Hina - Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and cabinet members met on Monday with the Permanent Council of the Croatian Bishops' Conference (HBK), reaffirming what the government said was a constructive dialogue.
The talks covered issues relevant to the Catholic Church and Croatian society, including post-earthquake reconstruction of religious buildings, described as one of the most complex conservation and engineering efforts in the country. The government said 275 religious sites had been renovated, most of them completed, with more than €400 million invested from the EU Solidarity Fund and the state budget.
Participants stressed the importance of continuing work on Zagreb Cathedral, where Christmas midnight Mass was held for the first time in five years after the 2020 earthquake.
The meeting also addressed draft agreements regulating the legal and financial status of Catholic educational institutions and healthcare facilities founded by the Church.
Demographic revitalisation
Demographic revitalisation was highlighted as a key government priority, with family support at its core. Measures cited included raising the maximum parental allowance to €3,000, doubling the newborn grant to €618 and extending paternity leave. The government also pledged continued investment in schools and kindergartens to introduce single-shift schooling and expand access to preschool places.
Social services provided through the Catholic Church's Caritas network for children, people with disabilities and those living in poverty were also discussed.
The HBK delegation was headed by its president, the Archbishop of Zagreb, Dražen Kutleša.
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