EU - Eurozone: Croatia to officially join eurozone as EU summit wraps

European leaders, who worried that winter will be a tough one for their citizens, pledged deeper cooperation and coordination on Friday to tackle the energy crisis.

The two-day European Council summit in Brussels ended with the 27 heads of state tasking the Commission to continue its work to identify ways to curb rising energy prices - including through possible price caps -- or to secure alternative sources of supply at affordable prices.
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The Council meanwhile, was called upon to take any appropriate measures to ensure closer energy coordination between member states.

Read more at: Croatia to officially join eurozone as EU summit wraps | Euronews

Croatia: Earthquake rocks Croatia's capital Zagreb

The 5.3-magnitude tremor sent chunks of buildings falling into the streets in Zagreb.

Read more at:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/opinion/opinion-universal-basic-income-1.5501938

EU- Schengen Area: Europe's free travel zone is set to get bigger — but what are the implications?

What does Schengen expansion mean for Europe, and can the EU overcome its border policy crisis triggered by the migrant influx that began in 2014?

Read more:  Schengen Area: Europe's free travel zone is set to get bigger — but what are the implications? |

EU - It was Leaked that EU Capitals seek to reform EU summits to cope with Trump era – by Jorge Valero

EU countries are working on a review of their leaders’ summits to improve their efficiency amid the challenges posed by Donald Trump, China and other foreign actors, according to official notes seen by EURACTIV.com.

The review is part of the debate launched under the EU’s rotating presidency, currently held by Finland, to increase the efficiency in delivering EU objectives, particularly those in the Strategic Agenda endorsed by leaders in June.

During the EU ambassadors meeting held on 15 July, France, Spain, Sweden, Slovakia, Portugal, Cyprus, Bulgaria and Malta stressed the need to bring the EU closer to its citizens.

Finland is hopeful that, given that there will be fewer legislative priorities during the opening months of the new term, there will be more time to hold these political discussions. 

As part of the review of the Council’s competences, member states including France, Belgium, Czech Republic, Sweden, Latvia, Greece, Croatia and Slovakia also want the institution to follow-up on decisions taken by ministers and EU leaders.

Meanwhile, Germany highlighted the importance of sending “positive” messages to EU citizens after every Council meeting.

Read more at: Leak: Capitals seek to reform EU summits to cope with Trump era – EURACTI

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Soccer: 2018 World Cup final score,France 4- Croatia 2 recap: France beats Croatia as Pogba, Mbappe, Griezmann shine - by Roger Gonzales

The French national team was crowned world champions after defeating an underdog Croatian team 4-2 in the World Cup final in Moscow on Sunday, capturing its second World Cup title and its first since it hosted the 1998 tournament 20 years ago. Les Bleus manager Didier Deschamps was the captain in 1998 when his team shocked Brazil in Paris, and on Sunday he became the third to ever win the World Cup as a player and coach.

In a match that featured anything you could have ever imagined, an own goal, a goalkeeper gaffe, pitch invaders and a teenager wunderkind finding the back of the net, France rolled to a convincing 4-1 lead and managed to hold on to earn its second star.

Read more: 2018 World Cup final score, recap: France beats Croatia as Pogba, Mbappe, Griezmann shine - CBSSports.com

Tropical Diseases Now In Europe: Holiday season means risk of tropical diseases - by Steve Bridges

Warmer weather and summer travel put tropical mosquito-borne diseases on the European health authorities’ radar.

The warming climate has unpredictable and wide-ranging impacts on the environment. Some climate effects on human health are direct, such as extreme weather and rising sea levels that threaten low-lying areas. Other climate change effects on health are no less unpredictable but more indirect.

The Asian Tiger mosquito and Yellow Fever mosquito species are now present in parts of Europe
thanks to warmer temperatures, bringing the risk of tropical diseases with them.

August and September are the primary transmission season for mosquito-borne diseases.

Italy saw the first locally acquired case of "chikungunya" in Europe, with over 200 individuals affected. Chikungunya causes fever and severe joint pain that is often debilitating and can vary in duration.

There have also been cases of "dengue fever" in France, Madeira, and Croatia. Dengue causes bleeding, low levels of blood platelets and plasma, joint pain, and fever.

And the first EU cases of "West Nile fever" were detected in Italy and Romania in 2016.

Read more: Holiday season means risk of tropical diseases in Europe

European Parliament votes to end visa-free travel for Americans - by Jon Sharman

The European Parliament has voted to end visa-free travel for Americans within the EU.

It comes after the US failed to agree visa-free travel for citizens of five EU countries – Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Poland and Romania – as part of a reciprocity agreement. US citizens can normally travel to all countries in the bloc without a visa.

The vote urges the revocation of the scheme within two months, meaning Americans will have to apply for extra documents for 12 months after the European Commission implements a “delegated act” to bring the change into effect.

The Commission discovered three years ago that the US was not meeting its obligations under the reciprocity agreement but has not yet taken any legal action. The latest vote, prepared by the civil liberties committee and approved by a plenary session of parliament, gives the Commission two months to act before MEPs can consider action in the European Court of Justice.


Australia, Brunei, Japan and Canada were also failing in their obligations, but all four have lifted, or are soon to lift, any visa restrictions on travel for EU citizens

The Commission is legally obliged to act to suspend the visa waiver for Americans, but the European Parliament or the Council of the European Union have the chance to object to the “delegated act” it uses to do so.In December, MEPs pressed for the move in order to “encourage” Washington to play its part, according to a statement by the parliament.

But Migration Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos warned of “consequences”, including potential “retaliation” and a drop in visitor numbers precipitating substantial losses for the continent’s tourism industry.

In December, MEPs pressed for the move in order to “encourage” Washington to play its part, according to a statement by the parliament.But Migration Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos warned of “consequences”, including potential “retaliation” and a drop in visitor numbers precipitating substantial losses for the continent’s tourism industry.

But Migration Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos warned of “consequences”, including potential “retaliation” and a drop in visitor numbers precipitating substantial losses for the continent’s tourism industry.

Just days ago the Council said it would liberalise the visa regime for citizens of Georgia travelling into the EU.

Georgians can now, subject to final approval of the regulation, stay in any EU  country for 90 days in any period of 180 days without needing a visa.

Carmelo Abela, Malta’s minister for national security, said: “This agreement will bring the people of Georgia and the EU closer together and will strengthen tourism and business ties. It follows the completion of the necessary reforms by Georgia, addressing document security, border management, migration and asylum.”

Last month it was reported that the EU was considering the adoption of a US-style electronic travel permit scheme – a move that could create a new administrative hurdle for British tourists after Brexit.

Read more: European Parliament votes to end visa-free travel for Americans | The Independent

Balkans: The Balkanisation of Europe

As foreign policy experts list their problems for 2016, the Balkans never gets a mention. That’s strange, as the region is the microcosm of all the differing conflicts in Europe, and even further afield, Denis MacShane writes.

Denis MacShane is a former UK Minister of Europe in the Tony Blair government and works in Brussels and London advising on EU policy and politics. His latest book, Brexit : How Britain Will Leave Europe, was published in 2015 by IB Tauris.

The Balkans is Europe’s Zombie Zone, where the dead matter more than the living, where past feuds count for more than finding solutions based on compromise and where religion and churches still have political influence in a way unknown north of the Alps since the 1950s.

From the Aegean and Adriatic to the Alps, the region is full of unhappy nations with bad economics in competition with worse politics. Slovenia is busy putting up razor wire barriers on its borders with fellow EU member state Croatia.

Bosnia-Herzegovina remains unable to work as a single state. Serbia still is infected by the cancer of Milosevic Serb supremacism, egged on by Vladimir Putin, who loves the idea of keeping the Balkans as a problem region that his rivals in Washington and Brussels cannot solve.

Albania has yet to escape the deep corruption and criminalities of its first post-Communist decade. While the younger, more progressive leadership of Edi Rama makes its mark with European and American counterparts, the old trades of smuggling cigarettes, people, arms and prostitutes die hard.

Kosovo remains a nation without full status, as Greece and Serbia place every obstacle in the path of the young Kosovan state from getting full diplomatic recognition at the UN, or even the Council of Europe, where the norms and values of the European Convention on Human Rights, and the court that enforces them, are more than ever needed.

The only bright news is that Macedonia may be willing to talk to Athens about the name dispute. The claim the Slav Macedonians are the same as the Hellenic heroes who defended Western civilization against Persian tyranny is of course absurd.

But there are plenty of countries around the world that call themselves the  “United States” but they are not America. No-one outside of Greece thinks for a moment that the Skopje republic calling itself Macedonia is any threat to the real Macedonia of Thessalonika, and northern Greece.

Read more: The Balkanisation of Europe | EurActiv

Croatia faces lengthy coalition talks after narrow win by HDZ

Croatia’s conservative opposition has claimed victory in the country’s first election since it joined the European Union in 2013.

Preliminary results indicate a narrow victory for the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ)winning 61 seats in the 151-seat parliament.

It means coalition talks are set to follow

HDZ leader Tomislav Karamarko said: “This victory puts us in position to take responsibility for leading the country, a country which is in a difficult state.”

The ruling centre-left Social Democratic Party and allies are set to take 53 seats. With such a narrow margin premier Zoran Milanovic appeared hopeful of participating in a coalition.

Read more: Croatia faces lengthy coalition talks after narrow win by HDZ | euronews, world news

EU's Tusk: No proof Europeans fighting in Ukraine, refutes Croatia's claim

EU citizens fighting in Ukraine is propaganda rather than reality, declared the president of the European Council. Croatia’s FM confirmed earlier that citizens of that EU member state had joined Kiev troops to fight rebels in Ukraine’s east.

The presence of Europeans among the ranks of the warring parties is not a major problem, whereas Russia’s goodwill is essential for implementation of the Minsk agreement, President of the European Council Donald Tusk told a press conference after an EU summit, as cited by RIA Novosti. Tusk stressed that this is his personal appraisal.

Earlier this week, Croatia’s top diplomat acknowledged the presence of volunteers from his country in the conflict zone in Ukraine.

“As far as I know, there are Croatian soldiers in Ukraine who have joined the Ukrainian army,” Croatia’s Foreign Minister Vesna Pusic told the media in the capital, Zagreb, on Wednesday.

Croatia’s Foreign Ministry has addressed citizens participating in the Ukrainian conflct to come back home and not prevent the implementation of the ceasefire agreement reached in Minsk.

“We believe that all foreign volunteers, including those from Croatia, should return to their home countries in order for the today’s agreement to yield results as soon as possible,” the ministry said in an official statement.

Read more: EU's Tusk: No proof Europeans fighting in Ukraine, refutes Croatia's claim — RT News

Homosexuality tolerated but not accepted throughout the EU, as Slovakia votes against same-sex marriage in referendum

Gay Europe still has a long way to go

For decades, homosexuality was a taboo topic in Slovakia. It has only entered public discourse in the last 10 years.tolerated

The country, which joined the EU in 2004, has an anti-discrimination law that protects lesbians and gay men.

But neither same-sex marriage nor registered partnerships exist. Homosexuals are also not permitted to adopt children. Since the summer of 2014, marriage has been defined in the Slovak constitution exclusively as the union of a man and a woman.

On Saturday February 7, Slovakia votes against same sex marriage in referendum

Unofficial reports announced that about 54 percent of voters opposed the law [AFP report], while 44-percent favored it. Last month, conservative advocacy group Civil Initiative for the Family and the Rights of Children, with the help of Catholic supporters, collected and filed the required 40,000 signatures [STA report] to challenge the law to a referendum vote. Labor, Family and Social Affairs Minister Andrej Vizjak [official profile, in Slovenian] responded to the referendum results, saying that the government would respect the will of the people [statement audio, in Slovenian] and would draft a new proposal. 

Since 2004, 13 nations have joined the European Union and 10 of them either prohibit or do not recognize homosexual marriage, while the remaining three allow some legal "partnership" recognitions but not on the same level as heterosexual marriage.  In the most recent vote on the issue, in Croatia on Dec. 1, the Catholic and Orthodox churches led a strong campaign against same-sex marriage.

Croatia entered the European Union (EU) in July last year, making it the 28th and newest member of the union.  Among its 4.4 million citizens, 87.8% identify as Roman Catholics and 4.4% as Orthodox Christian.  After the center-left government crafted a same-sex “life partners” law back in May, the Catholic Church and other denominations rallied behind a referendum to amend Croatia’s constitution to legally define marriage as between one man and one woman.

The marriage question was the third referendum in Croatia since the country became independent in 1991.

The referendum asked, “Do you agree that marriage is matrimony between a man and a woman?” As reported by the state electoral commission to numerous media, 65% of Croatians voted “yes” and 34% voted “no.” .

Besides Croatia, 12 other nations, all from Eastern Europe, have joined the EU since 2004.  Not one of those nations legally recognizes homosexual "marriage" and only three permit some legal standing for same-sex couples.

Probably Zelka Markic, the leader of “In the Name of the Family,” which pushed hard in favor of the referendum in Croatia, gave the best possible (democratic) answer to solving this issue, when she said: “We believe that marriage, children, and family are such important issues that the whole society has to decide on them -  by a referendum - and not just by a Government decree or law, unless it has the support of the majority.”



EU-Digest

Croatia: Croatian police arrest Zagreb mayor on corruption charges

Croatian anti-corruption authority USKOK on Sunday announced the arrests of several leading Zagreb administration figures on suspicion of corruption and abuse of power.

Although the official statements did not name any of those involved, local media all named Bandic as one of those who had been arrested.

According to USKOK, the arrests related to a suspicion of corruption and suspicion of abuse of power. The operation followed "a criminal investigation of several months" and involved several people from the administration.

The investigators said they were looking into possible illegal acts related to a holding entity belong to the city - Zagrebacki Holding - that runs many of the city's public services.

"After several months of a complex criminal investigation, several persons have been arrested on suspicion of illegal activities in the city of Zagreb and Zagrebacki Holding," the state prosecutor's office said in a statement on its website

Read more: Croatian police arrest Zagreb mayor on corruption charges: media | News | DW.DE | 19.10.2014

Croatia: The EU’s new economic laggard - by Tony Barber

The slow, painful healing of the Greek economy after a catastrophic debt crisis raises an interesting question. Which country now holds the title of No.1 Economic Basket Case of the European Union?

The answer is surely Croatia. It is a small country (4.3m people, not even 1 per cent of the 28-nation EU’s 506m inhabitants) that did not join the EU until last July. It is not a eurozone member. It has gorgeous islands and beaches where life seems distinctly pleasant. So Croatia and its economic troubles often slip under everyone’s radar.

But Croatia is now in its sixth successive year of recession. During this time it has lost almost 13 per cent of its gross domestic product. Unemployment is about 17 per cent of the workforce, and among young people the rate is close to 50 per cent.

This is a social disaster not very different from what has happened over the past five years in Greece and Spain. In Croatia, as in Greece, there is an inefficient public sector that keeps people in jobs that serve no obvious public purpose beyond disguising true levels of unemployment.

This problem is magnified by a shortage of private sector companies capable of creating jobs by competing successfully in EU markets.

Clearly, the general weakness of the European economy explains some of Croatia’s difficulties. But not all of them. When Moody’s, the credit rating agency, cut Croatia’s sovereign debt to junk status last year, it cited the government’s “reform inertia” as one reason for its action. It was a fair assessment.

Read more: The EU’s new economic laggard | The World

Croatia celebrates on joining EU - "despite it economic woes the EU is here to stay" - by Guy De Launey

Croatia becomes 28th member of EU

Croatia has become the 28th member of the European Union, with crowds joining celebrations in the capital Zagreb.

Fireworks lit the sky as membership became effective at midnight (22:00 GMT), with President Ivo Josipovic describing the event as historic.

It comes almost two decades after Croatia's brutal war of independence.

Celebrations took place in the central square of Zagreb, with fireworks and music including Beethoven's Ode to Joy, the European anthem.

"Welcome to the European Union!" European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said in Croatian to the cheering crowd.

Croatian President Josipovic said it was "a great and joyful day for our homeland".
"This the day when we open a new chapter in the thick book of our history," he added.

Read more: BBC News - Croatia celebrates on joining EU

Croatia: Will EU entry help Croatia's economy ?

Croatia will become the 28th member state of the EU at the end of June, but its economy is expected to go into recession this year and unemployment is climbing.

This week the country's biggest ship yard is letting a third of its workforce go in an effort to become more competitive. Could joining the EU give Croatian firms a much-needed boost?

Read more: BBC News - Will EU entry help Croatia's economy?

Croatia's EU membership spells trouble for Bosnia's farmers | Europe | DW.DE | 30.05.2013

Croatia is set to join the EU in July, but when it does, neighboring Bosnia and Herzegovina will lose its main market for its farming exports. And without it, the country’s already fragile economy may falter. 

In the hills of Visoko, some 30 kilometers (19 miles) outside of Sarajevo, Nihad Dokso works on one of the three farms he owns in Bosnia. He raises 100,000 chicks every 40 days using state-of-the-art technology that' relatively new to the region.

The chicks are housed in a long and spacious barn, and are fed by a mechanized system that also warms and ventilates the space. Dokso sells the grown chickens to a nearby slaughterhouse, which manages their export to neighboring Croatia.

He's invested about 600,000 euros ($777, 800) in his business and employs five people. So far, the farm has provided Dokso with a good standard of living, but he's worried about what will happen when Croatia becomes the newest member of the European Union in July.

"If we're not able to export food to Croatia, then we'll shut down the farm because we don't have anyone else to sell to," he told DW. "We don't yet have reliable information about what the government is doing about this issue. But if no solution is found by July, it will be a difficult time for chicken farmers."

Read more: Croatia's EU membership spells trouble for Bosnia's farmers | Europe | DW.DE | 30.05.2013

Croatia: EU Solidarity Fund helps Croatia to cover floods damage

European Commissioner for Regional Policy, Johannes Hahn has announced an aid package from the EU Solidarity Fund (EUSF) of over €14.6 million in response to serious flooding in Slovenia in October and November 2012.

Neighboring countries Austria and Croatia also suffered lesser damages as a direct result of the floods and will benefit from the grant in order to fund their emergency operations in the aftermath of the disaster, the EC press service announced.

According to the news agency Focus, Commissioner Hahn, who is also responsible for the EUSF, commented: "Today’s proposal is an expression of the Union’s solidarity with Slovenia as well as with the parts of Croatia and Austria which were affected. The amount of funding proposed will help to offset the financial burden that they have incurred in restoring infrastructure and in taking emergency measures. It will help these affected regions to get back on their feet.

Read more: EU Solidarity Fund helps Croatia to cover floods damage - General News - Croatian Times Online News - English Newspaper

Croatian membership into EU also brings undetonated minefields into the bargain

When Croatia joins the EU on July 1, this year there will be uncleared minefields on European soil, reports Deutsche Welle.

Some 680 square kilometers in Croatiaare filled with mines from the war in the early 1990s. The task of clearing them is a brutal one. "We're only allowed to work five hours a day," Stjepan Tadic and Tomislav Ledic told DW, "and we always work outdoors. We move along the former front lines."

The two Croats work for private companies specializing in mine clearance in Croatia. "We are always on the road in Croatia, from town to town, that's the nice thing about our job," they said.

"But every time we leave home we know there's a chance we won't come back. Our work doesn't tolerate mistakes."

A Croatian demolition-miner earns roughly the equivalent of 800 to 900 euros ($1,000-1,150) per month - little more than the nation-wide average.

Read more: Deutsche Welle warns on minefields Croatian brings in EU - General News - Croatian Times Online News - English Newspaper

European Airline Industry: Ryanair opens first base in Croatia

One of the world’s most popular budget airlines, Ryanair, will open a base in Croatia next year. In an official announcement from the airline the company stated that it would be opening a base at Zadar Airport from April 2013.

The new base will cover seven different routes including Dublin, East Midlands, Gothernburg, Liverpool, Paris Wroclaw and Haugesund. For the time being only one plane will be based at Zadar Airport, although this is the first time that Ryanair have had a base in the Republic of Croatia.

To mark the event Ryanair have launched a 100,000 seat sale with fares starting as low as £8 for travel across Europe. Although if you thinking of grabbing a seat you’ll have to be quick as the offer ends tonight, 20^th December, at midnight. Flights on one of Ryanair’s new seven lines from Zadar can be purchased online.

Read more: Ryanair opens first base in Croatia – The Dubrovnik Times — Dubrovački vjesnik

Croatian businessman gives his company to its 400 employees

Croatian philanthropic businessman Marijan Filipovic decided to help 400 employees - by giving them his entire company.

Speaking to HTV Filipovic said: "I’ve decided to do this because it makes me happy. The mos satisfying  thing is being able to share."

Filipovic bought his Goranprodukt company in 1993 for 12 million German marks. He developed the company under its new name Finvest.

Read more: Croat businessman gives his company to his 400 employees - Business News - Croatian Times Online News - English Newspaper