Croatia/ 4.2 Specific policy issues and recent debates  

4.2.7 Intercultural dialogue: actors, strategies, programmes

Promotion of intercultural dialogue is a relevant issue in Croatia and appears on the agenda of cultural, media, educational and social policies. However, there are no explicitly formulated policies for the promotion of intercultural dialogue nor is there a special fund or support scheme. It is important to note that due to recent Croatian history and the consequences of the Homeland war, the issue of integration and re-integration of minorities, coexistence, as well as resettlement of refugees and displaced persons have been for some time very high on the list of political priorities. It is also important to note that Croatia is not a country receiving any substantial number of immigrants other than those from neighbouring countries. This is why the issue of intercultural dialogue within the country remains largely an issue of integration and creating equal opportunities for existing minorities.

There are numerous NGOs and initiatives, both on national and regional levels, focussing on issues of intercultural dialogue. Examples of good practice that continue each year include:

• BEJAHAD – Jewish cultural scene – a project that has been taking place for more than ten years. The programme consists of a week-long series of cultural programmes, activities and debates where, every year, the Jewish community invites one of the other minority groups from the region as well as a Jewish community from one of the European countries to cooperate in the organisation of this programme.
• Literary seminar "The Days of Vladan Desnica" named after a famous Croatian writer of Serbian nationality. The seminar promotes intercultural dialogues through debates about literature and broader topics.
• Since 2006, "Days of Serbian Culture" organised by the Serbian Cultural Association "Prosvjeta" present contemporary Serbian culture during a week-long festival in Zagreb.
• Days of Italian Culture and Language in Rijeka.

Other examples of good practice that deal with the issues of intercultural dialogue:

• Croatia actively contributed in the process of writing the White Book of Intercultural Dialogue of the Council of Europe;
• The National Foundation for Civil Society Development is the coordinator of the Anna Lindh Foundation - ALF (projects promoting dialogue between cultures of the Euromediterranean region) through the Croatian Network for Cooperation in the Mediterranean.

The government of the Republic of Croatia takes steps to support all activities that promote dialogue between different faith groups. The government has signed agreements with 16 churches and religious communities; the international agreement with the Holy See regulates issues with Catholic Church in Croatia, while other agreements were signed with: the Serbian Orthodox Church in Croatia; the Islamic religious community in Croatia; the Evangelic Church in Croatia; the Reformed Christian (Calvinist) Church in Croatia; the Evangelical Pentecostal Church in Croatia, which additionally represents the Christ Pentecostal Church in Croatia and The Union of Christ Pentecostal Churches in Croatia; the Adventist Church in Croatia, which represents the Reformed movement of the Seventh-day Adventists; the Union of Baptist Churches in Croatia, which represent the Church of Christ; the Bulgarian Orthodox Church in Croatia; the Croatian Old Catholic Church; and the Macedonian Orthodox Church in Croatia. In 2003, the Agreement between the government of the Republic of Croatia and the Jewish Community in Croatia was adopted. In autumn 2008, the Agreement was signed with the Beth Israel Jewish faith group, while the Co-ordination of Jewish Communities in the Republic of Croatia has not yet signed the proposed agreement.

Additional Resources:

Government's overall approach to intercultural dialogue

Database of Good Practice on Intercultural Dialogue

Key Resources

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