Latest News from Croatia

Piraeus port customs intercept large cocaine shipment disguised as fertilizer

Customs inspectors from the Hellenic Authority for Communication Security and Privacy (AADE) discovered and seized a substantial quantity of narcotics in raw form at the Port of Piraeus.

A cargo container arriving from Ecuador and bound for Croatia declared as fertilizer, raised suspicion. An X-ray inspection revealed sacks with varying densities, prompting further scrutiny.

FlixBus Expands Routes from Bulgaria: New Connections to Thessaloniki, Athens, and More

FlixBus, the renowned European bus company, is set to launch new routes to and from Bulgaria in anticipation of the summer season, "Capital" reports. Managing Director of Flix Sofia Knowledge Hub, Petar Bankov, announced the exciting news, revealing that starting from June, FlixBus buses will operate daily between Sofia and Thessaloniki.

Bulgaria Sees Surge in Lamb Prices as Retail Costs Rise

The price of retail lamb in Bulgaria has surged by 8.4% on an annual basis, according to statistics released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, with data sourced from SAPI indicating an average price of BGN 25.27 per kilogram as of April 10.

Bulgaria: Second Lowest Debt Relative to GDP in the EU for 2023

Eurostat data indicates that Greece (161.9%), Italy (137.3%), France (110.6%), Spain (107.7%), and Belgium reported the highest public debt-to-GDP ratios among EU member states by the conclusion of 2023.

Serbian Interior Ministry: Deputy head of Pristina's police in 48-hour custody

BELGRADE - Dejan Jankovic, deputy head of the so-called Kosovo Police, who was on Wednesday detained alongside three other members of Pristina's police force, has been placed in 48-hour custody for necessary checks concerning the security of the Republic of Serbia and establishment of facts, the Serbian Interior Ministry told Tanjug on Thursday.

Croatian Ruling Party Triumphs in Elections, Tough Negotiations Ahead

In a widely expected outcome, Croatia's ruling conservative party, the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), emerged victorious in the parliamentary elections. However, as forecasted by pre-election polls, the HDZ falls short of securing enough seats in the Assembly to form a government independently, setting the stage for challenging negotiations with populist factions.

Interior Ministry: Four "Kosovo Police" members detained, one held

BELGRADE - The Serbian Ministry of Interior confirmed to Tanjug on Thursday four members of the so-called Kosovo Police had been detained at a border crossing with Croatia on Wednesday and that one of them - a deputy director of Pristina's police - was being held by Serbian authorities.

The ministry said they had been detained for security checks at the Batrovci crossing.

Bulgaria's Political Landscape in 2023: Populist Parties Below 20% Support

In a recent release of the Authoritarian Populism Index 2024, Bulgaria emerges as a focal point for understanding the intricate interplay of political ideologies shaping Europe's landscape. Published by Timbro and EPICENTER, the index, presented in Bulgarian by the Institute for Market Economics, offers a comprehensive analysis spanning decades of electoral dynamics.

Milicevic: I cannot be banned from visiting Jasenovac privately

BELGRADE - Commenting on Zagreb's recent decision to ban him from visiting the Jasenovac memorial complex in Croatia, Serbian Minister without porfolio Djordje Milicevic said on Tuesday he could not be banned from going to the complex privately to lay flowers in a tribute to the victims of the WWII Jasenovac death camp, run by Croatia's Ustashas.

Vucic: As militarily neutral country, Serbia acting responsibly

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Monday that, as a militarily neutral country, Serbia was acting responsibly and that it had never attacked anyone, and added that an announced purchase of French-made Rafale fighter jets was aimed at demonstrating that Serbia would be a "tough nut to crack" for anyone.

Greek Electricity Giant Acquires Bulgarian Solar Parks

The Greek national electricity company, PPC, has announced plans to acquire 500 megawatts of photovoltaic capacity in Bulgaria. This acquisition forms part of a broader project aimed at developing 90 installations with a combined capacity of up to 2,000 megawatts across Italy, Bulgaria, Croatia, and Romania.

Bulgaria Ranks Second in EU for Housing Price Growth: Eurostat Report

According to the European statistical office Eurostat, housing prices, measured by the House Price Index, increased by 0.2 % in the EU during the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to the same quarter of the previous year. However, in the euro area, they decreased by 1.1 %. This marks a continuation of the trend observed in the third quarter, where prices fell by 1.1 %and 2.2 %, respectively.