service, a larger offer, and more jobs,'' Cumbrek concluded.
For more, check out our dedicated news section.
