The immense amount of rainfall that drenched southern Croatia over the past 24 hours has left its mark. Overnight, a rockslide devastated the popular Dubrovnik beach below Bellevue, along with the swimming area of the namesake water polo club, reports Dubrovacki Vjesnik. 

The extent of the damage is striking—reinforced concrete walls have been shattered, crumpled as if they were made of paper. It appears that the torrential rain played a key role in triggering the rockslide.

If negative trends in agriculture continue, Croatia will lose control over its own food security, the Croatian Employers' Association (HUP) has warned, emphasizing the need to recognize the strategic importance of agriculture.

The gross value added (GVA) in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries grew by just 0.4% annually in the first nine months of 2024, they noted, which is eight times slower than the overall GVA growth of the economy. This marks the fourth consecutive year in which agriculture lags behind overall economic activity.

Real agricultural income fell by 6.3% in 2024 to €1.6 billion, while the value of agricultural production declined by 0.3% to €28 billion.

The share of exports in agricultural company revenues dropped to 14.6%, the lowest level since 2019, while the trade deficit in food and live animals surged to a high of €2.2 billion.

As a result, Croatia is increasingly exposed to rising import prices of food items such as milk, meat, oil, coffee, and cocoa.

"A total of €8.3 billion in subsidies has been paid into agriculture from 2013 to 2025, but if negative trends persist, Croatia will not have control over its own food security," states the latest HUP publication Focus of the Week, authored by Josipa Filaković and Hrvoje Stojić.

HUP’s Food Industry and Agriculture Association has previously warned of several structural issues that limit the growth of domestic food production.

Key challenges include small, fragmented, and unorganized land plots, unused state-owned land, administrative barriers in leasing and allocating land, and a scoring system that does not favor primary producers.

The average monthly account maintenance fee, which includes mobile banking services, is among the lowest in Croatia at just €2.97, according to an analysis by EY Croatia published on Friday. The study examined banks operating in ten EU countries: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Ireland, Italy, Hungary, Germany, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Croatia.

Italy has the highest fee at €8.79, followed by Slovakia (€6.67), Germany (€6.02), Austria (€4.49), Ireland (€3.50), Slovenia (€3.31), and Hungary (€3.07). Only Czechia (€0.85) and Belgium (€1.81) offer lower fees than Croatia, placing the country third cheapest in the analysis.

According to data from the eVisitor system for tourist check-ins and check-outs, 866 guests are currently staying in Dubrovnik, which is 20 percent fewer than at the same time last year.

In addition to domestic visitors, the most numerous tourists in the city are from Bosnia and Herzegovina, the United Kingdom, the United States, and France.

Since the beginning of the year, Dubrovnik has recorded 16,500 tourist arrivals and 43,200 overnight stays, representing a 5 percent decrease compared to the same period in 2024.

For the second year in a row, Croatia has been named the safest country in Europe for walking alone at night, according to The World of Statistics portal. Out of 41 European nations ranked for safety after dark, Croatia claimed the top spot, reinforcing its reputation as a secure and welcoming destination.

Slovenia, Iceland, Georgia, and Switzerland follow Croatia in the top five, with Czechia (6th), Denmark (7th), Estonia (8th), Finland (9th), and the Netherlands (10th) rounding out the top ten. Among regional neighbors, Montenegro ranks 11th, Serbia 15th, North Macedonia 17th, and Bosnia and Herzegovina 26th.

At the other end of the spectrum, France was ranked the least safe country for walking alone at night, followed by Belarus, Belgium, the United Kingdom, and Sweden. Other major European nations such as Italy (34th), Germany (29th), and Spain (21st) also ranked lower on the safety index.

With Croatia leading the way in personal safety, the latest ranking further cements its status as not just a popular tourist hotspot but also one of the most secure places to live and visit in Europe.

Safety walking alone during night in Europe (from more safe to less safe):

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4. Georgia ????????
5. Switzerland ????????
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11. Montenegro ????????
12. Austria ????????…

— World of Statistics (@stats_feed) February 11, 2025

In many European countries, pension incomes are significantly lower than earnings from employment before retirement. As a result, many older individuals struggle to maintain their standard of living after retiring, reports N1. 

Almost one in six retirees in the European Union (EU) is at risk of poverty, with the rate increasing from 12% in 2013 to 15.5% in 2023, according to Euronews.

How Do Pensions Compare to Pre-Retirement Earnings Across Europe?

Which countries provide the highest share of earnings after retirement, and which offer the lowest?

New Eurostat data compares the median pension income of individuals aged 65–74 with the median earnings of those aged 50–59, excluding other social benefits. This provides insight into pension adequacy across Europe.

In 2023, the overall replacement ratio in the EU stood at 58%, meaning that someone who earned €100 between the ages of 50 and 59 would receive €58 in pension income between 65 and 74. However, this ratio varied significantly across the EU, from 35% in Croatia to 78% in Greece.

Spain (77%) and Italy (75%) followed Greece at the top of the list, while Portugal also exceeded the EU average with 61%.

At the bottom of the ranking, Croatia had the lowest replacement ratio at just 35%, followed by Lithuania (36%) and Ireland (39%). For comparison, Montenegro had a ratio of 38%, Slovenia 44%, and Serbia 46%.

Southern European countries tend to have the highest pension incomes relative to pre-retirement earnings, while Eastern and Baltic nations generally have the lowest ratios.

Gender Pension Gap

The replacement ratio also varies by gender. In the EU, men (60%) received three percentage points more than women (57%).

"Inequalities in pension income, poverty in old age, and pension coverage persist, despite the narrowing gender gap in average pensions," states the European Commission and Social Protection Committee’s Pension Adequacy Report.

Which Countries Offer the Highest Pensions?

Pension amounts vary significantly across Europe. Euronews analyzed figures from 2021, showing that the average monthly gross old-age pension per recipient ranged from €226 in Bulgaria to €2,575 in Luxembourg, with an EU average of €1,294.

Croatia was far below the EU average, with a pension of €388 at the time. While pensions have since increased, the current average pension in Croatia is around €630.

Zagreb Airport kicked off the year with impressive growth, handling 280,542 passengers in January—an increase of 12.4 percent compared to the same month last year. This surge saw nearly 31,000 more travelers pass through its terminals. Aircraft movements also rose to 3,642, marking a 2.5 percent uptick.

A key factor in the strong start to the year was the World Handball Championship, which brought an influx of visitors to the Croatian capital. The tournament likely contributed to the higher passenger numbers, boosting travel demand during January.

Looking ahead, the airport aims to surpass 4.7 million passengers in 2025, targeting an annual growth rate of around 10 percent, according to a statement to EX-YU Aviation News. February is also expected to bring further gains, supported by a 4.9 percent rise in scheduled seat capacity.

To mark 115 years since the introduction of the Dubrovnik tram and 55 years since its discontinuation, the Dubrovnik Museums will organize an exhibition titled "The History of the Dubrovnik Tram" in mid-2025.

The exhibition is curated by Tonko Marunčić, Jan Marko Novalija, and Dino Lokas.

Citizens who own materials related to the Dubrovnik tram—such as uniforms, photographs, tram parts, documents, films, etc.—are invited to lend them to the museum to enrich the exhibition.

Materials can be delivered in person to the Cultural-Historical Museum at the Rector’s Palace, Monday to Friday from 9 AM to 4 PM. For additional information, please call +385 20 321 452 or mobile +385 99 4685 629, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.