API
< Back to all clusters
[POLITICS] · Croatia · 49 sources

started · updated

Gospić waste crisis sparks debate in Croatian Parliament

The Croatian Parliament held an extraordinary session to address the illegal disposal of hazardous waste in the Gospić region. During the debate, members of the ruling HDZ party and the opposition exchanged accusations regarding the management of the waste crisis. The Parliament ultimately adopted conclusions from the ruling majority, which rejected proposals from President Zoran Milanović.

Minister of Environmental Protection and Green Transition Marija Vučković responded to concerns raised by French investigative journalist Stéphane Horel regarding potential PFAS contamination. Vučković dismissed claims that local produce, specifically Lika potatoes, are unsafe, stating that testing shows water, soil, and food samples are within normal limits. She emphasized that the government will continue frequent monitoring and remediation efforts in the area.

In a related political development, Ernest Petry resigned from his position as the head of the HDZ county organization for Ličko-Senjska County following public scrutiny, though he remains the County Prefect. Speaker Gordan Jandroković characterized the resignation as a logical decision.

Entities

Andrej Plenković · Croatian Parliament · Damir Habijan · Ernest Petry · Europol · Gordan Jandroković · Gospić · HDZ · Hrvatski sabor · Irena Hrstić · Marija Vučković · State Inspectorate

Claims

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

  • [● 11 SOURCES] President Zoran Milanović requested an extraordinary session of the Croatian Parliament.
  • [● 7 SOURCES] Neither President Zoran Milanović nor Prime Minister Andrej Plenković will attend the extraordinary session.
  • [● 3 SOURCES] Elevated concentrations of dangerous PFAS compounds were found in groundwater.
  • [● 8 SOURCES] One proposal requires the government to appoint a new Chief State Inspector within 15 days.
  • [● 3 SOURCES] There are currently 13,554 illegal waste dump sites recorded in the official registry.
  • [● 3 SOURCES] Soil analysis at the site showed elevated concentrations of copper, lead, and antimony.
  • [● 3 SOURCES] Experts estimate approximately 37,000 tons of mixed waste are located at the Gospić site.
  • [● 9 SOURCES] The proposed conclusions include immediate remediation of the waste site and continuous monitoring of groundwater.
  • [● 3 SOURCES] The penalty for ecocide will range from a minimum of 10 years to life imprisonment. nezavisen.mk · www.slobodenpecat.mk
  • [● 3 SOURCES] Fines for companies convicted of environmental crimes could increase to 50 million euros. nezavisen.mk · www.slobodenpecat.mk
  • [● 3 SOURCES] Ecocide crimes will not be subject to a statute of limitations. nezavisen.mk · www.slobodenpecat.mk
  • [● 3 SOURCES] Croatia is introducing a new criminal offense called ecocide. nezavisen.mk · www.slobodenpecat.mk

Sources