As part of its long-term urban development strategy, the City of Dubrovnik is advancing infrastructure projects aimed at reducing traffic congestion in the historic city center. A key investment within the Dubrovnik 2030 integrated development program and the Respect the City initiative is the Park ‘n’ Ride system in the Pobrežje area.

On March 20, the City of Dubrovnik initiated a public procurement process for the construction of the Park ‘n’ Ride system, with an estimated project cost of €6,240,000. The deadline for bid submissions is April 18, 2025, at 10:00 AM.

The project includes the development of a public parking facility for private cars, taxis, and buses, with a traffic connection to the former county road Ž6235 and a direct public transport link to the city center. The facility will feature 624 parking spaces, including 550 for private vehicles—30 of which will be reserved for persons with disabilities. Additionally, 18 spots will be designated for taxis, while buses will have 20 dedicated parking spaces.

Beyond parking facilities, the project encompasses pedestrian walkways, green spaces, and an advanced drainage and water purification system. Due to the terrain’s specific characteristics, the parking structure will be built in a cascading design using reinforced concrete retaining walls. Solar-powered public lighting will also be installed to ensure both safety and visual harmony with the surroundings.

With this investment, Dubrovnik is moving closer to its goal of restricting vehicle access to the contact zone of the historic core, except for local residents. Visitors who park in Pobrežje will be provided with transportation via Libertas public buses, included in the parking fee.

The Park ‘n’ Ride project is one of several initiatives financed through the Integrated Territorial Investments (ITU) mechanism, which has allocated €22 million for strategic projects benefiting Dubrovnik and neighboring municipalities.

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković is currently in Brussels attending the European Council meeting, where he also took the opportunity to meet with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Following the discussions at the Council, Plenković highlighted the ongoing strong cooperation between Croatia and the European Union, emphasizing the importance of this partnership for both parties. In a post on social media platform X, he noted the key topics discussed during his meeting with von der Leyen.

Among the main points were the strengthening of energy security and the diversification of energy sources. Plenković also emphasized Croatia's critical role as an energy hub for oil and gas distribution in the region, a responsibility that is becoming increasingly significant within Europe’s broader energy strategy.

The two leaders also touched on the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where Plenković stressed the importance of easing political tensions, preserving stability, and continuing the country’s reforms as it progresses on its path toward European integration.

This meeting marks another step in the ongoing collaboration between Croatia and the European Union, with both sides committed to tackling key issues in energy, security, and regional stability.

Today, March 21, 2025, marks World Down Syndrome Day, an annual global event dedicated to raising awareness and advocating for the rights, inclusion, and well-being of individuals with Down syndrome.

This date symbolizes the triplication of the 21st chromosome, the key genetic trait of those with Down syndrome. The name “Down syndrome” originates from English physician John Langdon Down, who first described the condition in 1866, nearly a century before the cause was identified. French geneticist Jerome Lejeune later discovered the additional chromosome on the 21st pair, which causes the disorder.

In addition to global events, today's observance also serves as a reminder to embrace diversity and improve our support systems. On this day, consider celebrating the diversity in all of us by wearing colorful, mismatched socks as a show of support for individuals with Down syndrome. Let’s all stand together in recognizing the dignity, rights, and well-being of those with Down syndrome.

The debate over changing the clocks happens every year: why do we still do it, what’s the point, and most importantly—when do we move the clocks?

Just like previous years, 2025 will be no different, as we’ll be adjusting our clocks both in spring and autumn.

Although there has been a lot of discussion about abolishing clock changes, the current schedule still requires us to shift the time twice a year.

When Do We Change the Clocks in 2025?

• Daylight Saving Time: On Sunday, March 30, 2025, at 2:00 AM, the clocks will move forward one hour to 3:00 AM, meaning we’ll lose an hour of sleep.
• Standard Time: On Sunday, October 26, 2025, at 3:00 AM, the clocks will go back one hour to 2:00 AM, giving us an extra hour of sleep.

The Origins of Daylight Saving Time

The idea of adjusting the clocks was first humorously suggested by American polymath Benjamin Franklin in 1784. However, it wasn’t until the early 20th century that governments seriously considered it.

Germany and Austria-Hungary (including Croatia, which was part of the empire at the time) were the first to implement daylight saving time during World War I, from 1916 to 1918. It was later used in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and the Independent State of Croatia before being discontinued. The practice resumed in 1983 and has remained in place ever since, with EU-wide regulations introduced in 1996.

Will Daylight Saving Time Be Abolished?

The EU proposed ending seasonal clock changes in 2018, but member states have yet to reach an agreement. As per current EU regulations, daylight saving time is set to continue until at least 2026.

Credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s (S&P) has reaffirmed Croatia’s A- rating with a positive outlook, the Ministry of Finance announced on Tuesday.

In its analysis published on Monday night, S&P highlighted Croatia’s ongoing reforms and strong economic growth as key factors in maintaining steady income growth.

The agency projects that Croatia’s economy will grow at an average rate of 2.9% between 2025 and 2028, driven by strong tourism, investment, and recovering external demand.

S&P also noted that moderate fiscal consolidation will help reduce the budget deficit to around 2% of GDP by 2028, down from an estimated 2.6% in 2024.

As a result, the country’s general government debt-to-GDP ratio is expected to decline to approximately 51% by 2028, compared to 68% in 2022.

According to S&P, capital account inflows—primarily EU grants—and stable foreign direct investment will cover current account deficits, supporting ongoing debt reduction through 2028.

At the end of last week, Fitch Ratings also reaffirmed Croatia’s A- rating with a stable outlook, citing fiscal discipline and strong economic growth while noting the country's small economy remains vulnerable to external shocks.

Flydubai’s Zagreb service soared in 2024, with over 20,000 extra passengers taking to the skies compared to the previous year – a whopping 33% increase!

The airline welcomed 83,475 travellers on the route, thanks to a boost of 34,580 extra seats between the two cities, reports EX-YU Aviation. 

Despite the rise in numbers, the average cabin load factor dipped slightly, dropping from 76% in 2023 to 71.7% last year. 

Market conditions indicate that housing prices in Croatia will continue to rise this year, though at a milder pace than in previous years, according to experts speaking at the RE:D real estate conference on Wednesday, reports N1. 

Ongoing Price Growth in the Housing Market

Vedrana Likan from Colliers stated that recent data points to a sustained upward trend in housing prices, particularly in new developments, and that market conditions do not currently suggest a reversal of this trend.

"We expect housing prices to show a tendency for slight growth," Likan noted.

A Slowing Market

Despite rising prices, the market has slowed, as evidenced by a decline in transaction numbers. Affordability remains a major issue across the European Union, including Croatia.

Likan highlighted that the Croatian government, as the owner of a significant amount of real estate—especially land suitable for new housing developments—should recognize its role and responsibility in addressing the affordability crisis.

State-Owned Land as a Key Solution

She emphasized the urgent need for the government to activate its real estate assets. While the state does not necessarily need to act as a developer, it should acknowledge that the large land areas it owns present a valuable investment opportunity.

"The government could participate as a partner, seller, concessionaire, or grantor of building rights—there are several possible models," Likan suggested.

Decline in Commercial Real Estate Investments

Likan also reported that in 2024, Croatia saw a sharp 65% decline in commercial real estate investment volume compared to the previous year, dropping to approximately €240 million. This includes office buildings, hotels, logistics spaces, and shopping centers that generate revenue.

Given trends in the global and European markets, a downturn was expected, but the decline was more severe than anticipated. However, she expressed optimism, noting that investment volumes in other Central and Southeastern European countries grew by around 70%, which could indicate a positive shift for Croatia in the near future.

Limited Office Space Availability Driving Up Prices

Croatia is currently experiencing historically low office space availability, with only about 2% of office properties vacant. This scarcity is pushing rental prices higher.

Barriers to new office developments include high land prices, unresolved property-legal issues, high construction costs, labor shortages, expensive materials, and costly financing options.

Is There Enough Supply to Meet Demand?

Likan pointed out that demand across all commercial real estate segments is so high that it remains uncertain whether current and upcoming developments will be enough to meet market needs.

Potential for 32,000 New Apartments in Zagreb

Boro Vujović, director of the real estate agency Opereta, echoed the sentiment that, given inflation and demand outpacing supply, a drop in housing prices is unlikely. Instead, prices are expected to remain stable or increase slightly compared to last year.

Due to high demand and limited new construction, even older apartments are being sold at "perhaps unjustifiably high prices," Vujović noted.

He also pointed out that planned changes to Zagreb’s General Urban Plan (GUP) will likely lead to reduced construction potential and higher costs per square meter. "The new GUP will impose stricter regulations on buildability and building height, making development even more challenging and expensive, which could further drive up prices," he explained.

Estimates suggest that government- and city-owned land in central Zagreb could accommodate the construction of around 32,000 new apartments. However, this would require political will to make the land available for development.

For instance, activating the large Gredelj site in central Zagreb could enable the construction of a significant number of housing units. Vujović emphasized the advantages of developing in central locations, as opposed to the periphery, where infrastructure costs are higher and traffic congestion is an issue.

Ryanair will switch to 100% digital boarding passes starting November 3. Originally set for May, the airline has now extended the deadline, giving passengers more time to adjust.

Currently, 80% of Ryanair travelers already use digital boarding passes, but with 200 million passengers per year, that still leaves 40 million relying on printed passes.

In a statement, the airline said: "Ryanair passengers will no longer download and print a physical paper boarding pass but will instead use the digital boarding pass generated in their myRyanair app during check-in."

Looking ahead, Ryanair expects to eliminate most airport check-in fees by November 2025, as all passengers will be required to check in online or via the app.

For those without smartphones, the airline suggests seeking assistance from a friend or family member.