Plenković invites young diaspora Croats to return

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said on Tuesday that the number of Croats in Croatia is declining every year, as he welcomed young members of the Croatian diaspora at Banski Dvori and encouraged them to consider returning to their ancestral homeland.

“We would be glad if some of you decided to return to Croatia and contribute to demographic renewal with new enthusiasm and energy,” Plenković said while addressing participants of the fifth generation of the “Homeland” Summer School program.

He noted that Croatia invests around €820 million annually in demographic revitalisation, describing demographic decline as one of the country’s fundamental long-term challenges over the past 70 years. “Which means that there are fewer of us every year,” he added.

The visit is part of a program organised by the Central State Office for Croats Abroad and the Association of Croatian-American Professionals (ACAP), bringing together members of the diaspora aged 18 to 30 for a two-week educational and cultural tour of Croatia from June 1 to 13.

Participants are visiting several cities, including Dubrovnik, Zadar, Sinj, Split, Varaždin, Vukovar and Zagreb, where they are introduced to Croatia’s natural, cultural and historical heritage.

Plenković told the group that their itinerary allows them to “see more in two weeks than many Croatians who have lived in Croatia their entire lives,” expressing hope that the experience would encourage some to eventually return and settle in Croatia.

“The story of Croatia did not stop when our ancestors left the country. It continued in homes, churches, folklore societies, football clubs and communities around the world,” said Marija Mandić, a young participant from Australia.

State Secretary at the Central State Office for Croats Abroad Zvonko Milas also addressed the participants, saying: “We hope that your travels throughout Croatia will be both enjoyable and enriching… with the hope that one day you may choose to make Croatia your home.”

He added that the program encourages participants to learn as much as possible about Croatia and its heritage.

Launched in 2019, the program aims to strengthen connections between Croatia and its diaspora, reinforce Croatian identity, and encourage global networking among Croats, as well as cultural and scientific cooperation with younger generations abroad.

Plenković thanked participants for their interest in Croatia and in maintaining ties with their ancestral homeland, noting that earlier generations preserved their identity and connections “in less structured conditions” across the world.