Gospić hazardous waste crisis triggers extraordinary Croatian Parliament session

illegal waste dumping Gospić environmental crisis Croatian Parliament extraordinary session environmental crime Lika region

The Croatian Parliament has convened an extraordinary session to address the illegal dumping of hazardous waste in the Gospić area of the Lika region. The session was called by President Zoran Milanović following public outcry over the environmental and health risks posed by an estimated 37,000 tons of mixed waste.

Proposed measures include the immediate remediation of the waste site, continuous monitoring of groundwater, and the appointment of a new Chief State Inspector within 15 days. The government is also being urged to meet with local citizens' initiatives to provide transparency regarding the situation.

Neither President Milanović nor Prime Minister Andrej Plenković attended the session. The crisis has highlighted broader systemic issues, as official registries indicate approximately 13,554 illegal waste dump sites across Croatia. Europol and UNODC have previously warned that criminal networks frequently use legal companies as covers to transport illegal waste from Western Europe to Central and Eastern Europe, often targeting countries with lighter penalties.

Entities

Andrej Plenković · Croatian Parliament · Europol · Gospić · State Inspectorate · USKOK · Zoran Milanović

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 4 SOURCES] President Zoran Milanović requested an extraordinary session of the Croatian Parliament. www.dnevno.hr
[● 3 SOURCES] Neither President Zoran Milanović nor Prime Minister Andrej Plenković will attend the extraordinary session. glas-slavonije.hr · www.novilist.hr
[DISPUTED] Elevated concentrations of dangerous PFAS compounds were found in groundwater. teleskop.hr
[● 3 SOURCES] One proposal requires the government to appoint a new Chief State Inspector within 15 days. www.dnevno.hr
[○ 1 SOURCE] There are currently 13,554 illegal waste dump sites recorded in the official registry. www.telegram.hr
[● 2 SOURCES] Soil analysis at the site showed elevated concentrations of copper, lead, and antimony. teleskop.hr
[● 2 SOURCES] Experts estimate approximately 37,000 tons of mixed waste are located at the Gospić site. www.telegram.hr
[● 4 SOURCES] The proposed conclusions include immediate remediation of the waste site and continuous monitoring of groundwater. www.dnevno.hr · www.tportal.hr