[CLSTR]
API
< Back to situations

Monitor this situation.

[SITUATION] · [ACTIVE] · [POLITICS]

30 clusters · 152 sources · 98 days · First seen · Last updated

Gospić waste scandal: Remediation and political fallout

Overview

The environmental crisis in Gospić has escalated into a significant political and legal issue for the Croatian government. Following the discovery of approximately 37,000 to 44,000 tons of illegally deposited waste, including hazardous materials and PFAS compounds, the ruling HDZ party faces intense scrutiny.

In October 2026, the scandal triggered a crisis regarding state intelligence and institutional oversight. HDZ lawmaker Ante Sanader has argued that the Parliament's Committee for Internal Policy and National Security is not an investigative body and that discussions regarding the Security and Intelligence Agency (SOA) should wait until the State Attorney's Office (DORH) completes its criminal investigation. The Committee recently adopted conclusions from the ruling majority to prevent activities from interfering with the ongoing probe, rejecting opposition proposals for direct oversight of the SOA and requests for reports from the State Inspectorate and Customs Administration.

Environmental concerns have been validated by the confirmed presence of PFAS in the Lika region. The European Parliament Committee on Petitions has decided to keep petitions regarding potential violations of EU environmental laws in Croatia open, specifically regarding the Gospić waste disposal. The European Commission is currently assessing the situation, noting that Croatian authorities recently arrested individuals suspected of illegal hazardous waste import and disposal in an operation conducted with Europol.

While the Holcim cement factory in Koromačn reported processing 114 tons of non-hazardous waste from Gospić as fuel, experts warn that the region's karst geology may facilitate the rapid spread of pollutants like microplastics and PFAS through groundwater.

Entities

Gospić · Andrej Plenković · Croatian Parliament · Zoran Milanović · Marija Vučković

Claims

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

Timeline

  1. [POLITICS] 9 sources
    European Parliament investigates environmental concerns in Croatia

    The European Parliament's Committee on Petitions is investigating potential EU environmental law violations in Croatia regarding a marina project in Cavtat and waste disposal issues in Gospić.

  2. [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    Gospić citizens present illegal waste concerns to European Parliament

    Civic representatives in Brussels presented evidence of 33,000 tons of hazardous waste in Gospić, reporting extreme heavy metal contamination in local wells.

  3. [POLITICS] 3 sources
    Ante Sanader addresses SOA oversight regarding Gospić waste case

    HDZ lawmaker Ante Sanader stated that the Committee for Internal Policy should not interfere with the ongoing criminal investigation into illegal waste disposal in Gospić until DORH completes its findings.

  4. [CRIME] 2 sources
    Gospić waste scandal: Šincek group imported more waste despite bans

    Josip Šincek and his group allegedly imported 100 tons of plastic waste from Slovenia to Gospić despite official bans and orders to remove 37,000 tons of existing waste.

  5. [INTERNATIONAL] 28 sources
    Gospić waste crisis: PFAS confirmed in wells and remediation delays

    PFAS chemicals have been confirmed in Lika wells, raising alarms over groundwater safety. Remediation for the Gospić waste site is set to enter a new phase with upcoming procurement procedures.

  6. [INTERNATIONAL] 11 sources
    Gospić illegal waste remediation could cost over 50 million euros

    Remediation of illegal waste in Gospić, Croatia, could cost over 50 million euros. While food and tap water are currently deemed safe, officials are monitoring groundwater and air quality closely.

  7. [POLITICS] 5 sources
    Croatia National Security Committee to probe illegal waste disposal

    The Croatian Parliament's National Security Committee will meet next week to investigate the SOA's knowledge and reporting regarding illegal waste disposal in Gospić in 2022 and 2023.

  8. [POLITICS] 6 sources
    Croatia opposition demands government resignation over Gospić waste scandal

    Croatian opposition leaders are demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Plenković following the discovery of 37,000 tons of hazardous waste in Gospić and disputes over its potential disposal in Našice.

  9. [POLITICS] 7 sources
    Croatia hazardous waste scandal sparks political crisis

    Croatian politicians are debating a hazardous waste scandal involving SOA's failure to report illegal waste in Gospić and the government's controversial decision to transport waste to Istria.

  10. [POLITICS] 3 sources
    Možemo! accuses Croatian government of mismanaging waste funds

    The Možemo! party accuses the Croatian government of redirecting waste management funds and failing to stop illegal, toxic waste disposal in Gospić despite years of institutional awareness.

  11. [INTERNATIONAL] 21 sources
    Gospić waste scandal sparks political debate over SOA intelligence

    A political controversy has erupted in Croatia over illegal waste disposal in Gospić, with debates intensifying over whether the SOA and government officials failed to act on intelligence held since 2022.

  12. [INTERNATIONAL] 15 sources
    Environmental management and waste crises impact Montenegro and Croatia

    Regional environmental efforts focus on protecting natural sites in Montenegro and managing large-scale waste crises in Croatia, including sanitation plans in Gospić and cleanup of Italian waste in Pazin.

  13. [INTERNATIONAL] 22 sources
    Gospić waste site remediation plan launched amid criminal investigation

    Croatia has launched a 55-million-euro, four-phase remediation plan for 44,000 tons of illegal waste in Gospić, amid investigations into potential links between institutions and organized crime.

  14. [POLITICS] 3 sources
    Ernest Petry claims state leadership knew of Gospić waste crisis

    Lika-Senj County Prefect Ernest Petry claims Croatian state leadership was aware of the illegal waste crisis in Gospić, despite Prime Minister Plenković's claims to the contrary.

  15. [INTERNATIONAL] 8 sources
    Regional political tensions rise over waste management and constitutional procedures

    Political debates intensify in Croatia over Gospić waste management and constitutional veto procedures in Bosnia and Herzegovina, alongside EU responses to war criminal glorification complaints.

  16. [POLITICS] 5 sources
    Labinština leaders oppose hazardous waste disposal in Koromčno

    Istrian officials and the Možemo! party are opposing the disposal of hazardous waste from Gospić at the Holcim cement plant in Koromčno, citing environmental and health concerns.

  17. [POLITICS] 25 sources
    Gospić waste crisis: Croatia forms Scientific Council for remediation

    Croatia has formed a Scientific Council to remediate illegal waste in Gospić. The crisis has triggered political calls for the Prime Minister's resignation and concerns over waste being exported to Bosnia.

  18. [POLITICS] 9 sources
    Gospić waste contamination reaches European Parliament

    Citizens from Gospić, Croatia, will present evidence of illegal waste and PFAS contamination to the European Parliament following an urgent procedure request by MEP Gordan Bosanac.

  19. [POLITICS] 3 sources
    HDZ faces major political crisis over Gospić waste scandal

    The Croatian ruling HDZ party faces a major political crisis following a hazardous waste scandal in Gospić, leading to a significant drop in public trust and widespread environmental protests.

  20. [POLITICS] 23 sources
    Gospić waste management: Croatian government assigns cement plants for urgent removal

    The Croatian government will urgently remove 650 tonnes of non-hazardous waste from Gospić using Holcim Hrvatska and Nexe cement plants, amid political backlash and regional environmental concerns.

  21. [POLITICS] 14 sources
    Croatia opposition targets government over waste and no-confidence motion

    Croatia's opposition is escalating political pressure, with the SDP filing a motion of no confidence and Možemo! demanding urgent action on illegal waste and groundwater contamination in Gospić.

  22. [INTERNATIONAL] 34 sources
    Gospić waste scandal: Government initiates remediation of 37,000 tons of illegal waste

    Croatia faces a major environmental crisis in Gospić over 37,000 tons of illegal hazardous waste. The government has contracted the Kostak group for temporary remediation amid corruption investigations.

  23. [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    Gospić illegal waste remediation: Four bids received for protective covering

    Four bids have been received to temporarily cover illegal buried waste in Gospić, Croatia, to prevent rainwater seepage as part of a larger environmental remediation effort.

  24. [POLITICS] 3 sources
    Gospić je naš dom organizes protest in Zagreb over illegal waste

    The ‘Gospić je naš dom’ initiative is organizing a protest in Zagreb on September 5 to demand action against tens of thousands of tons of illegal waste in Gospić.

  25. [INTERNATIONAL] 38 sources
    Waste remediation efforts advance in Gospić and Montenegro

    Remediation efforts for illegal waste in Gospić, Croatia, have begun with new bids received, while Montenegro initiates land expropriation for its KAP waste site to mitigate ecological risks.

  26. [POLITICS] 49 sources
    Gospić waste crisis sparks debate in Croatian Parliament

    The Croatian Parliament addressed the illegal waste crisis in Gospić, adopting ruling majority conclusions while rejecting opposition proposals. Officials maintain local food and water are safe.

  27. [INTERNATIONAL] 13 sources
    Gospić hazardous waste crisis sparks political investigation in Croatia

    Croatia faces an environmental crisis in Gospić due to illegal hazardous waste dumping, sparking political disputes over institutional oversight, groundwater safety, and the role of the Chamber of Economy.

  28. [INTERNATIONAL] 71 sources
    Gospić hazardous waste crisis prompts extraordinary Croatian Parliament session

    President Zoran Milanović has called for an extraordinary parliamentary session to address the illegal dumping of 37,000 tons of hazardous waste in Gospić and widespread PFAS groundwater contamination.

  29. [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Croatia Orders Gospić Lithium Plant to Conduct Full Environmental Study

    Croatia’s environment ministry has mandated a full impact study for the Gospić lithium plant, citing misclassification and risks to groundwater and health.

  30. [HEALTH] 8 sources
    Gospić site identified as ecological bomb with hazardous waste

    Gospić waste site was confirmed as an ecological bomb with buried medical waste and high levels of toxic metals, prompting calls for groundwater monitoring and remediation.

Sources

023.hr · 031portal.hr · 24sata.hr · 6yka.com · abcportal.info · aktuelno.me · alpinerecreation.com · antenazadar.hr · argumenti.rs · autograf.hr · balk.hu · banjaluka.net · baranjainfo.hr · beta.rs · bigportal.ba · biznis.kurir.rs · bizniscg.me · blogodneverina.blog.hr · bmxshow.com · bosnainfo.ba · cginfo.me · cineplex.com.br · cronica.com.mx · dalmacijadanas.hr · dalmacijanews.hr · dalmatinskiportal.hr · danas.rs · dnevnik.ba · dnevnik.hr · dnevno.hr · door.hr · dubrovniknet.hr · dubrovnikportal.com · dubrovnikpress.hr · emedjimurje.net.hr · etv.me · eventbrite.co.uk · ezadar.net.hr · fenix-magazin.de · firearmsnews.com · fns.org · FoodMap.lu · glas-slavonije.hr · glasistre.hr · gospic.hr · h-alter.org · hrvatska-danas.com · hrvatski-fokus.hr

This summary has been updated 106 times: see revision history