Zoran Milanović requests extraordinary parliamentary session over Lika waste crisis

Croatian President Zoran Milanović is requesting an extraordinary session of the Croatian Parliament to address an environmental catastrophe in the Lika region. The request follows the collapse of a parliamentary committee meeting in Gospić, which was marked by heated arguments and the departure of opposition members and civic groups.

The crisis involves the illegal disposal of approximately 37,000 tons of hazardous waste, including medical waste and materials from Italy and Slovenia, at locations such as Silos and Rakitovac. Recent forensic analyses have confirmed the presence of PFAS, often called ‘forever chemicals’, in groundwater, posing significant risks to soil, water, and the food chain.

Investigations by USKOK are ongoing to determine how such large quantities of waste were moved and stored without detection, raising questions about potential corruption or systemic failures within the State Inspectorate. Prime Minister Andrej Plenković has stated that the details of the matter will be clarified through the ongoing investigation.