Full Coverage: Croatia

31.10.2006 The Government of Croatia announced last weekend that all employees receiving salaries from the State Budget will have to pass, over the coming two or three years, the ECDL Programme (European Computer Driving Licence). ECDL is internationally recognized computer literacy standard, designed under the “Leonardo da Vinci” Programme, implemented by the European Commission.

26.10.2006 The Ministry of Environmental Protection, Spatial Planning and Construction (MZOPU) released the draft-Rulebook on Management of Waste Oils. This is another of planned rulebooks designed to raise the levels of environmental protection, secure the implementation of legislation on waste management and European directives.

20.10.2006 The Trainers’ Forum (TREF), association of trainers and consultants for the non-profit sector in Croatia opens a public competition for the position of programme coordinator (20 hours weekly) in Zagreb.

19.10.2006 Centre for Women Studies announces the opening of enrolment for the new Women Studies programme. The enrolments term starts on October 19 and will end on October 27, 2006. Candidates will be received between 17:00 and 20:00 hours, every weekday, at the Centre for Women Studies in Zagreb (Berislaviceva 12).

19.10.2006 The Green ForumZeleni forum, a network of Croatian environmental associations, announces a public competition for education of lawyers and law students (in their senior years) on environmental law.

19.10.2006 Kontra lesbian group starts a new counselling service for lesbians and bisexual women. The counselling service is envisioned as a safe place for lesbian and bisexual women to present their problems, doubts, questions about homophobia and other aspects of our existence.

18.10.2006 The Centre for Peace Studies invites you to the Zagreb premiere of two new documentary films: Dossier Osijek by Davor Konjikusic, produced by Belgrade B92 and Croatia – Heaven (End) on the Earth by Oliver Sertic, produced by Fade In and CMS. The screenings will take place on Thursday, October 19, 2006, at 15:30, at the &TD Theatre Student Centre, Savska 25, Zagreb.

17.10.2006 The protests organized yesterday by Animal Liberation association, on the occasion of October 10, the International Day of Fight against McDonalds, gathered about 50 activists that wanted to speak out to the citizens that they have had enough with the torture conducted by McDonald’s and other exploiters of people and animals.

16.10.2006 During the visit of Anne-Marie Sigmund, President of European Economic and Social Committee –EESC, to Croatia (October 11, 2006), an agreement was reached between EESC and Croatian civil society organizations to establish a joint body, named EU-Croatia Civil Society Follow-up Committee.

13.10.2006 The Ministry of Environmental Protection, Spatial Planning and Construction recently published the summary of the Environmental Study of Pacs nuclear power-plant in Hungary (located about 100km from Croatian border, on its web-site (www.mzopu.hr). Zelena akcija environmental association believes that the study is incomplete and demands that it is amended with appropriate information.

12.10.2006 The gay.hr portal reports that a group of queer activists decorated Zadar, on Tuesday night, with rainbow ribbons, thus marking October 11, the International Coming Out Day.

10.10.2006 Zelena Istra (Green Istria) representative recently took part in a public debate discussing public views on announced big infrastructural projects (October 5, Zagreb) organized by the Scientific Energy Council of the Croatian Academy of Arts and Sciences.

09.10.2006 The Youth Council of the Osijek-Baranja County, established under the project implemented by Croatian Youth Network (CYN) and the Centre for Informal Education (formerly the Youth Club Osijek) held a debate on October 5, at the Osijek Chamber of Commerce, discussing the topic of entrepreneurship opportunities for the youth.

04.10.2006 The National Foundation for Civil Society Development will publish, starting next week, information on new developments in the EU of importance to civil society organizations (CSOs) in its website’s Civil Society and EU category.

03.10.2006 The National Foundation for Civil Society Development announces to Calls for Cooperation: Call for Cooperation in the area of non-profit media projects for promotion of democratization and civil society development; and, Call for Participation in EU Information and Education Programme for members of CSOs. The deadlines for application expire on November 2, 2006, and October 15, 2006, respectively.

03.10.2006 The central news programme of Croatian TV (link http://www.hrt.hr www.hrt.hr) aired a story last Friday, September 29, on the secret agreement between the Government and Deutsche Telecom on the sale of Croatian Telecom (HT) in 1999, which gives HT exclusive right of exploitation of the complete telecommunications infrastructure in the country, including the underground network of distribution-telecommunication channels (DTC).