AGP Executive Report

Rimac Theft: Bugatti CEO Mate Rimac says he’ll stop leaving keys in his cars after his Chiron was stolen near Zagreb. He tracked the car in a Porsche 911; Austrian police arrested the suspect and recovered it. Zagreb Culture: The earthquake-damaged Mimara Museum has reopened after restoration, returning part of its collection to public view. Air Links: Air Montenegro plans three weekly Podgorica–Zagreb flights from late November, with service expected to continue into next summer. Tourism: Visitors spent an average of €162 per person per day on the Adriatic in 2025–26, up 15% from 2022; spending in continental Croatia reached €164. Advent Costs: More cities are capping prices at Christmas markets. In Split, sausages and mulled wine are capped at €3 and fritule at €4. Public Health: Croatia has reported 25 West Nile virus cases and one death.

Rimac Theft: Bugatti chief Mate Rimac says his €3 million Chiron was stolen from the company campus near Zagreb after he left the keys inside. He tracked it through Slovenia and Austria, joining the pursuit in a Porsche 911; Austrian police arrested a Croatian suspect and recovered the car. Zagreb Culture: The Mimara Museum has reopened after a six-year, €75 million earthquake restoration, though only about a third of its collection is currently on display. Wages: Croatia’s gross monthly minimum wage will rise 7.6% to €1,130 in 2027, with temporary support for affected employers and higher minimum student pay. Public Health: Croatia has reported 25 West Nile virus cases and one death this year, with Zagreb and surrounding areas accounting for most infections. Tourism and Wellness: Topusko’s thermal spa complex has reopened after a €48.3 million renovation, adding upgraded pools, wellness facilities and accommodation.

Wages: Croatia will raise the gross minimum wage to €1,130 a month in 2027, up 7.6%. Employers can claim temporary support, while the minimum student-work rate rises to €7.06 an hour. Public Investment: The EIB and HBOR have agreed on €300 million in financing for Croatian businesses, with 30% earmarked for climate and environmental projects. Varaždin also secured a €25 million EIB loan for a wider €100 million programme covering schools, sports facilities and green spaces. Health: Croatia has recorded 25 West Nile virus cases and one death this year; 15 cases were in Zagreb and surrounding areas. Zagreb: The city has installed six mobile traps after drone footage identified about 70 wild boar in residential areas. Tourism: Topusko’s thermal spa complex has reopened after a €48.3 million renovation, adding upgraded pools, wellness facilities and accommodation. Weather: Snow may reach mountainous areas from Sunday, while strong bura winds are forecast along parts of the Adriatic.

Business: The European Investment Bank and HBOR have signed the first €300 million tranche of a €500 million package to help Croatian small businesses invest and grow; 30% is earmarked for climate and environmental projects. Public Health: Croatia is drafting wider restrictions on energy drinks and similar stimulant products for under-18s, including limits on marketing to minors and sales displays in schools. Culture: Zagreb’s Mimara Museum is set to reopen on 7 November after a six-year, €75 million restoration. Sport: HC Zagreb celebrated a Champions League handball win over Celje in Slovenia, while Croatian swimmer Jere Hribar earned SEC swimmer-of-the-week honours after setting three pool records for LSU.

Population: Croatia is preparing a Demographic Renewal Act combining family support, housing, regional development and incentives for diaspora return. In Osijek-Baranja County, more than €6 million has gone to family and youth projects since 2021, as the region continues to lose residents. Zagreb Protest: Organisers have called a 21 November rally against corruption, rising living costs and institutional failures, saying it is not linked to political parties. Dubrovnik Airport: Mayor Mato Franković has called irregularities in the airport’s EU-funded modernisation “the biggest corruption scandal involving EU cash in Croatia.” The airport returned €22 million after procurement problems; some infrastructure was reportedly never put into use. Culture: Zagreb’s Mimara Museum is set to reopen on 7 November after a six-year, €75 million restoration following earthquake damage. Business: Toyota has announced battery coverage in Croatia of up to 10 years or one million kilometres, subject to maintenance and annual inspections. Sport: Croatian swimmer Jere Hribar set three pool records for LSU and was named SEC Men’s Swimmer of the Week.

Families and Demographics: Croatia is preparing a Demographic Renewal Act to coordinate support for families, housing, regional development and diaspora returnees. In Osijek-Baranja County, 119 young families received housing grants this year, and 52 homes are planned across 20 locations. Dubrovnik on Screen: Filming is underway for an Apple TV action series starring James Marsden, Mayor Mato Franković confirmed. Water Polo: Australian-born Luke Pavillard is now cleared to represent Croatia after World Aquatics approved his change of sporting nationality. National Team: Slaven Bilić named a 32-player preliminary squad for Croatia’s Nations League games against England and Czechia, including two Hajduk Split players. Travel: Ryanair has launched twice-weekly winter flights between Zagreb and Warsaw-Modlin; Croatia’s new online customs service for travellers is due to start on 1 November.

Media and Politics: Serbia’s student movement, fresh from a parliamentary victory that ended Aleksandar Vučić’s 14-year rule, is demanding the resignation of RTS public broadcaster leaders and an interim management. Healthcare: A €237.5 million grant is moving Zagreb’s long-planned National Children’s Hospital toward construction, with work expected to take 38 months. Families and Demographics: Croatia is preparing a new Demographic Renewal Act aimed at supporting young families, returnees and regions facing population decline. Tourism and Travel: New research puts average daily visitor spending at €162 on the coast and €164 inland, while Ryanair has launched a Zagreb–Warsaw route and increased winter flights from the capital. Business: The European Commission approved €60 million in Croatian aid to help energy-intensive industries cope with higher electricity costs. Rescue Search: A Croatian worker remains among four people missing after an oil rig sank off Gabon; one person has died.

Energy and Industry: The European Commission approved €60 million in Croatian aid to help energy-intensive companies cope with carbon-related electricity costs, subject to energy-saving and emissions-cutting conditions. Travel: Zagreb Airport welcomed its four-millionth passenger earlier than ever, while Ryanair is increasing winter flights from 73 to 78 a week and has launched a four-times-weekly Warsaw Modlin route. Technology: Croatian firm Rimac is partnering with Ecoblox on a modular data centre using Rimac batteries, with the first unit planned for its Kerestinec campus. Regional Politics: Serbia’s student-led Student List defeated Aleksandar Vučić’s party, ending its 14-year hold on power; Prime Minister Andrej Plenković congratulated the winners and welcomed their stated interest in better relations with neighbours. Tourism and Housing: Croatian campsites received top quality ratings from German campers but were reported as Europe’s most expensive. In Zagreb, a 50-square-metre new-build apartment now costs about €175,900—roughly 99 months of the average net salary.

Air Travel: Zagreb Airport welcomed its four-millionth passenger earlier than ever, while Ryanair launched four weekly winter flights to Warsaw Modlin. Regional Politics: Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković congratulated Serbia’s student-led election winners, who say they have a clear mandate to form a government. Cost of Living: A proposed change to speed-camera rules could triple some Croatian fines; in Zagreb, a new-build 50-square-metre apartment costs about €175,900—roughly 99 average monthly salaries. Istrian Harvest: White truffles are fetching up to €5,000 a kilo as heat and drought curb this season’s supply. Cultural Heritage: A Roman emperor’s marble torso from Salona sold in New York for more than $34 million, a record auction price for a Roman antiquity.

Travel Rules: Croatia’s new online customs service launches on 1 November, letting travellers declare and pay import duties before reaching the border; goods must still be shown to an officer. Road Safety: Proposed rules could sharply increase some speeding fines by reducing camera-measurement tolerances. The changes are not yet in force. Cultural Heritage: A Roman emperor’s marble torso from Salona sold in New York for more than $34 million, a record for a Roman antiquity; Croatia was unable to prevent the sale. Tourism: Croatia has nearly 5,000 charter vessels, but oversupply, falling prices and rising costs are squeezing earnings as Greece gains ground. Population: Nearly 400,000 people left Croatia from 2016 to 2025, though recent years have brought more arrivals than departures. Regional Politics: Serbia’s ruling party conceded defeat in a snap election after record turnout, amid reports of violence and irregularities. Sport: Luka Modrić set a Serie A record for assists by a player aged over 40, with four since his birthday.

Migration: Nearly 400,000 people emigrated from Croatia between 2016 and 2025, including more than 287,000 Croatian citizens. Recent figures show arrivals now outnumber departures, though the loss of working-age residents remains a concern. Travel and Customs: From November 1, travellers can declare and pay import duties online before reaching Croatia’s borders; goods can be registered up to five days ahead. Jobs: Fish processor Irida plans to close its Daruvar factory by year-end, putting 150 jobs at risk after more than 50 years of operation. Transport: A proposed fast road linking Dubrovnik with its airport is moving towards an environmental impact assessment, with construction planned in stages. Electric Cars: Croatia remains last in the EU for new electric-car purchases: fully electric vehicles made up about 4.3% of new registrations from March to August, against an EU average of 22.5%. Heritage: Croatia has protected an 11th- or 12th-century church on Ugljan, believed to be the island’s oldest surviving church. Archaeology: Excavations in Split’s suburb of Stobreč have uncovered evidence of a settlement dating to around 1500 BC.

Border & Road Rules: Croatia’s new e-customs service launches November 1, letting travellers declare goods and pay import duties online before arrival. Daytime headlights become mandatory that day; winter equipment rules start November 15. Dubrovnik Link: A proposed fast road from the city to its airport will move towards an environmental assessment, with construction planned in stages. Jobs: Nomad Foods plans to close Daruvar’s Irida fish plant by year-end, putting 150 jobs at risk. Technology: Croatian drone maker ORQA is partnering with a Ukrainian firm on interceptor drones and an underground factory; meanwhile, Croatia’s electric-car share remains the EU’s lowest, at 4.3% of new registrations. Heritage & Tourism: Archaeologists have uncovered Bronze Age remains near Split, while an 11th- or 12th-century church on Ugljan has gained cultural protection. Hvar is also being promoted as an autumn escape, with milder weather and quieter shores. Football: Dinamo Zagreb lost 4-2 at home to NEC Nijmegen in the Europa League.

Roads and Rules: Croatia’s November changes include daytime headlights from 1 November and winter equipment on designated roads from 15 November. New consumer-credit and price-transparency rules are also coming. A proposed fast road linking Dubrovnik with its airport will move to an environmental assessment, with construction planned in stages. Jobs: Fish processor Irida plans to close its Daruvar factory by year-end, putting 150 jobs at risk after more than 50 years of operation. Defence Technology: A Croatian Army drone pilot took first place individually at an international competition in Ankara, while the Croatian team finished seventh. Croatian firm ORQA is also partnering with Ukraine’s General Cherry to make drone systems, including at an underground Ukrainian factory. Football: Dinamo Zagreb lost 4-2 at home to NEC Nijmegen in the Europa League, extending the Dutch side’s winless run in Europe no longer.

Heritage: Jadranka, Lady Beresford-Peirse, has died aged 88. She founded the International Trust for Croatian Monuments in 1991 and helped protect historic sites in Vukovar, Dubrovnik and Šibenik. Šibenik Airport: The proposed airport at Pokrovnik faces delays: key studies due in July have not been publicly confirmed, while concerns have emerged over protected bird habitats. Ukraine: Defence Minister Ivan Anušić urged continued support for Ukraine, saying its people show the bravery Croatians displayed during the 1990s war. Border Security: A joint Bosnian-Croatian patrol stopped 35 people near Posušje suspected of attempting an illegal crossing. Football: Dinamo Zagreb lost 4-2 at home to NEC Nijmegen in the Europa League, giving the Dutch club its first European win since 2008. Culture: A Vlaho Bukovac painting sold in Vienna for a record €475,800 and is due to go on display in Zagreb from November. Household Finances: Croatian households’ financial assets rose 11.1% year-on-year to €141 billion by June, while liabilities climbed 10.6% to €33 billion. Advent Prices: Pula will cap prices on selected Christmas-market staples, including €5 sausages and hamburgers and €3 mulled wine.

Culture: Vlaho Bukovac’s Pink Dream sold in Vienna for €475,800, a record for the Croatian painter. The work is due to go on show at Zagreb’s Klovićevi Dvori gallery from November to March. Cost of Living: Pula is capping prices on festive-market staples: sausages, hamburgers and cod at €5, mulled wine and fritule at €3. Economy: Croatian households’ financial assets rose 11.1% year on year to €141 billion by June, while liabilities climbed 10.6% to €33 billion, central bank figures show. Zagreb: The city has begun a 14-month plan to improve public transport, road safety and everyday journeys, with completion due in December 2027. Sports: Dinamo Zagreb lost 4-2 at home to NEC Nijmegen in the Europa League. Arts: Boris Kolar, a leading Zagreb School of Animation artist who helped shape Professor Balthazar, has died in Zagreb aged 93. Film: Dubrovnik is hosting filming for Apple TV thriller Disavowed, starring James Marsden.

European Football: Dinamo Zagreb’s unbeaten European start ended with a 4-2 home defeat to NEC Nijmegen. Dion Drena Beljo scored twice, but NEC hit back with four goals for its first win in the competition. Aviation: Austrian Airlines will end its Zagreb–Vienna service on January 10 and has ruled out a summer return. Zagreb Airport is still negotiating with Wizz Air as passenger growth slows. Hrgović’s Next Fight: Croatia’s heavyweight champion could defend his title against Frank Sanchez in early 2027, with Zagreb a possible venue; a unification bout with Daniel Dubois would wait. Cost of Living: Average net pay reached €1,543 in August, but inflation left workers with only about €36 more in monthly purchasing power. Half of employees earned less than €1,336. Tourism: Four Aminess campsites have earned Germany’s ADAC Superplatz award, adding to Croatia’s reputation as a leading European camping destination.