Mark Thomas - The editor and big chief of The Dubrovnik Times. Born in the UK he has been living and working in Dubrovnik since 1998, yes he is one of the rare “old hands.” A unique insight into both British and Croatian life and culture, Mark is often known as just “Englez” or Englishman. He is a traveller, a current affairs freak and a huge AFC Wimbledon fan.
Email: mark.thomas@dubrovnik-times.com
In Croatia, there are over 2,000 homeless individuals and only 420 places available in shelters and temporary accommodations. Additionally, more than 10,000 people live in inadequate and unsafe housing conditions, as highlighted by the Croatian Homeless Network (HMB) on World Homeless Day.
These figures are estimates, as the exact number is difficult to determine, given that many homeless people lack ID cards or do not seek help from shelters and social services. Moreover, the capacity of shelters is insufficient, HMB warned.
"Only 11 out of 24 county seats and major cities fulfill their legal obligation to allocate funds for shelters, while the others are ignoring this growing issue," the statement reads.
A shift in the homeless population has been observed, with fewer employable individuals and more elderly persons with low pensions and social benefits, as well as those suffering from mental illnesses and intellectual disabilities.
Lack of access to social services
Social exclusion is a significant factor in homelessness, and HMB calls for the development of a national strategy to prevent and combat homelessness, as well as a strategy for social housing. These strategies would target those at risk of poverty or living in inadequate housing conditions.
In addition to housing, homeless individuals, especially in smaller cities, lack access to other social services, such as soup kitchens or day centers, forcing many to move to Zagreb, where they encounter legal issues related to vagrancy laws due to the lack of a registered address in the city.
The president of the "Fajter" association, Mile Mrvalj, raised concerns about these issues and proposed the creation of social ID cards for homeless individuals to enable them to access social and healthcare rights. After discussing the issue with Interior Minister Davor Božinović, Mrvalj decided against a planned one-day hunger strike on World Homeless Day after Božinović agreed to ongoing meetings to address the problem.
The Croatian Homeless Network and its 18 members will mark World Homeless Day with various activities to raise public awareness of the issues faced by socially excluded individuals and families.
In Zagreb, HMB members (including PET PLUS, the Red Cross, Caritas, and Dom Nade) will distribute food and hygiene packages to homeless people at the Main Train Station. Other events, such as a panel discussion in Split and an open day at a shelter in Rijeka, aim to engage citizens in addressing the issue.
The 3rd Ukraine-Southeast Europe Summit was held in Dubrovnik yesterday. On this occasion, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made his first official visit to Croatia, and the summit gathered leaders and numerous officials from Southeast European countries.
The summit participants adopted a joint "Dubrovnik Declaration," which was negotiated during the event. The declaration provides further support to Ukraine, which has been facing Russian aggression for over two and a half years.
Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also signed a bilateral cooperation agreement between Croatia and Ukraine, which includes elements of humanitarian aid, demining, and prosecuting war crimes.
This summit in Dubrovnik was the third of its kind. The first summit took place in Athens in August 2022, and the second in Tirana in February 2024.
A memorial hall dedicated to the defenders of Croatia’s independence. Together with Prime Minister @AndrejPlenkovic, we honored the warriors who defended Dubrovnik. It is important to preserve the memory of the heroes who fought for freedom.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) October 9, 2024
I thank Croatia for respecting our… pic.twitter.com/zp2cpXAmpW
Among the participants were Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Bulgarian Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Borjana Krišto, North Macedonian Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, and the Foreign Ministers of Moldova, Turkey, and Romania: Mihai Popșoi, Hakan Fidan, and Luminița Odobescu.
Dubrovnik Summit Declaration: There is no free Europe without a free Ukraine
The declaration concluded that without a free and peaceful Ukraine, there can be no free and peaceful Europe. It condemns the Russian invasion of Ukraine and expresses support for Ukraine's territorial integrity, European integration, and NATO membership.
"Almost 1,000 days have passed since the beginning of Russia's military invasion of Ukraine. We strongly condemn this unprovoked, unjustified, and illegal Russian war of conquest against Ukraine... a crime against the Ukrainian people, a clear violation of international law... and a great threat to peace and security in Southeast Europe, the entire European continent, and the world," the declaration states.
Support for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders remains "absolute," according to the declaration's text.
"The path to a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace for Ukraine can only be based on international law... We reaffirm our support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's peace formula as a key framework for restoring such peace," participants emphasized.
The declaration also calls on the international community to increase its support for Ukraine and "all countries to refrain from providing material or other assistance to Russia's war of conquest."
Participants condemned and declared "Russia's attempts to forcibly and illegally annex Ukrainian territory" during the elections Moscow held in occupied Ukrainian regions in March and September as "null and void."
The declaration welcomes the opening of accession negotiations between the European Union and Ukraine, as well as NATO's commitment at the Washington Summit to "provide support to Ukraine on its irreversible path to full Euro-Atlantic integration, including NATO membership."
Unquestionable commitment
"We reaffirm our strong commitment to bringing to justice those responsible for the crime of aggression, crimes against humanity, and war crimes committed during Russia's war of conquest," the declaration states.
Ukraine appreciates all support from Croatia, including assistance for the children of our defenders, who have the opportunity to improve their health in Croatia.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) October 9, 2024
Together with Prime Minister of Croatia @AndrejPlenkovic, we met with the children currently undergoing recreation.… pic.twitter.com/mofJBhgRdd
The Dubrovnik Summit also emphasized the critical importance of Ukraine's energy security, as its "power plants and energy grid suffer enormous damage due to Russia's systematic and deliberate attacks."
"We also stress that any use of nuclear energy and nuclear facilities must be safe, secure, and environmentally sustainable. In this context, we emphasize that the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant must be returned to full sovereign control of Ukraine and operate safely," the declaration highlights.
Participants expressed their commitment to participating in Ukraine's current and post-war reconstruction "to ensure its prosperous future."
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, who is co-hosting the Ukraine and Southeast Europe summit in Dubrovnik, visited the memorial room for fallen defenders at Sponza Palace in the historic Old City centre.
As he entered the historic center, Zelensky was greeted with loud applause by many tourists, some of whom were clearly aware of his visit and waited for him to descend from Hotel Excelsior into the city.
After leaving Sponza Palace, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and State Secretary Frano Matušić briefly acquainted him with Dubrovnik’s history. The Ukrainian president was visibly moved by the support shown to him in Dubrovnik.
According to data from the Croatian National Tourist Board regarding nautical tourism in the Dubrovnik area, September recorded nearly 8,000 arrivals and 56,000 overnight stays, which is a 6% increase compared to the same period last year.
The majority of nautical tourists in September came from the USA, the UK, Australia, Germany, Croatia, Poland, and Canada.
In the first three quarters of the year, there were over 39,000 arrivals and 262,500 overnight stays, marking a 3% increase compared to the same period last year.
Has President Zelensky arrived in Dubrovnik? A reader sent us this video of a police helicopter escort and a huge motorcade speeding through Župa Dubrovačka on the main road from Dubrovnik Airport to the city.
A Ukraine-Southeast Europe summit will be held today in Dubrovnik. On this occasion, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is visiting Croatia for the first time.
There have been several police escorted conveys this morning as various leaders turn up for the conference. However, this particular one that our reader caught was by far the biggest and strictest in security terms.
County Prefect Nikola Dobroslavić is participating in the 162nd plenary session of the European Committee of the Regions in Brussels. The agenda includes discussions on the state of regions and cities in the EU, a review of the 20-year experience since the 2004 EU enlargement, priorities of the Hungarian presidency, a discussion with the president of the European Investment Bank, and voting on the opinions of the European Committee of the Regions.
During the debate on "20 Years After the 2004 EU Enlargement: Lessons Learned and a Look to the Future," Prefect Dobroslavić stated: "The EU enlargements in 2004, 2007, and 2013 were successful for both the EU and the new member states. In the current geopolitical situation, it has become even more important to work on uniting Europe."
He added “The countries in the enlargement process should become EU members, but they must meet the membership criteria based on merit in the accession process. It is not possible to become an EU member without aligning with the EU's security and foreign policy, as is currently the case with Serbia, or without ensuring the principle of equality for the three constituent peoples in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The EU must continue to encourage and assist countries in the enlargement process, while simultaneously seeking an appropriate role for local and regional authorities in these countries in the process and enabling better cooperation with the European Committee of the Regions," concluded Prefect Dobroslavić.
The plenary session of the Committee of the Regions is being held as part of the European Week of Regions and Cities 2024, from October 7 to 10, the largest annual event dedicated to cohesion policy. The event brings together representatives from thousands of local and regional administrations, EU institutions, NGOs, the private sector, and youth organizations to exchange experiences and ideas through workshops, panels, and conferences related to cohesion policy.
According to a survey conducted by the MojPosao portal, which included more than 3,800 respondents, a dignified salary in Croatia should range between €1,500 and €1,999. The respondents also believe that, with current prices, a salary below €1,500 is insufficient to cover basic living needs, reports HINA.
"Like prices, salaries should also be European," the portal’s statement reads, adding that the concept of a dignified salary refers to one that, in addition to covering basic necessities such as food and accommodation, allows for a decent life, including clothing, transportation, culture, and vacation.
Given the high cost of living—such as rent, utilities, transportation, and clothing—respondents believe that a salary below €1,500 is not enough to cover basic living needs. When factoring in cultural activities and vacations, many believe that a salary should not be lower than €1,700.
However, respondents note that even this amount is not always sufficient, especially for single individuals.
One-third of survey participants (33%) believe that a dignified salary should be even higher—between €2,000 and €2,499. Due to rising inflation and property prices, respondents claim that anything below this amount would make it impossible to meet basic needs.
"If you can’t save from your work for trips with your children or a 10 to 14-day holiday at the seaside, then you’re a slave, not a worker," the respondents say.
Every tenth respondent believes that only a salary above €2,500 could guarantee a dignified life in Croatia. An equal number (10%) think that a dignified salary between €1,000 and €1,499 is sufficient, but emphasize that in such a case, both partners would need to earn approximately the same amount to ensure a quality family life. Otherwise, they consider it mere survival.
Regardless of the amount, all respondents agree that a salary can only be dignified if accompanied by a respectful relationship between employer and colleagues.
According to the latest data from the Croatian Bureau of Statistics, the average net salary paid for July in legal entities was €1,315, while the median was €1,130.
A more detailed breakdown of salaries by amount shows that nearly 40% of employees in legal entities earn up to €1,000. Thirty percent earn up to €905, and 20% have a salary up to €815. Ten percent of employees have a salary up to €741.
Further data shows that around two-thirds of employees in legal entities earn less than the average salary.
A Ukraine-Southeast Europe summit will be held today in Dubrovnik. On this occasion, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is visiting Croatia for the first time. In addition to him and the Croatian Prime Minister, the arrival of the President of Montenegro, the President of Kosovo, and the Prime Ministers of Greece, Bulgaria, Albania, and North Macedonia has also been announced.
Although Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Đurić was originally announced for today's summit, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić will instead come to Dubrovnik, reports 24sata.
The summit participants are expected to adopt a joint Dubrovnik Declaration, the text of which is still being negotiated. However, it is anticipated to be in line with previous declarations from summits in Athens and Tirana.
Also expected are Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar, Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani, and Montenegro's President Jakov Milatović. In addition to the host, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, the summit will also see the presence of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, North Macedonian Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, Bulgarian Prime Minister Dimitar Glavčevte, Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Borjana Krišto, Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister Mihail Popsoij, as well as the Foreign Ministers of Turkey, Serbia, and Romania—Hakan Fidan, Marko Đurić, and Luminița Odobescu respectively.
The main points of the declaration, as reported, are expected to include a condemnation of Russian aggression, support for Ukraine's territorial integrity, including the Crimean Peninsula, support for President Zelensky's peace plan, a demand for the prosecution of war crimes in Ukraine, backing for Ukraine’s European integration and NATO membership when conditions are met, as well as support for energy security and the reconstruction of Ukraine after the war.
On the sidelines of the summit, Andrej Plenković and Zelensky are expected to sign a cooperation agreement between Croatia and Ukraine that will formalize existing activities between the two countries, particularly in the areas of humanitarian aid, demining, and the prosecution of war crimes. According to sources from the government, the agreement will "place the assistance that Croatia already provides to Ukraine on a long-term basis."