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Building a Philanthropy and Fundraising Culture in Croatia

Conference

In Zagreb, numerous organizations and experts from the fields of philanthropy and fundraising gathered for the conference "Building a Philanthropy and Fundraising Culture in Croatia." The event was organized by the Foundation Žuta Točka and the KAS Office Croatia and Slovenia. The goal was to promote the importance of philanthropy and fundraising in societal development, as well as to train and network participants from various sectors. Speakers emphasized the significance of building a strong philanthropic culture in Croatia and the need for closer collaboration between civil society, the private sector, and government institutions to create a sustainable and efficient fundraising community. These experts highlighted the insufficient understanding of the importance of transparency in the fundraising process and the lack of long-term planning as current challenges in fundraising. In line with this, the importance of digitalization and the use of new technologies in fundraising was pointed out, as well as how philanthropy can be better integrated into local communities. In workshops, participants had the opportunity to learn concrete tools and strategies for effective fundraising. Based on all the presentations and discussions, it was concluded that building a philanthropy and fundraising culture in Croatia is a long-term process that requires systematic education, transparency, innovation, and a partnership approach between all sectors of society.

Building a philanthropy and fundraising culture in Croatia

Conference

In Zagreb, numerous organizations and experts from the fields of philanthropy and fundraising gathered on the occasion of the conference "Building a Philanthropy and Fundraising Culture in Croatia”. The event was organized by the Foundation Žuta Točka and the KAS Office Croatia and Slovenia. The goal was to promote the importance of philanthropy and fundraising in societal development, as well as to train and network participants from various sectors. Speakers emphasized the importance of building a strong philanthropic culture in Croatia and the need for closer collaboration between civil society, the private sector, and government institutions to create a sustainable and efficient fundraising community. These experts highlighted the insufficient understanding of the importance of transparency in the fundraising process and the lack of long-term planning as current challenges in fundraising. In line with this, the importance of digitalization and the use of new technologies in fundraising was highlighted, as well as how philanthropy can be better integrated into local communities. In workshops, participants were able to learn concrete tools and strategies for effective fundraising. Based on all the presentations and discussions, it was concluded that building a philanthropy and fundraising culture in Croatia is a long-term process that requires systematic education, transparency, innovation, and a collaborative approach among all sectors of society.

B. Ščitar, Lider

"Smart Solutions" for Sustainable Urban Development

Smart Cities 2025

Zagreb hosted the international conference "Smart Cities 2025," organized by the business magazine Lider and the KAS Office Croatia and Slovenia. The event brought together leading experts, innovators, as well as local and national decision-makers to exchange ideas and experiences about the future of Smart Cities. This year's theme focused on the implementation of smart solutions that will shape the future of cities, including digital transformation, green energy, transport infrastructure, and the improvement of citizens' quality of life. In this context, discussions were held on the challenges and opportunities of implementing these technologies, as well as how they could improve quality of life, reduce ecological footprints, and enhance the efficiency of urban services. In this regard, collaboration between the private and public sectors in creating sustainable and technologically advanced cities is of great importance. Overall, the event provided a platform to promote sustainable development and support the use of smart technological solutions in urban areas.

Political Analysis and Communication ZHDZ

1st Workshop

The workshop "Political Analysis and Communication" is another element of the collaboration between the Croatian Statehood Foundation (ZHDZ) and the KAS Office Croatia and Slovenia, and for several years has been serving to train young HDZ officials on the local and regional levels. Through theoretical lectures and practical exercises, they work on improving their political skills. Ante Sanader, the Chairman of the HDZ County Association and a member of the Croatian Parliament, also participated in this edition of the workshop. Along with the participants and communication experts, topics such as "The Importance of Political Communication", "Political PR", "Public Communication of Politicians", "Structure of Public Appearances", and "Features of Appearances on Radio, Television, and in Print Media" were covered.

Neue geopolitische Realität

16. Jože Pučnik-Symposium

Aktuelle geopolitische Veränderungen standen im Mittelpunkt des 16. Jože Pučnik Symposiums, das in Slovenska Bistrica stattfand. Experten, Politiker, u.a. auch der SDS-Parteivorsitzende Janez Janša und Vertreter der slowenischen Zivilgesellschaft kamen zusammen, um über die veränderte Weltlage und deren Auswirkungen zu diskutieren. Das Symposium, das vom KAS-Auslandsbüro Kroatien und Slowenien und dem Institut Dr. Jože Pučnik organisiert wurde, beleuchtete neben globalen Machtverschiebungen, wirtschaftlicher Stabilität und internationaler Zusammenarbeit auch neue Herausforderungen wie die Rolle der Trump II-Administration bei der Gestaltung eines „neuen“ globalen Systems, die Reaktion der EU auf die globalen Veränderungen sowie die Strategie zur Schaffung eines dauerhaften Friedens im Nahen Osten und Osteuropa. Darüber hinaus wurden Fragen der Meinungsfreiheit, des Aufstiegs des Rechtspopulismus und der zunehmenden Medienregulierung in Europa thematisiert. Das Symposium endete mit einer Verleihung des Pučnik-Preises für die Entwicklung der Demokratie in Slowenien.

New Geopolitical Reality

16th Pučnik Symposium

Current geopolitical changes were the focus of the 16th Jože Pučnik Symposium, which took place in Slovenska Bistrica. Experts, politicians, including the leader of the SDS party Janez Janša, and representatives of Slovenian civil society gathered to discuss the changed global situation and its implications. The symposium, organized by the KAS Office Croatia and Slovenia and the Dr. Jože Pučnik Institute, addressed, in addition to global power shifts, economic stability, and international cooperation, new challenges such as the role of the Trump II administration in shaping a "new" global system, the EU’s response to global changes, and the strategy for establishing lasting peace in the Middle East and Eastern Europe. Furthermore, issues such as freedom of speech, the rise of right-wing populism, and increasing media regulation in Europe were discussed. The symposium concluded with the awarding of the Pučnik Prize for the development of democracy in Slovenia.

HZŽ

Sustainable Tourism

Regional Development Forum

Before the start of the main tourist season in 2025, the KAS Office Croatia and Slovenia, together with the Croatian County Association (CCA), held a conference on the development and future of Croatian tourism. Croatia is one of the most important tourist destinations in the Mediterranean, attracting around 20 million foreign tourists annually. The country has numerous natural treasures and is very popular among tourists from all over the world. Accordingly, tourism is the most important economic sector in the country, accounting for nearly 20 percent of GDP. Around two-thirds of Croatia’s GDP comes from the service sector. However, Croatian tourism has recently faced major challenges due to ongoing inflation and the enormous rise in prices, mass tourism, a shortage of workers, and new tax policies. Therefore, sustainability was highlighted as a priority for tourism development in Croatia. Only sustainability could provide answers to the current challenges by creating a balance between economic and social growth, as well as caring for all aspects of the environment. Croatia’s Minister for Tourism and Sports, Tonči Glavina, emphasized that sustainability should be based on a stable pricing policy and that an organized system must be established to support and adjust this policy. He reminded that the Croatian government has made fundamental changes in the tourism sector, but that the challenges in tourism cannot only be solved through tourism policy but also through housing, tax, and labor market policies. The first systemic approaches aimed at providing solutions were introduced through amendments to five laws, according to the minister. The goal is to improve the quality of life of the local population and create affordable housing through the implementation of reforms. This is how the housing shortage caused by the short-term rental of apartments to tourists in tourist regions is to be counteracted.

Political Academy SDS -

Young Leaders Seminar – Leadership in state, economics, party

Dr. Klaus Schüler, former Federal Director of the CDU, met with the SDS party leader Janez Janša over the weekend as part of the seminar "Political Academy" of the SDS in Cadenabbia. The seminar focused on the importance of training and further education for leaders in politics and business. Dr. Schüler shared his experiences from his time as the coordinator for the federal-state coordination in several Union election campaigns. Janša emphasized the qualities of a good leader, particularly highlighting the importance of values, time, and money. The speakers also included Dr. Norbert Eschhorn, head of the KAS Office Croatia and Slovenia, who analyzed the political situation in Germany following the federal elections.

Women in Politics of the NSi

Seminar

On the occasion of International Women's Day, the Institute Dr. Janez E. Krek (IJEK), in collaboration with KAS Office Croatia and Slovenia and the Women's Association of the NSi in Bled, organized a seminar on the topic "Women in Politics." The event highlighted key challenges and opportunities for women in politics and society. The importance of women's participation in political processes and the influence of the media on their societal role were emphasized. Among the speakers was Dr. Klaus Schüler, former political chief strategist of the former German Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel, who shared his insights and extensive experience. For the first time, Dr. Norbert Eschborn participated as the new head of the KAS Foreign Office Croatia-Slovenia.

Project handover to Dr. Norbert Eschborn

New Head of the KAS Office for Croatia and Slovenia

On March 6th, Jakov Devčić handed over the directorship of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung's office for Croatia and Slovenia to Dr. Norbert Eschborn. The latter succeeds Holger Haibach, who had represented the Foundation in Zagreb for the past few years and left in December 2024. Eschborn thanked Haibach, who is now taking on another important role in the region, for his successful work, and also offered words of appreciation to Devčić for his committed interim management of the office since the beginning of the year. The new director expressed his excitement about his future role and promised to devote all his energies to promoting the interests of both countries and deepening their bilateral relations.

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About this series

The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, its educational institutions, centres and foreign offices, offer several thousand events on various subjects each year. We provide up to date and exclusive reports on selected conferences, events and symposia at www.kas.de. In addition to a summary of the contents, you can also find additional material such as pictures, speeches, videos or audio clips.

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Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e.V.