State Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Stipe Župan, stated in Parliament on Wednesday that the ministry is already conducting analyses on how U.S. tariffs will impact the Croatian economy, reports HINA. 

"The Ministry of Finance has already initiated analyses of the potential direct and indirect effects. The direct effects relate to goods that Croatia exports to the U.S., primarily in the pharmaceutical and defense industries," said Župan in response to a question from Boris Lalovac (SDP) regarding the impact of the trade war between the U.S. and the EU on Croatia.

During the discussion on amendments to the Law on the Implementation of EU Customs Legislation, Lalovac said he could not understand the introduction of U.S. tariffs on the European Union. "It feels like we are going back a hundred years to tariff wars and protectionist measures that led to a decline in living standards, inflation, and were one of the causes of World War II," he said, calling such moves misguided and pointless.

Although Croatia does not have many instruments at its disposal, Lalovac added that he would like the government to explore measures to protect certain industries that might be affected.

The amendments to the Law on the Implementation of EU Customs Legislation, which were supported by MPs, are being introduced to implement the EU regulation on establishing a unified digital customs interface.

The goal is to simplify and digitalize the exchange and verification of various permits, certificates, and other documents required for customs purposes, which will speed up processes, reduce bureaucracy, and lower the time and costs for businesses in fulfilling customs formalities, Župan explained.

The implementation of digital solutions will be introduced gradually throughout the year to allow businesses to adapt to the new systems, giving them time to transition, the state secretary responded to a question from Ante Babić (HDZ).

The amendments will also improve the control of customs seals, reducing opportunities for smuggling and simplifying procedures for the free distribution of confiscated goods.

Josip Ostrogović (HDZ) praised the reduction of barriers, acceleration of customs procedures, digitalization, increased transparency, and better border controls. "For the economy, this means faster customs clearance, lower business costs, and improved competitiveness of our companies in the European market," he emphasized.

Ostrogović also welcomed the faster and more efficient distribution of confiscated goods. According to the law, for goods valued up to 15,000 euros, the decision will be made by a customs administration commission, while for goods exceeding 15,000 euros, the Minister of Finance will decide based on the commission's recommendation.

Zagreb Airport saw 261,119 passengers pass through its gates in February, marking a 6.1% increase compared to the same month last year. Aircraft movements experienced only a slight rise of 0.4%, totaling 3,295.

In the first two months of 2025, the airport handled 541,643 travelers—an increase of 9.5% or 46,807 additional passengers compared to the same period in 2024.

This upward trend is expected to continue into March, with scheduled seat capacity currently 6.6% higher than last year.

A formal swearing-in ceremony was held at the Consulate General of the Republic of Croatia in Düsseldorf on Tuesday, March 10, 2025, for nine individuals who have acquired Croatian citizenship.

Through the process of naturalization, the candidates met all the requirements prescribed by the Croatian Citizenship Act, including proving their connection to the Croatian people, knowledge of the language, culture, and customs, as well as respect for the legal system of the Republic of Croatia. By taking the oath, they pledged their loyalty to the Republic of Croatia and their commitment to upholding its constitutional and legal provisions.

The solemn event was attended by Consul General Dr. Ivan Bulić, who warmly welcomed the new citizens, congratulating them on successfully completing the process. In his speech, he emphasized the significance of this moment, highlighting that acquiring citizenship comes with responsibilities but also many opportunities, both within Croatia and across the European Union.

"This is an important step in your lives, not just a formality but a symbol of your connection to the homeland of your ancestors. The Republic of Croatia offers you a home, and your contributions will enrich our community," said Consul General Bulić.

The ceremony concluded with the presentation of official citizenship certificates and a group photograph, with mutual wishes for a successful future for the new Croatian citizens.

The Consulate General of the Republic of Croatia in Düsseldorf continues to provide support to Croats living abroad and those seeking Croatian citizenship. In 2024, a total of 18 people acquired Croatian citizenship through the consulate, ensuring an efficient and transparent process. The swearing-in ceremony symbolizes not only belonging to the Croatian community but also trust in the institutions and values of the Republic of Croatia.

At the end of February this year, the Croatian Employment Service (HZZ) recorded 96,313 unemployed persons, which is 17.3% or 20,121 fewer people than in February 2024, according to HZZ data.

Compared to January, the number of unemployed decreased by 1.1% or 1,028 people.

According to HZZ's daily data, there are currently 94,228 unemployed persons registered, while 24,217 job vacancies have been advertised.

During February this year, 10,839 people were newly registered as unemployed, which is 2.7% less than in February last year. Of these, 8,148 people, or 75.2%, came from previous employment. Additionally, 220 individuals entered the unemployment register from regular schooling, while 2,471 came from inactivity.

According to HZZ data, 11,867 people exited the unemployment register, which is 17.7% fewer than in February 2024.

According to the eVisitor system, three thousand guests stayed in Dubrovnik last weekend—4% fewer than at the same time last year.

Along with domestic visitors, the most numerous guests were from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Tourists in EU countries recorded just over three billion overnight stays in 2024, an increase of 2.2% or 65.4 million compared to 2023. This growth was primarily driven by international tourists and an increase in the last quarter, according to Eurostat data, which places Croatia in ninth place among EU member states with over 108 million overnight stays.

Eurostat commented that 2024 was a record-breaking year, describing it as the “best tourism year for the EU” in terms of overnight stays in tourist accommodation. This was largely due to a nearly 5% rise in international tourist stays, while domestic overnight stays saw only a slight decline of 0.1%.

Almost 62% of total overnight stays were concentrated in four countries, which rank among the world’s top tourism destinations—Spain, leading with 500 million overnight stays, followed by Italy with 458 million, France with 451 million, and Germany with 441 million.

The fewest overnight stays in tourist accommodations were recorded in Luxembourg (3.4 million), Latvia (4.7 million), and Estonia (6.6 million).

Croatia ranked ninth in terms of overnight stays, positioned behind Poland, which had a similar number, and ahead of Portugal.

When comparing overnight stays in 2024 with 2023 on a country-by-country basis, Malta saw the highest increase, with a 14.4% rise, followed by Latvia at 7.4%. Conversely, only a few countries saw a decline, including Luxembourg (-2.7%), France (-0.6%), Belgium (-0.2%), and Sweden (-0.1%).

The strong performance throughout 2024 was significantly influenced by the last quarter, during which nearly all EU countries recorded an increase in overnight stays compared to the same period in 2023. Overall, overnight stays in EU member states rose by 5.1% in Q4.

Ireland was the only country where overnight stays declined in the fourth quarter of 2024, with a drop of around 2% compared to 2023. Meanwhile, Croatia was among the top four countries with the highest quarterly growth, ranking fourth with a 10.2% increase in overnight stays. Malta led with a 16.5% rise, followed by Latvia (12.5%) and Italy (11.1%).

In total, more than half a billion overnight stays were recorded across the EU in Q4 2024, marking an increase of 5.1% or 25.4 million compared to the same period in 2023.

By month, the highest number of overnight stays was recorded in October (227 million), followed by December (150 million) and November (145 million).

Every year, on the occasion of International Women's Day, the Croatian Mountaineering Society "Sniježnica," in collaboration with the Dubrovnik HGSS station, organizes the "100 Women on Sniježnica" hike.

This was also the case this year. The first heralds of spring after a long winter were the lines of women on Sniježnica and snowdrops, which bloomed across the meadows, adding to the perfect hiking day and enhancing this traditional hike.

The sunlit Sniježnica sparkled in full glory, and the views stretched out towards the surrounding mountain peaks, some of which were still covered in snow.

The group of participants was led by the society's guides, with the support of HGSS members. After reaching the summit, the familiar photo session followed, with some hopping around and waving at the drone, which captured this year's hike for posterity.

Croatia Airlines welcomed a total of 1,838,609 passengers in 2024, reflecting a growth of 6.1% compared to the previous year. However, this figure still lags behind pre-pandemic levels, showing a decrease of 15.2% compared to 2019, when the airline had a significantly higher number of passengers.

Despite this, the airline showed a steady performance in terms of cabin occupancy, with an average annual cabin load factor of 65.1%. This is a slight drop from the previous year’s 65.3%, but still represents a notable improvement in comparison to the 73.5% load factor recorded in 2019.

Croatia Airlines also increased its number of flights by 1.8% year-on-year, reaching a total of 26,438 flights in 2024.

Looking ahead, while the airline has not provided specific projections for its 2025 passenger numbers, it plans to boost its overall capacity by 16% during the summer season, which is traditionally its busiest period.