AGP Executive Report

Boxing Shock in London: Croatia’s Filip Hrgović became the country’s first heavyweight world champion, stopping Britain’s Moses Itauma in the ninth round of their vacant IBF title fight at the O2 Arena. Itauma dominated early and even knocked Hrgović off balance in round two, but fatigue and a late turn in momentum swung the bout. Itauma’s corner threw in the towel as Hrgović pressed forward; Itauma was taken from the ring on a stretcher and sent to hospital for checks, with reports also pointing to a leg injury. Local Economy & Pay: Croatia’s wage growth continues, but Dubrovnik-Neretva County is lagging: average net pay rose to €1,446 (+6.8%) in Q2 2026, while Zagreb led at €1,784—about €338 more per month than Dubrovnik. Planning Rules Update: Croatia is putting new rules for “no-permit” building works into public consultation until Sept. 3, including changes that could make it easier to place certain small structures and modular homes in campsites. Zagreb Reporter picks up the culture beat: Dubrovnik hosted major classical events, including José Carreras in front of the cathedral and new airport security scanners that let passengers keep laptops and liquids in cabin bags.

Croatia-Serbia Energy Watch: JANAF secured a US sanctions licence extension to keep crude oil flowing to Serbia’s NIS until Sept 30, 2026, protecting a key supply route in the region. Dubrovnik Travel & Tourism: Dubrovnik Airport is rolling out new high-tech security scanners so passengers won’t have to take laptops/tablets or liquids out of cabin bags during screening. Local Economy: Wages are rising across Croatia, but Dubrovnik-Neretva County is lagging with one of the slowest pay growth rates (net €1,446, up 6.8%), far below Zagreb’s €1,784. Sports (Croatia in the spotlight): Croatia’s Filip Hrgović is set to fight for a heavyweight world title in London, with the weigh-in turning heated as Itauma and Hrgović were pulled apart. Culture & Events: The ninth Stradun Classic Festival opened in Dubrovnik with Italian-themed performances, including violinist Stefan Milenković’s debut at the event. Food & Heritage: The Drniš Pršut Festival kicked off with a pršut-cutting contest pitting Istria against Drniš, framed as promotion of Croatia’s protected cured-ham tradition.

Croatia Football Transfers: Hajduk Split’s Niko Sigur says he wants to leave after a “substantial” offer from Toulouse, with the club yet to accept but sources suggesting his move is effectively set. Europa League Draw Fallout: Sunderland and Bournemouth learned their Europa League paths, with Sunderland heading to AC Milan at San Siro and Dinamo Zagreb among their other opponents, while Bournemouth also face Milan and Crystal Palace get Real Sociedad. Croatia Sports Spotlight: BRAVE CF 108 hits Pula Arena on Sept 5 with Filipino Stephen “Loman” bringing his warrior style to Croatia, and Bosnian prospect Amil Tutić drawing major attention ahead of his bout on the same card. Local Health Alert: West Nile virus has been confirmed in Zagreb after dead birds were found. Regional Security & History: The death of Ratko Mladić, the “Butcher of Bosnia” convicted over Srebrenica, is driving fresh diplomatic and political reactions across the Balkans.

Europa League Draw (Croatia angle): English clubs Bournemouth and Sunderland landed big names in Friday’s Europa League league-phase draw, with Sunderland set for a San Siro trip to face AC Milan and also hosting Dinamo Zagreb at the Stadium of Light. Local Health: Croatia confirmed West Nile virus in Zagreb after dead crows were found in multiple locations, with authorities urging residents to report clusters of dead wild birds. Animal Health: Croatia partially lifted African swine fever restriction zones after no new outbreaks in domestic pigs since Aug. 4, though the virus remains in wild boar and surveillance continues. Zagreb Culture/Community: The Gypsy Lore Society’s 2026 annual meeting is set for Zagreb, spotlighting the growth of Romani studies and research in Croatia. Split Mobility: Split unveiled an €80m urban mobility plan adding 1,317 parking spaces via Park & Ride Lovrinac and Park & Walk Turska kula, aiming to cut car traffic into the city center. Sports Spotlight: A tense, physical weigh-in in London preceded Moses Itauma vs Filip Hrgović, with the Croatian aiming to become Croatia’s first heavyweight world champion. War Crimes: Ratko Mladić, convicted for Srebrenica genocide and other crimes, died in The Hague at 84.

Croatia–EU Politics: Montenegro PM Milojko Spajić says he has “serious” intelligence of coordinated hybrid attacks meant to destabilize the country as it pushes for full EU membership, without naming the alleged regional backers. Croatian Economy & Pensions: Croatia’s Pension Insurance Institute confirms pension value (AVM) rises from €14.84 to €15.64 from July 1, with differences for July 2026 to be paid out. Zagreb & Croatia Sports: Barcelona has signed Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Livaković on a four-year deal until 2030, adding depth after Marc-André ter Stegen’s loan move; the club also confirmed youth first-team promotion for Xavi Espart. Local Life & Safety: A fire in the Konavle hills near the Bosnia border has burned for 10 days, with Canadair aircraft and about 50 firefighters working to protect homes. Regional Memory: Ratko Mladić, convicted over the Srebrenica genocide, has died in The Hague while serving a life sentence.

Croatian Football in Spain: Barcelona have confirmed the signing of Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livaković from Fenerbahçe on a four-year deal running until 30 June 2030, with the club reportedly paying around €2.5m plus bonuses; Livaković returns to La Liga after loan spells including Girona and is expected to share duties behind starters Joan García and veteran Wojciech Szczęsny. Croatia Economy: Croatia logged its 22nd straight quarter of economic growth, with GDP up 1.7% in the latest quarter, keeping the country among the EU’s few with uninterrupted growth since 2021. Energy Policy: The government adopted draft Electricity Market Act amendments to fix grid-access delays and reset deadlines for renewable projects affected by unresolved connection charges, aligning rules more closely with EU requirements. Dubrovnik Traffic & Infrastructure: Dubrovnik police used a drone in Mlini and Orašac, issuing 72 fines (mostly for seat belts and phone use), while a new €4.5m sports hall in Orašac nears completion for early 2027 use. Sports & Culture: Dubrovnik’s Old Harbour is being turned into an open-air 4x4 water polo arena for the first-ever 4x4 Water Polo World Championship, running to September 6. International Justice: Ratko Mladić, the “Butcher of Bosnia” convicted over the Srebrenica genocide, has died in UN custody in The Hague.

Champions League Draw Setup: The 36-team field for the 2026-27 Champions League league phase is now set, with pots confirmed after the final playoff ties. Croatian Football: Dinamo Zagreb’s European run ended as Viking Stavanger beat them 3-1 in Norway (5-3 on aggregate), meaning Viking reach the league phase for the first time. Fire Safety & Climate Risk: Croatia received six new specialised forest-fire vehicles in Zagreb, while reporting warns many blazes start on overgrown private land and that extreme heat is driving record-scale damage across Europe. Fuel Prices: Croatia isn’t facing a fuel shortage, but diesel and petrol costs have risen; Croatia’s year-on-year increases still sit below the EU average. Economy Watch: Croatia’s growth is expected at 1.8% in Q2 2026, with tourism underperforming in June. Tech & Services: GitHub logged a brief outage on Aug. 26 affecting services like Actions and Pages. Tourism & Transport: Dubrovnik unveiled 12 new fully electric buses for its public transport overhaul, backed by EU funds.

Croatia-Serbia Tensions: Zagreb says Belgrade is buying weapons that could be used offensively, not just defensively, as Croatia urges Western allies to pay closer attention to Serbia’s military build-up. Public Transport Upgrade in Dubrovnik: Dubrovnik unveiled 12 new fully electric buses for Libertas, with the wider electrification project worth €10.49m (mostly EU-backed) set to expand the fleet to 14. Champions League Focus: The UCL playoff second legs are underway with Dinamo Zagreb set to host Viking FK in the race for the league phase, while the league phase draw is scheduled for Thursday in Monaco. Local Environment & Waste Cleanup: Croatia has received bids for the first phases of cleaning up a major illegal waste site near Gospić, targeting about 4,500 tonnes of hazardous mixed waste and 650 tonnes in “big bags.” Health Watch: West Nile virus is actively circulating in the Balkans, and Croatia has confirmed three cases. Zagreb Sports & Culture: Vinkovci’s 61st Vinkovačke Jeseni festival runs 11–20 September, spotlighting Slavonian folklore with a theme tied to “The Train of the Slavonian Plain.”

Dubrovnik Summer Events: Petar Grašo returns to Banje Beach for Ploče Night on Friday, Aug. 28 (10 p.m.). Admission is free, with the concert billed as one of the last big outdoor highlights of the season. Zagreb & Culture: Zagreb’s Cathedral restoration could run until 2030 as the final heritage phase begins, keeping the city’s long-running landmark work in focus. Sports—Croatia Abroad: Dominik Livaković is set to sign for FC Barcelona, with his playing role still unclear (“we’ll see”) depending on Barcelona’s wage-space under fair-play rules. Croatia in the Spotlight: Istria was showcased to millions of German viewers in a 90-minute “Wunderschön” TV feature, boosting the peninsula’s tourism visibility. Tourism & Travel: Dubrovnik is also highlighted for “screen-free” travel appeal, while cruise and hotel roundups keep the city and wider coast in the travel spotlight. EU Policy: EU Commissioner Marta Kos lays out a new “Helsinki Moment” for enlargement—internal reforms, safeguards, and gradual integration. Climate Watch: Heat and drought continue to strain European crops, with forecasts noting significant drops in harvest outlooks, including impacts felt in Croatia.

EU Enlargement Overhaul: EU enlargement chief Marta Kos told Zagreb’s ambassadors conference the bloc must reform how it expands, with ideas on protecting existing members, internal EU changes, stronger rule-of-law safeguards and gradual integration, comparing the moment to a “new Helsinki moment.” Agriculture Under Heat: The European Commission warned that prolonged heat and drought are hitting summer crops and fodder across western and central Europe, with maize yield expectations reduced in Benelux, Slovenia and Croatia and irrigation shortages worsening stress. Waymo Comes to Munich: Waymo says it will start mapping and testing robotaxis in Munich in the coming weeks, with manual driving first and a commercial ride-hailing launch targeted for late 2027. Croatia in the Spotlight: Livaković to Barcelona: Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livaković has arrived in Barcelona to complete his move from Fenerbahce, with a medical and a four-year deal expected after paperwork. Dubrovnik Tourism Milestone: Dubrovnik reached 3 million overnight stays in 2026 one day earlier than last year, with foreign visitors driving more than 95% of nights. Tech & Mobility in Zagreb: Uber, Verne and Pony.ai already launched self-driving rides in Zagreb, and Waymo’s Munich plan adds to the region’s push toward autonomous transport. Tesla Charging Vote: Tesla Charging opened a new Supercharger voting round, with Šibenik among the listed Croatian locations.

Wildfire Preparedness: Croatia expanded its early forest-fire detection system with 50 new cameras across 25 locations, including protected areas and parks, running 24/7 and using AI to spot smoke and flames day and night. Public Health: West Nile virus has been confirmed in Croatia in three cases; one patient is in intensive care on a ventilator, and experts stress it spreads mainly via mosquitoes, not person-to-person. Sea Quality for Tourists: Dubrovnik-Neretva County reports “excellent” bathing-water results at 125 beaches, with the remaining sites meeting required standards. Local Infrastructure: Dubac Cemetery in the Dubrovnik area is entering its final phase, with about 1,700 new burial plots expected by early 2027 and plans to expand capacity to around 3,500. Sports (Zagreb): Dinamo Zagreb announced the signing of 18-year-old Ghana midfielder Fuzy Taylor on a season-long loan, initially joining the club’s B team. International Spotlight: Fiji’s teen diver Maori Pomeroy-Farrell won bronze at the World Junior Diving Championships in Croatia, the first Fiji medal at a World Aquatics competition.

Champions League Draw (Zagreb angle): The 2026/27 UEFA Champions League league phase draw is set for Thursday, 27 August, at 5pm BST in Monaco, with TNT Sports 1 and HBO Max carrying it live; Dinamo Zagreb’s path is now tied to the draw’s pot system, with the club listed among the teams that could face opponents from multiple pots as all 36 teams learn their eight matches. Dubrovnik Fire Case: A 38-year-old man suspected of sparking a Dubrovnik wildfire with illegal fireworks has been remanded in investigative custody after flames destroyed about 6,000 square metres of pine forest near Gorica sv. Vlaha. Health Tech in Rijeka: KBC Rijeka carried out its first robot-assisted gynaecology surgeries using a €5.11 million system fully funded from Croatia’s state budget. Zagreb Heritage Update: Zagreb Cathedral restoration is expected to continue until 2030 as Croatia’s earthquake-damaged heritage programme enters its final phase, with €1.7bn spent across 500+ projects. Property Watch: A €200,000 apartment budget buys far more space in Zagreb than Split, with the same money covering about 48.1 m² in Zagreb versus 33.3 m² in Split. Environment: Scientists say a Mediterranean monk seal has returned to the Adriatic, suggesting the sea still has enough food for the highly protected species.

Nord Stream Probe in Croatia: Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy again denied any role in the 2022 Nord Stream sabotage, saying Kyiv is ready to help Germany’s investigation after a Ukrainian suspect was arrested in Croatia. Zagreb Sports Spotlight: Great Britain defended men’s team gold at the European Gymnastics Championships in Zagreb, while Cypriot gymnast Marios Georgiou won silver on the horizontal bar. Croatia Coast Record Attempt: Australian-Croatian ultra-runner Aydan Marko Papac starts a Guinness World Record bid on Monday from Savudrija Lighthouse, aiming to run 827 km along Croatia’s coast in under ten days. Tourism Management: Dubrovnik introduced strict rules for cruise ships—caps on ships and daily tourists plus longer minimum port stays—to curb overtourism pressure. Wildfire Relief for Farmers: Croatia is preparing up to €1 million in support for Pelješac farmers after wildfires devastated vineyards and olive groves, with grants potentially covering 100% of eligible restoration costs. Safety Alert: A four-year-old Austrian boy was bitten by a poskok (horned viper) at an Istria campsite and received antivenom, with reports saying he’s stable.

Nord Stream Probe: Croatia arrested a Ukrainian suspect, “Vladimir Z,” at Germany’s request, with Zelensky insisting Ukraine had no role in the sabotage. Public Safety: A 4-year-old Austrian boy was bitten by a venomous poskok (horned viper) at an Istrian campsite and received antivenom in Rijeka, reported in stable condition. Economy & Housing: The Croatian National Bank is consulting on tighter consumer lending rules from October, cutting banks’ allowed quotas for high-risk housing and non-housing loans. Border Watch: A new Croatia–Bosnia crossing at Gradiška remains in limbo after a temporary permit expires, keeping traffic under provisional rules. Weather & Fire Risk: Extreme conditions continue across the region, including a major blaze in Serbia and a fast-moving fire near the Bosnia–Croatia border that forced evacuations and disrupted travel. Tourism & Agriculture: Župa dubrovačka reports more arrivals but slightly fewer overnight stays, while Pelješac farmers could get up to €1 million to rebuild after wildfires. Sports (Zagreb): European Artistic Gymnastics in Zagreb delivered medals for Georgiou (silver) and Dolgopyat (gold), with Croatia’s Kovtun also featuring.

Housing & Economy: Croatia’s central bank (HNB) is tightening consumer-loan rules from October 1, cutting the share of high-risk lending banks can approve, as household borrowing stays strong. Rent Reform: Croatia is preparing a new Law on Renting Apartments, with draft changes on contract requirements, notice periods, rent rules, and added roles for local authorities and a new agency. Energy Prices: Croatia isn’t facing a real diesel shortage, but experts warn fuel prices will likely stay high due to tight European refining capacity and global supply disruptions. Zagreb Culture: The Zagreb Opera Festival returns Sept. 11–20 with 30+ events, including Verdi’s “Aida,” plus concerts and children’s programs. Zagreb Sports: Irish Olympic gymnast Rhys McClenaghan is back in form at the European Championships in Zagreb, while Artem Dolgopyat won European floor gold in Zagreb. Safety & Tragedy: Two people died after a small plane crash near Zadar/Paklenica; authorities say fog and difficult terrain delayed the search. Wildfires: Dubrovnik-Neretva County reports a record wildfire season, with major blazes across islands and the hinterland, and fears the dangerous period isn’t over.

Wildfires at the border: A massive four-kilometre blaze is burning just across Croatia’s border with Bosnia and Herzegovina, with smoke drifting over Konavle and firefighters on high alert as flames briefly crossed into Croatian territory near Duba Konavoska. Housing & rentals: Croatia is preparing a new Law on Renting Apartments, with draft changes aimed at tightening long-term rental rules, boosting contract clarity, and encouraging owners of empty homes to put them on the market. Central bank curbs consumer credit: The Croatian National Bank plans to tighten limits on banks’ consumer-loan approvals from October, reducing the share of high-debt and high-loan-to-value lending. Zagreb culture: The fourth Zagreb Opera Festival opens 11 September, featuring more than 30 events across three venues, including Verdi’s “Aida.” Aviation tragedy: Two people died after an ultralight crash in Croatia’s Paklenica National Park near Zadar; authorities say the wreckage was found late Friday after a difficult search. Sports infrastructure: Work on the Stadion kraj Save upgrade in Slavonski Brod is nearing completion, with final interior/exterior works and systems installation underway. Adriatic travel push: Marella Cruises highlights Slovenia’s Koper as a cheaper alternative to Venice for Adriatic getaways.