Croatia–Italy relations
Encyclopedia
Croatia-Italy relations are foreign relations between Croatia
and Italy
.
, 2 general consulates (in Milan
and Trieste
), and 5 honorary consulates (in Bari
, Florence
, Montemitro
, Naples
, and Padua
). Italy has an embassy in Zagreb
, a general consulate in Rijeka
, a consulate in Split and 2 honorary consulates (in Buje
and Pula
).
Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe
and of the Union for the Mediterranean
.
. There are also around 6,000 Molise Croats
in Italy.
In addition, there are around 21,000 registered immigrant Croatian workers in Italy.
Historically, the Dalmatian Italians
constituted a significant population of Dalmatia.
There are a number of people who are Italian citizens but who had previously been citizens of Yugoslavia before they opted to Italy, shortly after World War II - known as the esuli (exiles) or optanti (volunteers). A later contract between SFR Yugoslavia and Italy prevented the restitution of their property since a deal was made that treated this seized property as war reparations
.
Nevertheless, there are now at least two groups of people dissatisfied with the situation:
Neither of these was allowed to pursue in Croatia legally. However, after adoption of the new laws in Croatia (that were required for the accession of Croatia to the EU), it is now allowed to citizens of all member states of the EU to buy real-estate in Croatia.
. Italy denied the right of Croatia to proclaim its Ecological and Fisheries Protection Zone
before January 1, 2008, because that would have broken an earlier agreement with Italy and Slovenia. At the same time Italy, without breaking the agreement, has proclaimed its own zone.
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
Diplomacy
Both countries established diplomatic relations on January 17, 1992. Croatia has an embassy in RomeRome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, 2 general consulates (in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
and Trieste
Trieste
Trieste is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is situated towards the end of a narrow strip of land lying between the Adriatic Sea and Italy's border with Slovenia, which lies almost immediately south and east of the city...
), and 5 honorary consulates (in Bari
Bari
Bari is the capital city of the province of Bari and of the Apulia region, on the Adriatic Sea, in Italy. It is the second most important economic centre of mainland Southern Italy after Naples, and is well known as a port and university city, as well as the city of Saint Nicholas...
, Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
, Montemitro
Montemitro
Montemitro is a small town and comune in the province of Campobasso in the Molise region of Italy, near the Trigno river....
, Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
, and Padua
Padua
Padua is a city and comune in the Veneto, northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Padua and the economic and communications hub of the area. Padua's population is 212,500 . The city is sometimes included, with Venice and Treviso, in the Padua-Treviso-Venice Metropolitan Area, having...
). Italy has an embassy in Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
, a general consulate in Rijeka
Rijeka
Rijeka is the principal seaport and the third largest city in Croatia . It is located on Kvarner Bay, an inlet of the Adriatic Sea and has a population of 128,735 inhabitants...
, a consulate in Split and 2 honorary consulates (in Buje
Buje
Buje is a town situated in Istria, Croatia's westernmost peninsula, population 2,979 .Buje was known as the "sentinel of Istria" for its hilltop site located inland from the Adriatic sea. It still commands an excellent panorama. Buje has a rich history; traces of life in the region date back to...
and Pula
Pula
Pula is the largest city in Istria County, Croatia, situated at the southern tip of the Istria peninsula, with a population of 62,080 .Like the rest of the region, it is known for its mild climate, smooth sea, and unspoiled nature. The city has a long tradition of winemaking, fishing,...
).
Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
and of the Union for the Mediterranean
Union for the Mediterranean
The Union for the Mediterranean is a multilateral partnership that encompasses 43 countries from Europe and the Mediterranean Basin: the 27 member states of the European Union and 16 Mediterranean partner countries from North Africa, the Middle East and the Balkans...
.
Population
There are around 19,500 people of Italian descent living in CroatiaItalians of Croatia
Italians of Croatia are an autochthonous national minority recognized by the Constitution of Croatia. There are two major groups of Italians in Croatia:* Istrian Italians* Dalmatian Italians...
. There are also around 6,000 Molise Croats
Molise Croats
Molise Croats live in the Molise region of Italy in the villages Acquaviva Collecroce , San Felice del Molise , Montemitro and elsewhere. In these three villages they are a majority. There are about 5,000 speakers of the Molise Croatian dialect...
in Italy.
In addition, there are around 21,000 registered immigrant Croatian workers in Italy.
Historically, the Dalmatian Italians
Dalmatian Italians
Dalmatian Italians are a mostly historical Italian national minority in the region of Dalmatia, part of the Republics of Croatia and Montenegro.-Characteristics:...
constituted a significant population of Dalmatia.
Esuli/Optanti
Croatia and Italy continue to debate bilateral property and ethnic minority rights issues stemming from border changes after World War II.There are a number of people who are Italian citizens but who had previously been citizens of Yugoslavia before they opted to Italy, shortly after World War II - known as the esuli (exiles) or optanti (volunteers). A later contract between SFR Yugoslavia and Italy prevented the restitution of their property since a deal was made that treated this seized property as war reparations
War reparations
War reparations are payments intended to cover damage or injury during a war. Generally, the term war reparations refers to money or goods changing hands, rather than such property transfers as the annexation of land.- History :...
.
Nevertheless, there are now at least two groups of people dissatisfied with the situation:
- people who were exiled during a period not covered by the aforementioned agreement (post 1956?) who demand that their property be returned
- the people who were exiled and/or their children who wish to buy real-estate in the same areas (if not the same buildings or land)
Neither of these was allowed to pursue in Croatia legally. However, after adoption of the new laws in Croatia (that were required for the accession of Croatia to the EU), it is now allowed to citizens of all member states of the EU to buy real-estate in Croatia.
Fishing
A problem arose with the fishing zones in the Adriatic seaAdriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan peninsula, and the system of the Apennine Mountains from that of the Dinaric Alps and adjacent ranges...
. Italy denied the right of Croatia to proclaim its Ecological and Fisheries Protection Zone
Ecological and Fisheries Protection Zone
The Ecological and Fisheries Protection Zone is a protected fishing area over Croatia's Exclusive Economic Zone.ZERP was initiated by the Croatian Peasant Party, then a member of Croatia's governing coalition. It was then legislated by the Croatian Government of Ivica Račan on October 3, 2003, and...
before January 1, 2008, because that would have broken an earlier agreement with Italy and Slovenia. At the same time Italy, without breaking the agreement, has proclaimed its own zone.
External links
- Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration: list of bilateral treaties with Italy
- Croatian embassy in Rome (in Croatian and Italian only)
- Italian embassy in Zagreb