Minister Šipić from Munich: It is Time to Reconnect with Our Home

The Minister of Demography and Immigration, Ivan Šipić, is staying in Munich, where he held a presentation titled “Homeland - Wide Open Doors,” dedicated to connecting the Croatian diaspora with the homeland and its important role in the demographic renewal of Croatia.

“Croatia has not forgotten you. You are not only a part of our past, but also one of the greatest potentials of our future. We want return to be not just a wish and an emotion, but a real possibility and a life decision. That is why we are creating programs and measures with which we want to facilitate return, provide support to families, and help our people rebuild their homes in Croatia. I invite you to return, to transfer your knowledge, experience, entrepreneurial energy, and love for the homeland to new generations. Croatia needs people; we need families, children, and youth. Our goal is a Croatia in which one can and wants to live, work, create, and raise children. The doors of the homeland are open to you – together we can build the Croatia of the future,” Minister Ivan Šipić messaged.

Minister Šipić also presented the measures of the Ministry of Demography and Immigration aimed at encouraging the return of Croatian emigrants, immigration, and their integration into Croatian society. He spoke specifically about the available support and opportunities for returnees, as well as concrete activities seeking to ease return and reconnection with the homeland.

In this context, he emphasized the importance of creating conditions for a quality life in Croatia, from support for families and parents to programs that stimulate return, immigration, and the inclusion of Croatian emigrants and their descendants into the social and economic life of the country.

Among the important activities of the Ministry, he highlighted programs intended for civil society organizations that contribute to the return, immigration, and integration of the Croatian diaspora, as well as scholarships for learning the Croatian language in the Republic of Croatia, which strengthens the connection of young generations of Croatian emigrants with their historical homeland.

The meeting was jointly organized by the Croatian Catholic Parish of Munich, the Academic Circle, and the Consulate General of the Republic of Croatia in Munich, gathering the Croatian community around the issues of return, immigration, and the future of Croatia. Along with the minister and his associates, the gathering was attended by the Consul General of the Republic of Croatia in Munich Vladimir Duvnjak, the Consul of Bosnia and Herzegovina Dragan Bagarić, representatives of the Academic Circle led by its new president Natali Vidović, representatives of the Croatian House led by its president Dr. Neda Caktaš, and the parish priest of the Croatian Catholic Parish of Munich, Fr. Frano Čugura.

As part of the visit, the minister met with the parish priest of the Croatian Catholic Mission in Augsburg, Fr. Ivan Čilić, with whom he discussed the activities of the mission and its role in gathering and preserving the identity of Croats in that part of Bavaria.

A meeting was also held with representatives of the Croatian community in Bavaria, during which they discussed the needs and challenges faced by our emigrants.