2016
1 January
Photo: HINA

Migrant crisis

In just a hundred days from mid-September to the end of December 2015, more than 560,000 refugees coming from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and other Middle East countries passed through Croatia on their way towards Germany and Northern Europe. Facing an unprecedented migrant wave and drawing on its experience from sheltering Croatian and Bosnian refugees during the War, the Government established numerous reception centres and deployed emergency medical teams, which were aided by a large number of volunteers. The spirit of solidarity inspired by this humanitarian drama also contributed to the Red Cross collecting numerous donations to help the migrants. However, after the agreement reached in March 2016 between the EU and Turkey, this flood of refugees significantly decreased and practically dried up.

2016
11 February
Photo: HTZ Zadar / Davor Strenja

Zadar, Best European Destination of 2016

A burgeoning tourist destination, the seaside city of Zadar was voted Best European Destination of 2016. Apart from its legendary sunsets, this threethousand- year-old city has numerous advantages: situated in the proximity of 6 national parks or nature reserves (Paklenica, Kornati, Krka, Velebit, Telašćica and Lake Vrana), it is surrounded by an archipelago of around two hundred islands. Its Sea Organ, the hi-tech installation "Greeting to the Sun" and St. Donatus Church (9th century) are among its most visited tourist sites.