A session of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) Presidency was held today, after which Prime Minister Andrej Plenković gave a statement to the media and commented on current political issues.

Plenković commented on the conversation between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump: “We will see what was discussed. Trump sees himself as a peacemaker, someone capable of stopping wars. He is now projecting that role of the U.S. onto Ukraine and the Middle East. It seems most important to him to demonstrate that he is the one who secured peace. However, if a ceasefire and peace process result in rewarding Russian aggression with Ukrainian territory, that would be a terrible outcome and will never be the policy of our government.”

A White House official stated that the phone conversation between President Trump and Putin lasted about an hour and a half, according to the official, though the exact time of its conclusion was not specified.

Deputy Mayor Jelka Tepšić and Head of the Department for Culture, Heritage, and Tourism, Julijana Antić Brautović, recently visited the Polish region of Mazowsze to attend the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Linđo Folklore Ensemble and one of Poland’s two national ensembles, Mazowsze.

Mazowsze, the oldest and largest Polish national ensemble, is renowned for its highly successful world tours. The group has not performed in Croatia for the past 70 years, but thanks to this collaboration, Dubrovnik audiences will have the opportunity to experience their performance in June.

The agreement was signed during Linđo’s tour, which included three concerts by the Dubrovnik folklore ensemble. Additionally, the Dubrovnik-Neretva County Tourist Board hosted a promotional event where Deputy Mayor Tepšić presented Dubrovnik’s sustainable tourism development project.

The Dubrovnik delegation also held a working meeting with Croatia’s Ambassador to Poland, His Excellency Tomislav Vidošević. As part of the embassy’s initiatives, the Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra will perform for Polish audiences in May. Discussions also touched on potential cooperation within the Dubrovnik Jazz Outbreak festival.

This marks Linđo’s first tour in its 60th anniversary year, while the upcoming concert by the Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra in Lublin will be their first international performance in celebration of their 100th anniversary.

The Croatian National Bank (HNB) is issuing gold and silver numismatic coins titled "King Tomislav," featuring commemorative motifs representing the Croatian ruler. The gold coins will be available in denominations of 10, 100, and 200 euros, while the silver coins will be issued in 4 and 6-euro denominations, the HNB announced.

The designer of the "King Tomislav" gold and silver coins is Nikola Vudrag, a university graduate in sculpture. The numismatic coins will go on sale on March 20, 2025, except for the 6-euro silver coin, which will be available in May.

The coins will be sold by the Croatian Mint, with an expected initial price of around €11,000 for the 200-euro gold coin, approximately €3,280 for the 100-euro gold coin, and around €220 for the 10-euro gold coin. The 6-euro silver coin is expected to cost around €239.99 (including VAT), while the 4-euro silver coin will be priced at approximately €79.99 (including VAT). The final sale price will depend on the market prices of gold and silver at the time of purchase.

The 200-euro gold coin will be issued in a limited quantity of 100 pieces, the 100-euro gold coin in 300 pieces, and the 10-euro gold coin in 1,000 pieces. The 6-euro silver coin will have a limited edition of 500 pieces, while the 4-euro silver coin will be issued in 2,000 pieces.

Interested buyers can find ordering and purchasing details for the "King Tomislav" coins on the Croatian Mint's official website, the HNB stated.

Dubrovnik Mayor Mato Franković participated in the Smart Cities conference held in Zagreb, where he presented Dubrovnik as the first city in Croatia to successfully implement its own affordable housing model.

Although the issue of affordable housing was only sporadically discussed for years, it has now become one of the key political topics. However, while others debated, the City of Dubrovnik took action—systematically working on the Dubrovačka Stanogradnja program. Through this model, the city has so far provided housing for 91 families, either by allocating apartments with affordable rent or through a one-time financial aid of €30,000 for purchasing a home.

In addition, Dubrovnik has strategically planned for the future development of affordable housing. By constructing the Dr. Franjo Tuđman Bridge – Pobrežje road and acquiring 70,000 m² of land in Pobrežje, the city has secured space for new residential zones. This model is fully aligned with the Croatian Government’s program and the initiative led by Deputy Prime Minister Branko Bačić, which allows for the rapid rezoning of city- and municipality-owned land from agricultural use to affordable housing zones.

Furthermore, the City of Dubrovnik has a ready-to-go project for the construction of youth housing in Solitudo, which will be implemented through the Croatian Government’s program, giving 50 young families the opportunity for affordable housing in their hometown.

By participating in the Smart Cities conference, Dubrovnik once again positioned itself as a leader in tackling the challenges of modern urban environments, demonstrating that responsible planning and strategic investment can make a city a role model for others in Croatia.

The Dubrovnik police received a report yesterday about a fraud case involving a 26-year-old Slovak citizen who paid a deposit of €1,050 for an apartment rental in Dubrovnik, only to later realize that the advertisement was fake.

The victim found the ad on a website and, in an attempt to arrange the rental, contacted an unknown individual via email. This person introduced themselves as an Italian citizen and the supposed owner of the apartment. Following the instructions of the alleged owner, the victim made the deposit via a payment link, only to later discover that the apartment did not exist.

After receiving the criminal complaint, the police launched an investigation into the case. The Dubrovnik-Neretva Police Department is warning citizens to be cautious when searching for accommodation through online ads and websites. It is advisable to verify the property owner through publicly available sources to ensure they are the person advertising it. The recommendation is not to send money to unknown individuals.

The Dubrovnik-Neretva County Tourist Board held a presentation in Warsaw on Saturday, March 15, for around 40 Polish journalists and travel agents. The event was organized with the support of the Croatian National Tourist Board's office in Poland and in collaboration with the Linđo Folklore Ensemble.

The presentation took place in Orębusy, at the headquarters of the Polish folklore ensemble Mazowsze.

Following the presentation, guests enjoyed a performance by the Linđo folklore ensemble, followed by a tasting of wines from the Dubrovnik-Neretva region.

The evening concluded with a joint concert featuring Mazowsze and Linđo, presenting a three-hour program showcasing traditional Polish and Croatian dances and songs.

In 2024, Dubrovnik-Neretva County welcomed 99,129 Polish tourists, who recorded 614,087 overnight stays—an 11% increase in arrivals and a 7% rise in overnight stays compared to the previous year.

Manchester City midfielder Mateo Kovačić has emerged as a key target for Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid, with reports suggesting the Spanish club is keen to bring the Croatian international back to LaLiga.

Following Atletico’s recent Champions League exit at the hands of Real Madrid and a league defeat to Barcelona, speculation is growing that Kovačić could make the move from Manchester to Madrid this summer.

According to journalist Rudy Galetti, City is open to negotiations, with a reported asking price of €30 million—slightly above Kovačić’s current market valuation. The 29-year-old, who previously played for Inter Milan, Real Madrid, and Chelsea, remains under contract at City until 2027. So far, he has made 79 appearances for the club, scoring eight goals.

With Simeone looking to reinforce his midfield, Kovačić’s return to Spain could be a move to watch in the coming transfer window.

Fourteen Croatian winemakers are showcasing their wines at the world's largest wine fair, ProWein 2025, held in Düsseldorf from March 16 to 18. The Croatian Chamber of Economy (HGK), which is organizing the participation of Croatian companies at the event, announced the news on Monday.

The national stand features winemakers including Badel 1862, Kutjevo, Osilovac, PP Orahovica, Vina Belje, Dingač Skaramuča, Požega Impex, Vina Bedekovich, Lagradi, Galić, Vina Bibich, Royal Hill, Lipa interijeri, and SATO.

Croatian wines presented at ProWein - Photo - HGK

"Although we have made significant investments in new wineries in recent years and achieved notable technological advancements—evidenced by numerous awards and recognitions at the most prestigious international wine competitions—Croatia has yet to secure a strong position on the global wine map," said Dragan Kovačević, HGK’s Vice President for Agriculture and Tourism.

He emphasized the importance of presenting Croatia’s wine industry at major international wine fairs like ProWein to further establish its reputation worldwide.