[REVISION HISTORY]

Gospić waste scandal: Remediation and political fallout

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2026-11-05 12:54 UTC → 2026-11-09 14:17 UTC · added ~~removed~~

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. The Croatian Parliament's Committee for Internal Policy and National Security scheduled a session to investigate the Security and Intelligence Agency (SOA) regarding illegal waste imports and disposal during 2022 and 2023. However, 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 ~~SOA~~ 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, or ‘forever chemicals’, in two wells~~ PFAS in the Lika region. ~~Representatives of the ‘Gospić je naš dom’ initiative recently presented findings to the~~ The European Parliament Committee on ~~Petitions, alleging that PFAS concentrations~~ Petitions has decided to keep petitions regarding potential violations of EU environmental laws in ~~private wells are seven times higher than permitted, and that antimony levels exceed maximum allowed values by 700 times.~~ Croatia open, specifically regarding the Gospić waste disposal. The ~~initiative further alleged that~~ European Commission is currently assessing the ~~state was aware~~ situation, noting that Croatian authorities recently arrested individuals suspected of ~~the~~ illegal hazardous ~~nature of~~ 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 ~~as early~~ from Gospić as ~~April 2024 but failed to~~ fuel, experts warn ~~citizens. While authorities state~~ that local food and tap water remain safe, Lika-Senj County Prefect Ernest Petry estimated remediation costs could exceed 50 million euros. The Fund for Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency has launched procurement procedures to remove 4,500 tons the region's karst geology may facilitate the rapid spread of ~~scattered hazardous waste~~ pollutants like microplastics and ~~remediate 33,000 tons of buried waste.~~ PFAS through groundwater.

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