Event Reports

Presentation of the pilot study “Biram Hrvatsku”: Returning emigrants as an opportunity for Croatia’s development

A presentation of the pilot study "Biram Hrvatsku – a policy measure supporting return migration and development in Croatia's lagging regions" was held on May 27th, 2026, in Zagreb. The event was jointly organised by the KAS Croatia-Slovenia Office and the Institute of Social Sciences Ivo Pilar. It brought together representatives of state institutions, the academic community, the diplomatic corps, the Croatian Employment Service, regional and local government, as well as experts in demography, migration, and labour market development.

Political Academy PLUS

The ninth module of the Political Academy PLUS of the 4th generation of the Croatian Statehood Foundation (ZHDZ) was successfully held in Novska from May 22nd to 24th 2026 in cooperation with the KAS Croatia-Slovenia Office. The event focused on political education, social responsibility, and the development of young political talents. At the same time, the long-standing partnership between the ZHDZ and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation was once again highlighted as an important contribution to democratic culture and to preparing a new generation of political leaders.

Youth United for a Solidary Europe

Europe Day

On the occasion of Europe Day, the KAS Croatia-Slovenia Office, in cooperation with the Croatian Pan-European Union (HPEU), organized the conference “Youth United for a Solidary Europe” on May 8th, 2026, in Zagreb.

Foreign and Security Policy Perspectives of Croatia up to 2030

Security Policy Dialogue

A central objective of the KAS Croatia-Slovenia Office is to support Croatia on its Euro-Atlantic path and to strengthen and consolidate the already socially rooted sense of belonging to the Western alliance system. A particular focus lies on foreign and security policy exchange within the European context, with the aim of developing common positions on current challenges and continuously connecting decision-makers from Germany and Croatia through dialogue formats based on shared values.

Smart Cities – Digitalization, Sustainable Housing and Innovation in the Service of Citizens

Smart Cities 2026

The topic of smart cities is becoming increasingly important for Croatian cities as they face the challenges of accelerated urbanization, a shortage of affordable housing, the need to modernise infrastructure, and the growing impact of climate change. The introduction of digital technologies and smart solutions can help local governments manage resources more efficiently, improve public services, and increase transparency in governance, while sustainable urban development contributes to better mobility, more accessible services, and higher-quality public spaces. For cities with limited financial and infrastructural capacities, the exchange of experiences and the adoption of best practices are particularly important.

Investments in Focus

Regional Development Forum 2026

Numerous analyses confirm the central importance of domestic and foreign investments as well as affordable housing for the development of Croatian counties. Investments stimulate economic growth by increasing capital, productivity, employment, and exports, while affordable housing supports demographic stability and labour mobility, reduces the financial burden on households, strengthens social cohesion, and facilitates the attraction of skilled workers and new businesses.

Political Academy Reviews Progress at Winter Seminar 2026

The KAS Croatia–Slovenia Office organised in cooperation with the Croatian Statehood Foundation (ZHDZ) the midterm evaluation of the 19th generation of the Political Academy in Rovinj from January 23rd to 25th, 2026. As part of the so-called Winter School, the event marked the conclusion of the first half of the one-year training program for political talent development. The long-standing weekend seminar serves both to deepen participants’ knowledge of key political and societal topics and to systematically evaluate the training outcomes achieved so far, as well as to prepare the content and methodology for the second half of the course. At the same time, it provided participants with an intensive exchange with political decision-makers, scholars, and communication experts.

Women in Politics

In mid-January 2026, the two-day seminar “Women in Politics” for the 6th generation of participants took place in Novska. The event was organized by the Croatian Statehood Foundation (ZHDZ) in cooperation with the KAS Croatia-Slovenia Office and brought together committed participants from across Croatia who are actively engaged in political and social issues.

Young Voices in Politics: The Power of Dialogue and Responsibility

The KAS Croatia-Slovenia Office organized together with the Dr. Anton Korošec Institute (INAK) a two-day seminar in Ljubljana “Young Voices in Politics: The Power of Dialogue and Responsibility”, which brought together young political actors, students, socially engaged participants, and experts from Slovenia and abroad. The seminar aimed to foster open dialogue, the exchange of ideas, and responsible political engagement among youth by encouraging reflection on their role in democratic processes and the development of political culture.

Building Europe’s Strategic Resilience: The Croatian-German Partnership in a New Era

Andrej Plenković on a working visit to Germany

During his working visit to the Federal Republic of Germany, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković visited the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Berlin. There, he held a lecture on strengthening Europe’s strategic resilience, titled “Building Europe’s Strategic Resilience: The Croatian-German Partnership in a New Era”. Plenković emphasised Croatia’s strong commitment to further deepening its partnership with Germany and highlighted the important role of the nearly half a million Croatians living in Germany. He stressed that, in times of global uncertainty, Europe must become more resilient, more united, and more sovereign — and that Croatia can contribute to this effort with its own experience: from a country once devastated by war to the newest member of the EU, the Eurozone, and the Schengen Area, with a dynamically growing economy.