Newly renovated court building opened in Zaprešić

The newly renovated public use building, which once again accommodates the Permanent Service of the Municipal Court in Novi Zagreb from January, was opened on Tuesday in Zaprešić, after undergoing post-earthquake comprehensive reconstruction worth five million euro. The opening ceremony was attended by Deputy Prime Ministers and Ministers Branko Bačić and Davor Božinović, Minister Damir Habijan and local leaders.

The building was reconstructed due to severe damage caused by the Petrinja earthquake on December 29, 2020, for which the Government allocated 4.4 million euro through decentralised funds, with the rest covered by the City of Zaprešić, and at the same time, the reconstruction also included the Victims of Fascism Square, where the building is located, Mayor of Zaprešić Željko Turk said.

Zagreb County Prefect Stjepan Kožić said the new court building is now structurally reconstructed, energy efficient and safer, noting that the Government secured 51 million euro for 126 projects in Zagreb County, including Zaprešić’s Open University - reconstructed and in operation since 2024.

Minister of Justice, Public Administration and Digital Transformation Damir Habijan recalled that in the devastating 2020, the number of unresolved cases was 475,000, while at the end of last year it was 435,000, which represents a reduction of 3%. The average duration of all court procedures is 126 days, and of lawsuits and commercial cases 480 days. The courts receive an enormous influx of cases, approximately 1,300,000 per year, while there are 1650 judges - which clearly reflects the current condition, he said.

With regard to infrastructural investment, he said that 400 million euro has been invested, with the largest project being this year’s completion of phase 1 of the Justice Square in Zagreb, which will accommodate the Commercial Court, the High Commercial Court, the Administrative Court, the High Administrative Court and others, Minister Habijan added.

Minister Bačić: 4.3 billion euro invested in post-earthquake reconstruction so far

The organisation of the judicial authority is one of the essential attributes of the authority of local self-government units, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Physical Planning, Construction and State Assets Branko Bačić emphasised, stating that nearly 4.3 billion euro has been invested in post-earthquake reconstruction so far, which is the equivalent of nine Pelješac bridges.

Nearly 14,500 locations with 55,000 housing units have been reconstructed. In Zagreb County, the reconstruction is nearing completion and, together with Krapina-Zagorje County and Karlovac County, it will be one of the first ones where the reconstruction has been fully completed.

The reconstruction of public use buildings is financed from different sources, with one of them being the Solidarity Fund, which finances 1309 projects - 1200 completed ones, Bačić stated.

When asked by the reporters if the reconstruction could have been faster, he said that the Government opted for post-earthquake structural reconstruction, which is a bit slower, but safer and more cost-effective in the long run. He announced that mid-next year all public use buildings will be completed, while private buildings will be completed by 2030.

In Zagreb County, 147 reconstruction projects of public use buildings and infrastructure, with a total value of 166 million euro, have been contracted and are in advanced stages of completion, Minister Bačić added.

President of the State Judicial Council Darko Milković also addressed those present, commenting on the working conditions of judges and on courts as the foundations of democracy.

 
Souce: MPGI/HINA
 

News | Information