Domovina Urednistvo
I think I have grown a few grey hairs on my head waiting for Croatian government, presidents, parliamentarians and all who in past couple of decades took the stage for change and advancement of democracy and living standards and spoke loudly, repeated, how they, he, she will return the diaspora into Croatia and solve almost all Croatia’s woes that the diaspora could heal – economic, demographic, political … Nothing of that overflow of political rhetoric has been put into an action plan to develop a political will at government levels and firm strategy to put in action to assist that return of the diaspora. Perhaps the reason for such glaring inaction through incompetence and evident lack of political will has also rested in the fact that most professionals in demographics and politicians have lumbered all of Croatian descent under the term of “Returnees”! There appears to be a failure in Croatia in realising that children born to Croatia émigrés outside of Croatia cannot be returnees if they wish to come and live in Croatia. They are immigrants of Croatian descend and their needs are quite different from their parents’ or grandparents’ who enjoy the advantage of “knowing what they are returning to” etc.
Almost all of Croatian descent who have returned or immigrated to live in Croatia during the past two decades have been left to their own devices to flounder in the unfriendly sea of red tape, rigid rules that are not designed to meet the need but linger on like some past political relics of communist Yugoslavia where “who you know and how much bribe you are prepared to pay” will get you almost everywhere. Especially in the job market, business development and housing. Some returnees have stayed as they found their footing in Croatia mainly using personal resources and own business development knowhow, relatively very few finding a job in the job market and others, because of various circumstances including those of Croatian red tapes and administrative rigidity, returning back to where they came from within a year or two. During that time more than half a million, young and relatively young of working age, Croatians had left Croatia in search of a better life in foreign countries. Hence, together with low birth rate this exodus has truly pushed the panic buttons on survival of Croatia as mainly a country of Croats.
The April 2024 parliamentary elections yielded a similar result as the 2020 elections. That is, HDZ/Croatian Democratic Union having won 61 out of possible 151 seats won enough seats to form a minority government and this time one of its coalition partners to form a government was the Homeland Movement (Domovinski pokret), which, by the way, has acrimoniously split into two parties since (Homeland Movement and DomiNO). The new government portfolio dishing out meant that the Homeland Movement got an entirely new government department in its mix of Ministries. That is the Ministry of Demographics and Immigration. At its head sits its Minister, Mr Ivan Sipic, a graduated Theologian with about 25 years of experience in local government including Mayor of town of Trilj. Taking on the new Ministry of Demographics and Immigration as Minister, which he dubbed “the Ministry of hope”, Sipic had appointed four special advisers: Stjepan Sterc, Drazen Zivic, Tado Juric and Zdenko Striga.
The chosen four special government minister’s advisers will play a key role in shaping Croatian demographic policy, especially in relation to issues of migration and population revitalisation. They come from a rich plethora of professional pursuits and experience – from academic professorship, scientific research in demographics, authoring books, business development, business and investment management to name only a few.
“Demography is a cross-party issue, crucial for the survival of the Croatian people, but also of Europe. It is certain that it will take a lot of effort, but also resources, to finally stop the emigration trends, and that is why I will propose concrete measures for the next budget. First of all, we need to work on the return of those who emigrated from Croatia to the countries of Western Europe,” said Minister Sipic in July 2024.
During my three-month visit to Croatia this summer and part of Autumn 2024 I was grateful for the opportunity to discuss some of the actions being developed under Minister Sipic’s ministerial advisory body to do more than just talk about the return of Croats who had emigrated from Croatia and immigration of their children and/or grandchildren. I was impressed by the Marshall Plan Croatia – Future with Diaspora that was recently registered into a not-for-profit Association headed by Mr Zdenko Striga, a seasoned business and investment consultant of Croatian roots from Germany who is one of the special new advisers to Minister Sipic.
Marshall Plan Croatia in its action plans intends to work closely with the government in achieving its goals: largely ad significantly increase the numbers of Croatian returnees and immigration of Croatian descendants into Croatia and make economic impacts that would increase investments and job growth to serve such an improvement in Croatia’s demographic picture. To achieve this, of course, ditching the political or academic rhetoric to a bare minimum and increasing practical help and activities at grassroots and ground levels are absolutely essential. This is what Marshall Plan aims to do with its developed programs and activities but will need unwavering government support and commitment.
The activities that are part of its program are the so-called Marshall Plan Centres that would be established in the diaspora starting with a pilot in Frankfurt Germany and then spread across the continents where large numbers of people of Croatian descent gravitate to. These Centres would be staffed, and their aim would be to practically assist Croats from the diaspora wanting to move to live in Croatia in all areas of their needs. These needs may include citizenship acquisition fast tracking, housing or accommodation, employment, children’s or their own education, learning Croatian language etc. I relate to such practical plans well and I support them with all my might. I suggested similar to the Croatian government bodies and various parliamentarians in 2018, including a presentation at the diaspora conference in city of Osijek in 2018. Only, I called such operational units “Agencies” and not Centres! No need to say that my suggestions fell of deaf ears and blind eyes and things remained at the leel of political rhetoric in Croatia. There is much to be said for practical assistance and almost “holding the hand” of someone who wants to move to live in a foreign country to assist and ease their passage through such a crucial life-decision.
So, I congratulate the Marshal Plan Croatia and Mr Zdenko Striga for having the vision and knowhow to put long-term dreams of Croatian diaspora’s return into workable plans and programs and wish them the best of luck. A key element in this success will of course be the political will and determination of the Croatian government for such a plan of action.
“It’s time to stop making excuses and blaming others for what we can change ourselves. Croatia has incredible potential, strength, and an opportunity to become a success story – a model of unity and dedication, just as our friends in the world have achieved. If others have managed to reshape their communities through perseverance and vision, why can’t we do the same?
The Jewish people have shown throughout history what it means to build on the foundations of solidarity and unity. From a population of three million, they have grown into a strong community of over ten million and established a prosperous nation. They have created a homeland that provides hope to every member of their community, regardless of distance.
Croatia, with its eight million Croats spread across the world, has a similar potential – we have everything we need to unite and build a better, stronger, and more promising homeland.
Let’s rely on what has always made us unique – courage, perseverance, and a sense of community. Instead of dividing and looking for reasons for dissatisfaction, let’s recognize the strength in our unity.
Together, we can build the Croatia we dream of – a land that will be a home of hope, progress, and opportunity for everyone, here and across the globe. Our diaspora is our ally, our strength, and our inspiration for this new story of success.
Our future lies in our hands and in our shared commitment to a common goal. Let us turn a new page in history and prove that the Croatian heart can beat as one – for our country, for our children, and for all generations to come.
Together, we can create a Croatia that will be a home to all Croats, wherever they may be,” Mr Zdenko Striga, President of the Marshall Plan Croatia Association, wrote on the Association’s Facebook Page on 1 November 2024.
The best part of this is that Mr Striga welcomes anyone who wishes to seek assistance for return to Croatia or simply as a question regarding it to contact him! Email address for Marshall Plan Croatia is marshallplan.dijaspora.hr@gmail.com
I hope I will be returning to this subject again here on my blog with more good news about this topic. Ina Vukic
