The lands that today comprise Croatia were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the close of World War I. In 1918, the Croats, Serbs, and Slovenes formed a kingdom known after 1929 as Yugoslavia. Following World War II, Yugoslavia became a federal independent Communist state under the strong hand of Marshal TITO. Although Croatia declared its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, it took four years of sporadic, but often bitter, fighting before occupying Serb armies were mostly cleared from Croatian lands. Under UN supervision, the last Serb-held enclave in eastern Slavonia was returned to Croatia in 1998.
Country profile: Croatia
Croatia emerged into the new millennium from a decade in which it experienced a bitter war as the former Yugoslavia broke up, and from several years of authoritarian nationalism under the late president, Franjo Tudjman. By early 2003 it had made sufficient progress to apply for EU membership, becoming the second former Yugoslav republic after Slovenia to do so.
Accession talks were postponed because of Croatia's failure to detain Gen Ante Gotovina, wanted by the international war crimes tribunal in The Hague. However the green light for the talks to proceed was given in October 2005, and the fugitive general was arrested in Spain shortly afterwards.
Croatia is now hoping to become a member of the EU by 2010, remarkable progress since the time of Tudjman's death in December 1999 when the country was in a parlous state. Its citizens suffered from government-backed attacks on their civil and political rights. The governing party, the HDZ, was then corrupt and the economy was in difficulties, with around 20% of Croatians unemployed.
Presidential and parliamentary elections at the beginning of 2000 ushered in politicians who pledged commitment to Croatia's integration into the European mainstream.
The constitution has been changed to shift power away from the president to the parliament. Croatia has joined the World Trade Organisation and has pledged to open up its economy. It has achieved growth and inflation is under control.
It has rumbling disputes with Slovenia over sea and land borders dating back to the break-up of Yugoslavia.
A country of striking natural beauty with a stunning Adriatic coastline, Croatia is again very popular as a tourist destination.
- Full name: Republic of Croatia
- Population: 4.4 million (UN, 2005)
- Capital: Zagreb
- Area: 56,594 sq km (21,851 sq km)
- Major language: Croatian
- Major religion: Christianity
- Life expectancy: 71 years (men), 78 years (women) (UN)
- Monetary unit: 1 kuna = 100 lipa
- Main exports: Machinery and transport equipment, clothing, chemicals
- GNI per capita: US $8,060 (World Bank, 2006)
- Internet domain: .hr
- International dialling code: +385
President: Stjepan Mesic
Mr Mesic won a second five-year term as president in January 2005. It is a largely ceremonial role.
The president proposes the prime minister but it is for parliament to approve the nomination. The president also has powers to dissolve parliament and call elections.
Prime minister: Ivo Sanader
President Mesic invited Ivo Sanader, leader of the right-wing Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), to form a government following elections in November 2003 in which the HDZ won 66 out of the 152 seats in parliament.
Mr Sanader insists that his party has undergone major change since he took over from the late nationalist president, Franjo Tudjman, and now describes it as a traditional conservative party. He has pledged commitment to democracy and the rule of law as well as to upholding human rights and promoting a free market economy.
He has said that EU and Nato membership are the top priority in foreign policy.
On the economic front, Mr Sanader has promised to cut taxes and fight corruption.
He comes from an academic background and speaks several foreign languages, including English.
Croatia's media now operate in a climate of relative freedom following the restrictions of the Tudjman era. The constitution bans censorship and guarantees press freedom.
Croatian Radio-Television, HRT, is a national state-owned public broadcaster and is financed by a mixture of advertising and licence fee revenues. The frequencies of HRT's third national TV network were allocated to a private bidder in September 2003.
Public TV is the main source of news and information for most Croatians. National commercial networks and dozens of private local TV stations compete for viewers.
The press
Television
Radio
News agency
Before the dissolution of Yugoslavia, the Republic of Croatia, after Slovenia, was the most prosperous and industrialized area with a per capita output perhaps one-third above the Yugoslav average. The economy emerged from a mild recession in 2000 with tourism, banking, and public investments leading the way. Unemployment remains high, at about 18%, with structural factors slowing its decline. While macroeconomic stabilization has largely been achieved, structural reforms lag because of deep resistance on the part of the public and lack of strong support from politicians. Growth, while impressive at about 3% to 4% for the last several years, has been stimulated, in part, through high fiscal deficits and rapid credit growth. The EU accession process should accelerate fiscal and structural reform.
Croatian natural resources include oil, some coal, bauxite, low-grade iron ore, calcium, gypsum, natural asphalt, silica, mica, clays, salt, hydropower
controls most land routes from Western Europe to Aegean Sea and Turkish Straits
Croatian religion is Roman Catholic 87.8%, Orthodox 4.4%, other Christian 0.4%, Muslim 1.3%, other and unspecified 0.9%, none 5.2% (2001 census).
Natural hazards in Croatia include destructive earthquakes.
Travel Advice on Croatia
SUMMARY
- Croatia shares with the rest of the Europe a threat from international terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate and against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners.
- Unexploded land mines are still a danger. Highly populated areas and major routes are now clear of mines and are safe to visit. However, isolated areas in the mountains and countryside have not all been cleared. You should therefore be careful not to stray from roads and paved areas without an experienced guide.
- Around 250,000 British nationals visit Croatia each year. Most visits to Croatia are trouble-free. The main type of incident for which British nationals require consular assistance in Croatia is for replacing lost and stolen passports.
- Carry your passport at all times. You must be able to show some form of identification if required.
- We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake. Please see: Travel Insurance
SAFETY AND SECURITY
You should take sensible precautions when carrying money in busy tourist areas, where pickpockets are known to operate.
You should report all incidents of crime to the local police station and obtain a report.
Political Situation
Croatia Country Profile.
Local Travel
If you are planning to travel outside the normal tourist resorts you should be aware that there are areas affected by the war, which ended in 1995, where unexploded mines remain. These areas include the Danube region (Eastern Slavonia) and the former Krajina.
You should be wary about leaving cultivated land or marked paths. If in doubt seek local advice.
If you are planning to cross into the Republics of Serbia or Montenegro please contact the nearest Serbian or Montenegron embassies or look at the travel advice for the Republics of Serbia or Montenegro.
Please note that the Serbia and Montenegro government does not recognise border crossings with Kosovo and those between Kosovo and Albania or Macedonia.
For more information contact the nearest Serbia and Montenegro Embassy or see the Serbia and Montenegro travel advice.
Road Safety
Your UK driving license is valid for up to six months from entry into Croatia. If you are staying longer, you need to apply for a Croatian licence. International Driving Licences are not valid in Croatia.
If travelling by car you should ensure, before setting out, that your green card covers Croatia. Insurance can normally be purchased at the main border crossings, however some of the smaller crossings may not have this facility or have limited hours when the service is available. If you are driving to or through Bosnia and Herzegovina, including the 20km strip of coastline at Neum on the Dalmatian coastal highway, you should ensure that your Green Card includes cover for Bosnia and Herzegovina. If this is not the case, temporary third-party insurance can be purchased at the main border posts, or in Split and other large Croatian cities. Insurance cannot be obtained at the Neum border.
Road conditions in and around Zagreb and the larger towns are of a generally good standard. However, you should take care when overtaking and use caution around other road users who may unexpectedly overtake repeatedly in slower traffic. Minor roads are usually unlit at night.
Croatia has laws stating that it is illegal:-
There have been a number of reported incidents of gangs robbing car occupants after either indicating that they are in trouble and require assistance, or pulling alongside a car and indicating that there seems to be something wrong and they should pull over. You should therefore be extremely cautious should something similar to the above actions occur.
Sea Safety
Croatia has also adopted a law expressing zero tolerance on alcohol consumption by those in charge of yachts and other boats. If you intend to take charge of a boat in Croatia you should not consume alcohol. The penalties for being caught drunk in charge of a boat are likely to be heavy.
LOCAL LAWS AND CUSTOMS
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Unless staying at a hotel or official tourist accommodation, all foreign nationals are required to register with the local police within 24 hours of arrival (in Zagreb you should register at the Police Station at Petrinjska 30, if outside Zagreb, you should register at the nearest main Police Station). Failure to do so may result in a fine or possible removal from Croatia (which may include a restriction on your ability to return to Croatia for a certain period).
HEALTH
Croatia has a reciprocal health agreement with the UK where no charge is made for ‘emergency’ treatment. However, only basic health care facilities are available in outlying areas and islands. This could result in a delay if you require urgent medical care.
You should seek medical advice on immunisations before travelling about immunisations, in particular against tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in the summer months.
GENERAL