Sabor to address Gospić waste crisis at special session starting Thursday

Croatian lawmakers will cut short their summer break and return to the Sabor on Thursday for a two-day special session called by President Zoran Milanović to address the dangerous waste crisis in Gospić.

In his request for the session, Milanović called on the Government to commit to meeting representatives of the public and environmental activists within three days and briefing them on the situation.

Some 37 tons of hazardous waste have been illegally dumped at a former industrial farm in Gospić, where waste has been accumulating for several years. Local residents are concerned about the impact on public health.

Vjekoslav Bušić, who represents a group of concerned residents, says they have yet to receive a formal invitation from officials and that expectations for the session are low.

"From prior experience, including the failed session of the parliamentary committee in Gospić on Monday, we've concluded that we don't expect much," said Bušić.

Ahead of Thursday's session, Most MPs spoke outside the Croatian Chamber of Commerce in Zagreb. They claim the case, which they describe as bioterrorism, points to one of the Chamber's branches representing companies that collect and process secondary raw materials. Most MP Zvonimir Troskot questioned whether these companies are adequately supervised.

"Did Minister Ćorić draft the amendment that liberalized international trade in waste, which has resulted in more illegal waste sites? Was this done in coordination with the Chamber or the secondary raw materials association within it?" asked Troskot.

Former Environment Minister and current SDP MP Mihael Zmajlović said the Government had missed all deadlines for addressing the issue, noting that 552 days had passed since the Gospić site was discovered.

"What prevention measures have been undertaken and on what legal basis? Has the Ministry taken the necessary steps to protect the community and clean up the damage, since the law explicitly states that it has the authority to do so?" asked Zmajlović.

He also wants to know whether a timeframe has been set for the cleanup.

Homeland Movement MP Stipo Mlinarić said his party wants to be part of the solution.

"The politicization of this issue by both the left and some other parties that are not in power is an attempt to win political capital," said Mlinarić.

Sandra Benčić of Možemo said the left's goal for Thursday's session is to define the steps needed to begin the cleanup.