Government endorses settlement with firefighter

The government at its meeting on Friday endorsed a report by the State Prosecutor's Office (DORH) which proposed reaching an equitable settlement with former firefighter Frano Lucic, the only survivor of the Kornat tragedy, whereby Lucic would be paid HRK 5.5 million in damages and a monthly allowance of HRK 6,000.

Lucic was the only survivor of a 2007 tragedy in which 12 of his fellow firefighters were killed while trying to put out a wildfire on the Kornat island.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic recalled that he told the media several weeks ago that given how long the procedure lasted, it would have been best if an equitable settlement could be reached.

DORH submitted its report to the government after approaching Lucic's lawyers about the possibility of reaching an equitable settlement which will offer Lucic satisfaction after the tragic accident. It was agreed that damages would amount to HRK 5.49 million and a monthly allowance to HRK 6,000, Plenkovic said, thanking the justice minister and DORH on their efforts to resolve this 12-year long case.

After 12 years Lucic has won a lawsuit, pending appeal, against the city of Sibenik and the Republic of Croatia, which are to pay him HRK 1.75 million in damages and cover his previous and future disability-related costs and compensate him for lost income.

The ruling has been appealed by the Zagreb Municipal Prosecutor's Office, prompting a firefighters' protest in Tisno on February 19, who demand that the state drop the appeal and compensate Lucic for the grave injuries he sustained on Kornat.

Government sends to parliament new bill on land register

The government on Friday sent to Parliament a new bill on land register which, according to Justice Minister Drazen Bosnjakovic, will simplify procedures involving land books.

The bill defines new business processes and institutes of land register rights with the purpose of establishing a modern, efficient and transparent system of keeping land register and cadastral books in an electronic form.

This will increase the legal security in real estate handling, Bosnjakovic said, adding that this was equally important for citizens as it was for the investors who wish to do business in Croatia.

The current law was amended nine times over the past ten years, the minister said adding that the law provided a further normative framework for full digitisation of land books.

The new bill stipulates shorter deadlines, he added.

Gov't will lease, then buy INA building for State Inspectorate

The State Inspectorate, which will be inaugurated on April 1, will be housed in INA oil company's building in Zagreb's Subiceva Street which the government will lease until the end of this year, after which it will buy it, the government decided on Friday.

At today's meeting, the government authorised the Economy Ministry to sign a lease with INA.

The government says in its decision that in the lease agreement it and INA state that they will sign a contract on the sale of the building by December 31.

Also today, the government sent to parliament amendments to the law on the prevention of money laundering and terrorism financing under which the register of actual company owners will soon be public. European Union directives enable member states to make such registers public.

Bill regulating residence within EEA sent to parliament

The Croatian government on Friday sent to parliament a bill on regulating temporary and permanent residence of citizens of the European Economic Area (EEA), and the bill contains provisions that would prevent unregulated status for citizens of Great Britain and Northern Ireland upon the United Kingdom's exit from the EU.

The EEA enables expanding the EU's single market to non-EU members. The EEA links the European Union member states and Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland into an internal market governed by the same basic rules.

Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic said that, having in mind the fact that Brexit negotiations are still going on, citizens of Great Britain should be enabled to retain the status they currently enjoy.

Within defined deadlines they will be expected to seek new residence permits so that they can enjoy unobstructed stay and work in Croatia.

Croatia is preparing for all possible Brexit scenarios

Croatia is prepared to protect the rights of UK citizens staying in Croatia after the official Brexit date  -- March 29 -- but in accordance with the principle of reciprocity, it was said at a cabinet meeting on Friday when it was also underlined that efforts were being made so that the country could be prepared for all possible Brexit scenarios.

Croatia is preparing for two scenarios involving the UK's departure from the European Union -- an orderly Brexit and a no-deal Brexit, it was said at the cabinet meeting a day after the British Parliament voted to postpone the fast-approaching departure date.

"Given that it is still uncertain what will happen on March 29, Croatia and other EU member states are working on plans and scenarios so that our institutions can be prepared for the consequences that Great Britain's leaving the bloc will have on physical and legal entities, particularly on Croatian citizens living in Great Britain but also on British citizens living in Croatia," Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said, referring to the official date of the British divorce form the EU.

Plenkovic recalled that numerous institutions and all relevant stakeholders have published the necessary information on their websites so that citizens could get acquainted with issues they must take into account, adding that owing to the efforts the Foreign and European Affairs Ministry and other departments were making, the government would soon present comprehensive information on Croatia's preparations in case of a no-deal Brexit.

A state secretary in the Foreign and European Affairs Ministry, Andreja Metelko Zgombic, said at a cabinet meeting that Croatia still believed that an orderly Brexit was the best possible solution as it would provide for the legal security of citizens and business communities on both sides.

The government adopted a conclusion taking note of Croatia's preparations for a no-deal Brexit which tasks all all central state administration bodies with completing the necessary activities within their remit to be prepared for that scenario.

Text: Hina

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