Croatia prepares demographic renewal law, led by top academics

Croatia is taking a significant step towards confronting its critical demographic challenge with the impending legislation on demographic renewal. The formation of a dedicated Scientific Council, spearheaded by esteemed academics from the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts (HAZU), underscores the government's recognition of this issue's gravity.

Appointing Professor Davor Miličić, a distinguished cardiologist and Vice President of HAZU, as the council's president, and Professor Anđelko Akrap as vice-president, sends a clear message. This is not merely a bureaucratic exercise; it is a concerted effort to leverage top scientific minds, including demographers, university rectors, and representatives from other public institutions, to devise a comprehensive strategy. The inclusion of such diverse expertise signals a commitment to a holistic approach, acknowledging that demographic renewal requires a broad societal consensus and scientific backing.

While the ultimate success of this law remains to be seen, the proactive measures taken by the Croatian government are commendable. The focus on scientific expertise and a broad consultative process suggests a genuine desire to tackle the deep-rooted causes of depopulation. This initiative is particularly crucial for Croatia, where the declining birth rate and emigration pose a significant threat to the nation's future prosperity and cultural identity. The hope is that this legislative effort will provide a much-needed framework to reverse these worrying trends and secure a more sustainable demographic future for the country.

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By the very fact that academician and cardiologist Miličić was appointed president of the Scientific Council, and academician Akrap as vice-president, and that the members of the Council, in addition to demographers, will include rectors of Croatian universities and representatives of other public institutions, a message is being sent by the competent Ministry or the Government that this is a problem of general social and state importance for which a broader scientific consensus is needed.