Croatian veterinarians rally against tender threatening veterinary services in 50 towns

Veterinarians gathered in front of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in Zagreb, demanding an immediate halt to a tender for public‑veterinary authority jobs. They argue the tender's criteria favour larger organisations, would close at least 15 rural veterinary clinics and leave roughly 50 municipalities without a veterinarian, jeopardising animal health, meat safety and rabies vaccination.

The protest was organised by the Civil Initiative for Saving Croatian Livestock and the Association of Veterinary Organizations of Croatia, with support from the Entrepreneurs' Association. Tomislav Malić, president of the veterinary association, told reporters, "We are not here for our salaries… we fight for Croatian public veterinary health." Demonstrators called for a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Agriculture Minister David Vlajčić, whom they say has avoided them for over 500 days.

Minister Vlajčić replied that the tender was issued after consultations with the veterinary sector and that the results have not yet been published. He added that if any procedural compromise is found, the tender will be annulled.