According to Serbian Economist, the Croatian parliament has approved a law paving the way for the construction of a radioactive waste management center at the Čerkezovac site on Trgovska Gora Mountain in Sisak-Moslavina County, less than a kilometer from the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina.
According to the law, the Čerkezovac site will become the central facility for storing low- and medium-level waste from the Slovenian-Croatian Krško Nuclear Power Plant, as well as so-called “institutional” radioactive waste from Croatian hospitals and industry. The site is located approximately 800 m in a straight line from the BiH border and about 1 km from the water intake of the Novi Grad community, which supplies drinking water to about 15,000 people.
The adopted act creates a regulatory framework for the design and construction of the facility and establishes Čerkizovac as a priority location for a waste management center. Geological surveys, seismic risk assessments, and measurements of the “zero” radiation background have already been carried out at the site, as reported by the Croatian side in documents sent to international organizations.
A surface storage facility is planned to operate until the 2090s, after which the waste will be transferred to a deep geological repository.
Strong reaction from Bosnia and Herzegovina
Zagreb’s decision has been strongly criticized by politicians and environmental activists in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The country’s authorities had previously set up interdepartmental expert and legal groups to follow up on the issue at international forums and insist that the facility poses a risk to the Una River, border communities, and drinking water supplies.
Political parties and authorities in BiH consider the law to be a violation of the principles of good neighborliness and are demanding that Croatia reconsider its decision or seek an alternative site, citing, among other things, the Espoo Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context.
The Croatian side, in turn, states that the environmental impact assessment procedure will include the participation of the public and the competent authorities of BiH.
https://t.me/relocationrs/1977
The Finnish group Olvi has signed an agreement to acquire Bosnia and Herzegovina’s largest brewery, Banjalucka Pivara, including its subsidiary in Serbia, according to the Serbian Economist Telegram channel.
The exact name of Banjalucka Pivara’s Serbian subsidiary has not been disclosed. Publications indicate that Olvi has acquired both the brewery itself and its Serbian subsidiary, expanding its presence throughout the Balkan region and gaining access to the markets of Serbia and Montenegro.
Financial and product indicators for Banjalucka Pivara (Bosnia and Herzegovina):
1. Revenue in 2024: approximately €28 million.
2. Profitability: the company is consistently profitable with growing market shares in the region.
3. Brands: including the popular Nektar, the fastest growing in all countries in the region.
By acquiring Banjalucka Pivara and its operations in Serbia, Olvi strengthens its regional network and gains access to the Balkan markets, as well as logistics corridors to Mediterranean tourist destinations.
The merger allows the Finnish company to develop its product range (non-alcoholic beverages, cocktails), strengthening its range at Banjalucka Pivara’s facilities.
The transaction is awaiting approval by the Bosnian antitrust authorities and is expected to be completed no later than the first quarter of 2026.
Source: https://t.me/relocationrs
The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is considering closing nearly 30 diplomatic missions around the world, including two consulates in Bosnia and Herzegovina – in Mostar and Banja Luka. This was reported by the Serbian Economist with reference to an internal document of the US State Department.
The plans to reduce the diplomatic presence are related to the Trump administration’s intention to optimize federal budget expenditures. According to The New York Times, the closure of 10 embassies and 17 consulates is being considered, as well as the reduction or consolidation of staff in other foreign missions.
In Europe, the embassies in Luxembourg and Malta, as well as consulates in France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Portugal, and the United Kingdom are under threat of closure. In Africa, embassies in the Central African Republic, Eritrea, Gambia, Lesotho, the Republic of Congo and South Sudan are to be closed.
The authorities of Republika Srpska, one of the two entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, commented on the possible closure of US consulates as part of the US economic strategy. The Chairman of the
Republika Srpska National Assembly Chairman Nenad Stevandic noted that this reflects a change in Washington’s political course.
Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Sarajevo said it had no information about plans to close consulates and was continuing to operate as usual.
Source: https://t.me/relocationrs/840
The death toll from the devastating floods in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which are being called the worst in decades, has already reached 19. On the morning of October 4, it was reported that heavy rains in Bosnia on Friday night had flooded several cities in the central and southern parts of the country.
After 16 people died in the municipality of Jablunice, rescuers also found the bodies of three people in the city of Fojnice, where the bad weather destroyed many houses and outbuildings.
Against this backdrop, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic agreed to provide all necessary assistance to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Vucic previously noted that Serbia could send rescue helicopters and boats, as well as provide financial assistance.
And the Croatian prime minister said that his government is in constant contact with the head of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Borjana Krishto, and is ready to provide “all the necessary assistance in eliminating the consequences of the flood.”
The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, also confirmed the readiness to help. He noted that Bosnia could benefit from the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism, which it joined in 2022.
