Croatia hosts inaugural meeting of young returnees to tackle reintegration hurdles

Around 100 young Croatians who have returned from Australia, Argentina, Chile, Germany, Austria and other countries gathered in Zagreb for the first national Young Croatian Returnees Meeting. The event was organized by the association Mladi za Domovinu (Youth for the Homeland) together with the Croatian Heritage Foundation and funded by the Ministry of Demography and Immigration.

A panel featuring State Secretary Mladen Barac and returnees Drago Jukić, Jozo Kolakušić and Nadir Ivanović highlighted the main obstacles faced by returnees: fragmented information, complex administrative language, and limited coordination among institutions. Jukić warned that many returnees struggle to navigate the system, while Kolakušić noted frequent social questioning such as “What are you doing here?” despite long‑standing encouragement to return. Ivanović stressed the importance of learning the Croatian language and culture before coming back.

Barac said the state bears the greatest responsibility for improving the return process, calling the lack of institutional connectivity the biggest barrier. Participants also pointed out the advantages of living in Croatia – safety, strong family ties, preserved culture and growing economic opportunities. The meeting concluded with presentations of business projects and community initiatives, underscoring how overseas experience can contribute to Croatia’s development. "It’s never the right time to return, but there’s never been a better time," said Kolakušić.