AGP Executive Report

Maritime Tragedy: Three Czech citizens were killed and one person is missing after a catamaran collided with a sailboat off Split, between Šolta and Brač; the yacht sank and an underwater drone has located it at over 50 meters as authorities investigate the cause. Tourism Push: Croatia premiered a new U.S.-focused tourism film, “Croatia – I Hear It’s Beautiful,” starring actor John Malkovich, with the premiere held at the World Cup training camp in Alexandria, Virginia, alongside figures including Luka Modrić and Toni Kukoč. Dubrovnik-Neretva Travel: Skyscanner named Dubrovnik’s Banje Beach and Mljet’s Saplunara among Croatia’s most beautiful beaches, highlighting both city views and quieter island scenery. Nightlife Rules: New legislation lets local authorities in Croatia block nighttime alcohol sales from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. to curb disorder during peak tourist periods, while restaurants and approved venues remain unaffected. WTA Spotlight: Croatian Donna Vekic beat Emma Raducanu 6-0, 7-6 to win the Queen’s Club title, extending Raducanu’s trophy drought and setting up a busy grass-court lead-in to Wimbledon.

Tourism Push: Croatia premiered its new World Cup-era tourism film, “Croatia – I Hear It’s Beautiful,” starring John Malkovich at the national team’s training camp, with the campaign leaning into humor and a “go beyond the postcard” message. Dubrovnik in the Spotlight: LeBron James, Rafael Nadal and Kyle Kuzma visited Dubrovnik during the E1 electric powerboat event, where PM Andrej Plenković backed the race for its global visibility. World Cup Prep (Health): Croatia’s public health institute urged fans heading to the 2026 World Cup to update vaccinations, take extra care if they’ve been in affected regions, and follow basic hygiene and travel-safety steps. Demographics & Families: Municipalities are ramping up baby incentives, with payments reaching up to €26,000 for later children in some areas as population decline deepens. Cost of Living: Croatia’s “shopping basket” eased slightly in May, but regional price gaps widened, keeping many households worried about affordability. Healthcare Access: Mobile clinics are set to bring primary care to remote Zadar County villages and islands this summer. Sports (Croatian Tennis): Donna Vekic reached the Queen’s Club final after beating Katie Boulter, setting up a Croatia-vs-Britain showdown with Emma Raducanu. Football Transfers: Tottenham’s Luka Vuskovic remains a Brighton target after a reported £30m bid, with Spurs expected to reject it.

World Cup Focus: Croatia’s World Cup build-up continues as fans get practical guidance from the Croatian Institute of Public Health, urging vaccination checks and extra precautions for travel-related risks, including malaria prevention advice for parts of Mexico. Croatian Economy & Society: The Croatian National Bank reports deposits by citizens rose to €38.77bn at end-2025, while a new demographic review highlights how some towns now pay up to €26,000 for a fifth child or more to fight population decline. EU Rules for Daily Life: From August 2026, new EU packaging rules will hit Croatian cafés, restaurants and hotels, including limits on “forever chemicals,” less empty space in packaging, and tighter rules for takeaway containers. Tourism & Culture: Dubrovnik is set to keep its global spotlight with the E1 electric powerboat series returning for a second year, with the government backing the event. Sports Spotlight: Emma Raducanu surged to the Queen’s Club final after beating Iva Jovic 6-2, 6-2, setting up a showdown with Croatia’s Donna Vekic.

Streaming Watch: Omdia forecasts Netflix will hit nearly 400 million subscribers by end-2031 and top one billion monthly viewers by 2027, even as the market consolidates. Croatia at Sea: Deputy PM Oleg Butković says Croatia wants to boost Rijeka port container capacity, aiming to massively expand handling for a China-to-Central Europe maritime link. World Cup Focus: Croatia’s World Cup campaign is framed around Luka Modrić’s possible final chapter, with reports suggesting Real Madrid could bring him back in a non-playing role after his Milan contract ends. Security & Cyber: Croatia hosted CACE 2026, a major regional cyber exercise with more than 100 professionals and U.S. National Guard partners. Environment Under Pressure: Scientists in Pula are racing to save the noble pen shell from extinction as Mediterranean populations collapse. Culture & Tourism: Hvar kicks off its 65th Summer Festival on June 21 with a full program in St. Stephen’s Square. Sports Abroad (Croatian ties): Sharjah appoints Croatian Romeo Jozak as sporting director.

World Cup in the spotlight: Croatia’s national team has started training at its new Alexandria, Virginia base ahead of Group L matches vs England, Ghana and Panama, with players stressing it’s all about football, not sightseeing. Transfer buzz: Tottenham are linked with a big move for Croatian defender Luka Vuskovic as Brighton tables a reported £30m bid, while Spurs look to reshape their back line under Roberto De Zerbi. Dubrovnik tourism & culture: The city is seeing steady growth, with U.S. visitors up 12% in the first part of 2026, plus a packed summer music programme and more concerts across iconic venues. EU-funded local progress: Dubrovnik Mayor Mato Franković points to EU projects—from water treatment to a planned Park ’n’ Ride with solar-powered lighting—shaping the county’s future. Justice reform: Croatia’s Justice Minister Damir Habijan unveiled proposals that would introduce life imprisonment and stronger post-sentence supervision for “socially dangerous” offenders. Media industry watch: NEM Dubrovnik 2026 highlighted consolidation, local content investment and AI as TV distribution and buying models keep shifting.

World Cup Fan Life in Croatia: The Croatian Football Federation (HNS) is opening the free “Vatrena Zone” fan zone on Zagreb’s Cvjetni Square from 17 June, with daily activities and match screenings, plus more locations in Zagreb and Rijeka. Tourism Investment: Poreč officially welcomed Valamar’s Pical Resort, a €200m, five-star project with 514 units and plans for 800+ jobs, built around family attractions like PlayLand. Migration Rules at the Border: Croatia is applying the EU Migration Pact so people in border procedures “shall not be considered to have entered” legally, even if physically present, raising new legal questions. Regional Border Shift: Slovenia ended temporary border controls with Croatia and Hungary, dismantling checkpoints overnight. Croatia in the EU spotlight: EU-Western Balkans talks in Tivat left no final joint declaration, with Montenegro’s accession timeline discussed amid reform pressure. Economy & Jobs: Croatia hit record employment levels as summer hiring accelerates, with unemployment at its lowest since modern tracking began. Sports & Culture: Split is planning a new Homeland War Museum near Poljud, aiming to expand education and memorial space. Infrastructure & Logistics: ENNA Logic bought five Siemens Vectron locomotives to boost freight capacity across multiple European corridors. Film & Identity: Split audiences are seeing “Honey Bunny,” Croatian director Igor Jelinović’s debut on real-estate inheritance and family identity tensions.

World Cup Watch in the U.S.: Fans across the DC area are lining up watch parties and fan fests, including FIFA’s free Fan Zone on Washington’s National Mall and match screenings at Union Market. Vukovar Football Boost: Vukovar has launched a fundraising campaign to build a new modern stadium for HNK Vukovar 1991, backed by locals, businesses and the Croatian diaspora. Croatian Pride Abroad: A giant 100-metre Croatian flag will be unfurled in New York’s Anable Basin on June 13 ahead of Croatia’s World Cup matches. Tourism Update (Dubrovnik): Dubrovnik says U.S. visitor numbers are up 12% so far in 2026, helped by direct flights from New York. Local Life & Costs (Zagreb): A report highlights taxi fares in Zagreb that can reach €85 for a 5km trip despite fare rules being displayed. Culture in Osijek: Osijek’s Summer of Culture returns with 60+ free events running June 24 to August 30. Demography Policy: Croatia’s Demography Ministry is partnering with universities to support the upcoming Demographic Renewal Law.

War Crimes & Accountability: Croatia’s High Criminal Court upheld Branimir Glavas’s Osijek war-crimes conviction, renewing calls for President Zoran Milanović to strip him of rank and decorations after the verdict was restored following a long legal fight. Aviation Disruption: Multiple European airports reported widespread flight delays, including long late departures affecting British Airways, Air France, Jet2, Ryanair, easyJet and others. World Cup Focus: Croatia’s squad has arrived in the US for the 2026 campaign, with Luka Modrić and Ivan Perišić among the experienced core as the team prepares for another deep run. Tourism & Dubrovnik: Dubrovnik’s overtourism crackdown is being highlighted internationally, with new visitor-management steps credited for reducing crowding while keeping tourism growth. Border & Travel Links: Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina signed a new border-crossings agreement to streamline traffic and expand international passenger and freight hubs aligned with Schengen rules. Local Economy & Housing: Croatian landlords are reconsidering Airbnb-style rentals as new levies and taxes hit ahead of peak summer.

World Cup Forecast & Croatia Spotlight: A new prediction model puts Spain as the likeliest 2026 champions, while Croatia is again framed as a “dark horse,” with the tournament’s big-four contenders also including France, England and Argentina. Dubrovnik Tourism & Overtourism Response: Dubrovnik tops a Europe-wide “hidden-gem” proposal ranking, and the city’s mayor tells the BBC how cruise limits, traffic rules and visitor management helped bring crowds under control. Court Update on War Crimes: Croatia’s High Criminal Court upheld the 2023 conviction of Branimir Glavas for Osijek war crimes, keeping prison terms for him and co-defendants. Energy Strategy: Croatia is stepping up work on a nuclear energy development plan, reviewing past sites and reviving nuclear engineering studies. Border Travel Disruption: Frontex warns EES-related border queues could persist for another two years, with travel groups warning of major tourism hit. Local Sports Infrastructure: Vukovar plans a new €14m stadium funded via a donor campaign honoring 12 police officers killed in 1991. NEM Dubrovnik Media Debate: Executives at NEM Dubrovnik argue European TV needs “gravity” through local content to compete with global streaming giants.

World Cup Build-Up: Croatia’s national team has arrived in the United States and is settling into its World Cup base in Alexandria, Virginia, with training at Episcopal High School and group matches against England (June 17, Dallas), Panama (June 24, Toronto) and Ghana (June 27, Philadelphia). Trade & Economy: Croatia’s exports rose 10.8% in the first four months of 2026 to €9.1bn, while imports grew 4.7% to €15.9bn, leaving a €6.8bn trade deficit. Tech & Investment: Gnomon Capital has acquired Varaždin-based data centre operator DC North, boosting its digital infrastructure footprint as demand for secure capacity keeps climbing. Tourism Watch: Croatia’s tourism momentum continues, with 4.5m visitors and 14m overnight stays in Jan–May 2026, plus HTZ reporting 7% more overnight stays and 5% more arrivals. Dubrovnik Overtourism Response: Dubrovnik says vehicle traffic near the Old City dropped sharply, with 132,450 fewer vehicles in April–May versus last year. Public Health: Croatia confirmed a new African swine fever case on a farm in Ivanovo (Osijek-Baranja County), with 62 animals set for culling. Regional Cooperation: President Iliana Iotova will host the SEECP 30th anniversary summit in Sofia, with Croatia’s foreign minister among attending leaders.

Film & Culture: EFP’s Future Frames is back at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (3–11 July), bringing 10 emerging European directors to the spotlight with new main partner Allwyn. Agriculture: Croatia confirmed a new African swine fever case on a small farm in Ivanovo (Osijek-Baranja County); 62 animals will be culled and investigations are underway. Defence Cooperation: Croatia and Slovakia signed a defence deal in Zagreb—Slovakia will supply ammunition and armoured vehicles, while Croatia provides combat helmets and plans to join EU SAFE framework contracts. Tourism Momentum: Croatia’s tourism keeps climbing—4.5 million visitors and 14 million overnight stays in the first five months of 2026, with the Adriatic driving most growth. Dubrovnik vs Overtourism: Dubrovnik says traffic controls are working: 132,450 fewer vehicles entered its Special Traffic Regulation Zone in April–May versus last year. World Cup Build-up: Croatia’s team base in Alexandria is being celebrated with “Shop the Checkers” discounts and events (June 14–28).

Tourism Crackdown: Dubrovnik is pushing back hard on mass tourism, with the city’s mayor arguing the shift is already changing how visitors behave. Infrastructure Disruption: Zagreb’s Slavonska Avenija stays closed indefinitely as the Vjesnik tower removal continues, with drivers rerouted and congestion expected. Labour Crackdown: Croatia is expanding its digital work monitoring to better catch undeclared work, including construction and platform-based jobs, as the grey economy is estimated at up to 30% of GDP. Border & Trade: Croatia and Bosnia signed a new border crossings deal to speed up movement of people and freight and expand top-category crossings. Culture & Heritage: A new Pavo Urban exhibition opens in Dubrovnik, spotlighting his Mediterranean-life photos from the late 1980s to early 1990s. World Cup Focus: Croatia’s World Cup campaign is framed as a final run for key veterans like Modrić and Perišić, with Group L preview coverage highlighting what to watch next. Local Life: Reports say young Croatians are increasingly leaving big cities for smaller towns for housing and quality of life.

Border & Trade: Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina signed a new border crossings agreement in Sarajevo, expanding the top-category crossings from 2 to 5 (with 6 during a transition) and increasing international road crossings for passengers and freight from 14 to 17, with traffic temporarily continuing over the new bridge in Gradiška. Postal & Customs: Hrvatska pošta resumed sending goods to the USA under a new pre-payment setup after the US removed the “de minimis” exemption; customers now pay duties and taxes in advance via the ZONOS app before parcels are accepted. Tourism Momentum: Dubrovnik logged over 1 million overnight stays in the first five months of 2026 (up 2% year-on-year), with May arrivals and overnights also rising. World Cup Build-Up: Croatia’s national team is using Alexandria as its World Cup base camp, with training at a local school and community watch parties planned. Local Culture: A memorial bench for singer Massimo was unveiled beside Pula Arena on his birth date.

World Cup Build-Up: Croatia’s warm-up run ends with a 2-1 home win over Slovenia, with Luka Modrić scoring after a formation switch—while England open their campaign next week against Croatia in Texas. Tourism Boom: Dubrovnik keeps rolling, topping one million overnight stays in the first five months of 2026, as the city gears up for World Cup crowds. Local Life & Heritage: A Dubrovnik resident cleaned up litter around Orlando’s Column after authorities didn’t act—though weeds remain a work in progress. Travel Links: Ryanair launches a new seasonal Zadar–Marseille route, adding more direct summer travel between Croatia and southern France. EU & Region: EU leaders backed Montenegro’s EU path at a Western Balkans summit, with Croatia noting remaining bilateral issues. Tech & Mobility: Europe moves closer to self-driving taxi trials, with Croatia already part of the early testing push. Culture: A memorial bench for singer Massimo was unveiled beside Pula Arena, and Pelješac’s Flavours of Pelješac festival returns for summer Wednesdays.

EU Enlargement Push: European leaders backed Montenegro’s EU path at the EU–Western Balkans summit in Tivat, with Croatia’s PM Andrej Plenković saying Podgorica has advanced furthest but still has open bilateral issues Zagreb wants resolved. World Cup Prep in Croatia: Croatia closed World Cup preparations with a 2-1 home friendly win over Slovenia in Varaždin, with Luka Modrić scoring after the restart as coach Zlatko Dalić rotated his squad. Pay Transparency Rules: New EU salary transparency rules took effect, while Croatia is still finalising how it will fully implement them domestically. Transport & Infrastructure: Croatia signed a €13m deal to modernise the Hum-Lug–Gornja Stubica railway line, aiming to improve regional rail links to Zagreb. Tourism Momentum: Croatia reported strong pre-season results, with more than 440,000 visitors currently staying in the country. Dubrovnik Riviera Spotlight: The $450m mega yacht Deep Blue anchored off Župa dubrovačka, drawing crowds along the coast. Aviation for Zadar: Ryanair launched a seasonal direct route between Zadar and Marseille, running through summer.

LGBTQ+ Rights in Zagreb: Thousands joined the 25th Zagreb Pride march, which police said passed peacefully with no major incidents, as organisers renewed calls for full equality, including adoption rights and protections for transgender, non-binary and intersex people. World Cup Focus (Croatia/England): With the 2026 tournament starting June 11, England’s Group L campaign is set to feature Harry Kane and new coach Thomas Tuchel, with Croatia listed among the key opponents. Tourism Watch: Croatia is seeing a strong pre-season push, with more than 440,000 visitors currently staying in the country, as the tourism board targets a more year-round model. Aviation Safety: Four people died in a small plane crash over Croatia’s Istria region near Medulin, with authorities investigating the cause. Economy & Policy: Croatia announced a new €47m farm finance package offering loans and credits with principal write-offs of up to 50%. Identity Documents: Some Croatian citizens with older “permanent validity” ID cards must replace them before 3 August due to EU security standards.