Latest News from Croatia
Croatia External Debts Hits All-time High
Croatia’s external gross debt has hit 46.4 billion euro, an all-time record, 108 per cent of the annual GDP, the country’s main bank reported.
Compared to the same period in 2013, the Croatian National Bank, HNB, reported a 3.3-per-cent rise in the debt in the first trimester of 2014.
Balkans on Freak Weather Alert as Two Die in Romania
Several Balkan countries were bracing for highly unseasonal storms and flooding on Wednesday, which will be bad news for agriculture and local tourist industries already suffering from a drop in numbers.
Croatian Tourism Dips Worryingly in July
Croatia’s hugely important tourist industry, an important motor in the country’s economy, may fail to deliver the expected results this summer, tourist officials fear.
Although official figures for July have yet to emerge, hotels, apartment owners and camps are unofficially reporting a disappointingly large number of unoccupied beds.
Central Macedonia police arrest Serb wanted in Croatia for war crimes
A Serbian man wanted in Croatia for alleged war crimes has been arrested in northern Greece.
Police said the unnamed man was arrested on Monday night near Kilkis, Central Macedonia, by officers from a local precinct.
Subsequent checks confirmed that there were a number of international warrants for his arrest.
Zajecar Guitar Festival kicks off on Wednesday
BELGRADE - The 48th Guitar Festival in Zajecar, one of the oldest music events of its kind, takes place from July 30 to August 20.
Actors and Sports Stars Mingle on Croatian Coast
Summer on the Croatian Adriatic coast this year is attracting a fair selection of the international jet set and sports stars. Most have been heading for the island of Hvar and Dubrovnik, resorts that combine culture, cuisine, beaches and nightlife.
IKEA Opens its Doors in Croatia
Popularity Swedish furniture retailer IKEA, a byword for design and practicality throughout the Western hemisphere, is opening near Zagreb, Croatia, on 21 August.
The IKEA centre in Zagreb is the result of an investment of 91 million euro and is the first such store in the Western Balkans, where it is expected to act as a regional hub.
Request for regulation of Serb residence status in Croatia
BELGRADE - President of the Coalition of Refugee Associations in Serbia Miodrag Linta wants all Croatian citizens living abroad to be allowed to register a temporary residence outside the Republic of Croatia for the period of five years and thus be able to preserve their Croatian IDs.
Croatia Fails to Clinch INA Deal with Hungarians
Croatian government has plans to buy out shares in Croatia’s INA company owned by the Hungarian energy company MOL - to regain control over the country’s only major energy concern - broke down at the end of last week.
The government in Zagreb wanted to add the 49.1 per cent of shares that MOL owns in INA to the Croatian state’s existing stake of 44.84 per cent.
Vehicles delayed at Batrovci crossing for around two hours
BELGRADE - The delays for passenger vehicles at border crossings on Sunday total around 30 minutes, except at Batrovci crossing on the border with Croatia where vehicles entering Serbia are delayed for around 2-2.5 hours, the Border Police Administration officials said.
Balkan Athletics Championships: Romanians reap 9 gold, 6 silver and 2 bronze medals on first day of competition
On Saturday, on the first day of the Balkan Athletics Competition, now at its 73rd edition, held in Pitesti, Romanian sports people won a commendable bunch of 17 medals, of which nine of gold.
Minimum controls on crossings for faster traffic pace
BELGRADE - Minimum control procedures are being implemented at border crossings in Serbia so as to minimise delays and ensure accelerated pace for vehicles traffic, members of the border police told Tanjug.
Accelerated traffic pace at border crossings
BELGRADE - Serbian Minister of Transport Zorana Mihajlovic reached an agreement with the Customs Administration and the Interior Ministry on Saturday to implement all the necessary measures in order to accelerate traffic pace and reduce delays for road vehicles on border crossings with Croatia and Hungary.
Bulgarian Citizens Cover 46% of Health Expenses
Bulgarian citizens cover out of their pockets 46% of the expenses for healthcare, shows a survey of the KNSB trade union, quoted by Sega daily.
The remaining 54% are covered by public spending.
According to the survey, this is a precedent for the EU. For comparison, in Croatia citizens cover 84.9%, in Hungary – 69.4% and in Slovakia – 65.9%.
EU Urges Would-Be Members to Protect Probing Journalists
“The EU promotes freedom of expression in its dialogues with enlargement countries and supports excellence in investigative journalism,” Lunacek said on Friday.
“Candidates and prospective candidates for EU membership must ensure journalists can do their job without fear of violence and intimidation,” she added