In Development: A Law to Prevent Emigration in Mountainous Areas

The new law on mountainous areas, which is in development and is expected to come into force on January 1 of next year, introduces a Program and Fund for mountainous areas, a Croatian mountain product, and a mountain identification card, it was stated on Thursday at the parliamentary Committee for Local and Regional Self-Government, which thematically questioned ‘What kind of Law on Mountainous Areas does Croatia need?’.

The existing Law on Mountainous Areas from 2002 has been amended seven times, but it has not achieved the expected developmental, demographic, and economic effects, assessed the Assistant Minister for Regional Development, Katica Mišković.

The goal of the new law, she emphasized, is to create a foundation for strengthening the competitiveness of these areas, their own potentials, to encourage cooperation among municipalities and cities in mountainous areas, to retain the existing population, and to encourage the settlement of individuals whose professions can contribute to development.

Of 556 units, 304 fall into underdeveloped areas

Last year, a new classification of local units was made – of the 556, as many as 304 fall into underdeveloped or assisted areas, said Velimir Žunac, State Secretary in the Ministry of Regional Development. He estimates that despite negative trends and processes that cannot be reversed, it is still “not too late” for mountainous areas.

That these areas are in “collapse” was assessed by Vjeran Piršić from the Eko Kvarner Association, which organized a thematic session with the parliamentary Committee and enabled representatives from the embassies of Austria, France, and Switzerland to participate, countries from which, Piršić said, much can be learned.

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Piršić advocates changing the paradigm of law-making, as otherwise, he claims, “a disaster will occur in areas where a disaster is already happening”. He calls for consulting people from the mentioned countries that have successful policies for alpine regions, and then the residents in areas where the law must be tested.

The new law, which must long-term resolve the development of mountainous areas, must be in accordance with their specificities, emphasizes the Committee President Tulio Demetlika.

Mountainous areas are vulnerable and require special attention, said Philippe Meunier, the French ambassador, who noted that France passed the first law on mountains more than 30 years ago and modernized it in 2016.

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French legislation, he emphasized, has sought to value the diversity and wealth of these areas, increasing their attractiveness while taking into account their specificities.

In an effort to transfer some French experiences, the French embassy has launched several projects in Gorski Kotar, and Gorski residents visited France for a study trip in February of this year.

Their views on the new law will also be presented by some mayors and heads from mountainous areas, representatives of city and municipal associations, the Community of Counties, and experts in the field of development of mountainous areas.