AGP Executive Report

Hypercar Race: Record-chasing cars in 2026 are pushing past 270 mph, with Bugatti’s Chiron Super Sport 300+ and other ultra-luxury builds turning speed into a tech showcase. Croatian Drone Exports: Osijek’s Orqa is teaming up with EcoCortec on recyclable, anti-corrosion and anti-static packaging to protect high-end drone electronics during global shipments. Energy & Industry Shock: A deadly explosion at Hungary’s MOL refinery killed one worker and injured nine, reigniting attention on safety during restart operations. EU Border Pressure: Slovenia is extending temporary checks at borders with Hungary and Croatia until December, while Western Balkans trade faces rising non-tariff barriers and border/regulatory friction. Power Grid Stress: ACER says Southeast Europe’s 2024 electricity price spikes were driven by limited flexibility and cross-border constraints—so more interconnection alone won’t fix it. Croatia in the Spotlight: A rare 2,000-year-old terracotta Greek theater mask was found in a Pelješac cave, adding fresh fuel to Croatia’s archaeology buzz. Travel Tech Meets Reality: UK bank-holiday heat is expected to drive nearly 19 million drivers onto roads, with Dover border queues adding extra friction.

World Cup Build-Up: England’s World Cup squad is set to be confirmed by coach Thomas Tuchel, with big names already tipped for omission as the 26-man list nears. Schengen Pressure: Slovenia extended temporary border checks on Hungary and Croatia until 21 December, citing an unstable security environment. Croatia E-commerce Rules: New EU customs rules from 1 July will end the €150 low-value parcel exemption for non-EU online shopping, replacing it with a €3 flat fee per tariff category. Cybersecurity Watch: A new UK NCSC guide warns enterprises to lock down agentic AI deployments, after a week of high-profile hacking results at Pwn2Own Berlin. Public Health Agenda: Steatotic Liver Disease is being pushed as a global NCD priority, with ministers aligning on prevention and early detection. Local Culture & Tech: Archaeologists report a rare Greek theatre mask discovery in a Pelješac cave, while Croatia’s fintech push continues to frame digital growth plans for 2026.

Cybersecurity: Pwn2Own Berlin 2026 wrapped up with researchers chaining 47 zero-days across Windows, Linux, VMware and NVIDIA, while the UK’s NCSC warns enterprises to rein in agentic AI privileges before a single misstep turns into a serious incident. Croatia & Android Fraud: A new campaign targets Android users in Croatia (and others) with fake apps that quietly enroll victims in premium carrier-billed services. EU & Logistics: Transport groups from the Western Balkans warn that tighter Schengen rules and the EES rollout could slow goods, raise costs, and hit competitiveness as driver shortages persist. Public Policy: Croatia’s Parliament moves toward local control of alcohol shop hours and tougher age checks. Local Tech & Finance: Fortuna opens a 120-seat GCC in Hyderabad to scale data, analytics and AI—its third-largest tech hub after Prague and Split. Health & Food Safety: EFSA reports African swine fever outbreaks up sharply across EU pigs and wild boar, with Croatia among the countries seeing increases.

Cybercrime Alert: Researchers say nearly 250 fake Android apps are targeting users in Malaysia, Thailand, Romania and Croatia, quietly enrolling victims in premium carrier-billed services based on SIM and location checks. Startup & Globalization: Turkey’s Road to Global 2026 opens in Vienna, bringing together investors and partners like Mastercard and Estonia’s e-Residency to help local firms go international. EU Health Watch: EFSA reports African swine fever is spreading further across the EU—up sharply in both domestic pigs and wild boar—after Spain’s reappearance after 31 years. Croatia Tech/Business: JIC Ventures backs FaceUp, a compliance SaaS that grew from a student project and now protects 1.5 million people across 70+ countries. Sports Tech Angle: LSU reportedly adds 7-foot Croatian pro Michael Ruzic, leaning into more international recruiting ahead of the 2026-27 season.

World Cup Watch: Japan’s “Samurai Blue” head into FIFA World Cup 2026 with confidence after qualifying dominance and recent 1–0 wins over Scotland and England, starting Group F against the Netherlands on June 14 in Dallas. Brazil Update: Neymar’s emotional return to the Brazil squad is back in the spotlight as the tournament nears, with off-field storylines also swirling around England and DR Congo amid travel and health concerns. Health & Society: A growing debate is pushing tattoo safety into the mainstream, while the NCCN is rolling out a free, multi-language distress screening tool to help cancer patients cope with mental and practical strain. Croatia Local Life: Osijek’s €13.5m Copacabana pool complex is set to reopen mid-June ahead of summer. Heritage & Tech Culture: Croatia’s Croatian Mint and the central bank unveiled a “Vučedol Culture” coin series, spotlighting one of Europe’s oldest prehistoric innovations. Wildfire Prep: Communities near the Croatan National Forest are being surveyed by mail as part of wildfire planning after the 2023 fire.

Tourism Boom Forecast: The WTTC says global travel and tourism will grow 3.2% in 2026, adding nearly $12T to the world economy and supporting 376M jobs—Europe expected to feel the biggest lift. Security & Defense: KADEX is teaming up with GLOBSEC for a high-level Europe–Asia security forum focused on defense procurement and “future battlefields,” with defense ministers from several countries lined up. AI in Everyday Life: A new map of AI adoption for Q1 2026 (based on Microsoft usage) puts the UAE at the top (70% of working-age adults using AI regularly), while the U.S. lags despite leading AI development. Croatia Tech/Travel Angle: Blaca Hermitage on Brač remains famously unreachable by road, and Croatia’s summer traffic crunch is getting harder to ignore. Health Warning: WHO and experts warn pandemic risk is worsening as outbreaks become more frequent and damaging.

AI Writing Hardware: The ZeroWriter Fold is making a case for “one job” laptops—an anti-distraction e-ink writer with a mechanical keyboard aimed at getting words down fast, with no AI gimmicks. AI Adoption Map: New 2026 data shows the UAE leading AI usage by a mile (about 70% of working-age adults using AI regularly), while the US lags despite leading AI research—Europe also shows up heavily in the top adopters. World Cup Tech & Culture: FIFA World Cup 2026 is driving tech-and-fan upgrades, from Vancouver’s Science World turning into a giant soccer ball to new viewing plans and even sleep “kits” for England players. Health Warning: WHO says the world isn’t keeping up with pandemic risk, with outbreaks becoming more frequent and more damaging. Croatia Watch: Schengen reports fewer irregular crossings but persistent border risks, while Croatia’s summer traffic crunch keeps getting worse. Startups in CEE: JIC Ventures backs FaceUp, a compliance SaaS spun out of a student project, targeting up to 20 early startups across Central and Eastern Europe.

Autonomous Cars Push: Tesla’s Elon Musk says fully self-driving cars without human safety monitors could roll out across the US later this year, after robotaxis in Texas—though testing reports still flag long waits and spotty availability. Pandemic Warning: The WHO warns the world isn’t keeping up with pandemic risk, with climate change, conflict and mobility making outbreaks more frequent and more damaging. Croatia Travel Reality Check: Croatia’s summer traffic gridlock is getting harder to ignore, with motorway bottlenecks and ferry-port congestion turning into a “tourism experience” of its own. Schengen & Borders: EU Schengen reporting and Frontex data point to fewer irregular crossings, but persistent border risks remain—especially on the busiest routes. World Cup Tech Meets Pop Culture: Vancouver’s Science World is transforming into a giant soccer ball for FIFA World Cup 2026, launching a “Soccer & Technology” exhibit.

World Cup TV drama: FIFA officials are in India trying to lock a broadcast deal before the 11 June kick-off, but pricing deadlocks are raising blackout fears and compressing the time to set up infrastructure. Infectious disease warning: Experts say outbreaks are becoming more frequent and more damaging, pointing to Ebola and hantavirus as the world’s preparedness is still lagging. EU climate policy impact: A Belgrade Energy Forum panel says CBAM is already destabilising regional electricity markets—hurting liquidity and cross-border trade toward the EU. Croatia property heat: Split has become Croatia’s priciest city for apartments, with averages now above €4,000/m² and prices increasingly polarised. Digital security for Croatians: A new McAfee + ChatGPT integration aims to flag scams and phishing in messages, links, and screenshots. Health & safety: Croatia reports a 66% drop in alcohol-related road deaths since 2011, among Europe’s biggest improvements. Tech in the spotlight: Civinity’s founder talks “invisible” smart homes as the company pushes AI and robotics across Europe.

Bosnia Power Play: The US has informally floated Antonio Zanadi Landi for a key Malta-linked role tied to the Holy See, but European diplomats are uneasy—especially as Washington’s Bosnia approach is seen as too accommodationist, raising fresh questions about the future strength of the OHR and EU enforcement. Remote Work & Regions: A new EU-funded study says digital nomads could help narrow Europe’s urban–rural divide, but only if infrastructure and local policy line up. Cybersecurity for Everyone: McAfee is teaming up with ChatGPT to flag scams and phishing in messages, links, and even screenshots—no subscriptions required. Energy Grid Pressure: Balkan transmission operators warn the green transition will only work if grids and cross-border connections keep pace with renewable buildouts. Croatia Road Safety Win: Croatia cut alcohol-related road deaths by 66% from 2011–2021, one of Europe’s biggest improvements. Wildfire Alert: Croatia’s burned area jumped sharply this year, with fires up and a tougher season expected.

HRT’s 100 Years of Radio, 70 Years of TV: Croatia’s public broadcaster marked the milestone with a gala in Zagreb, with PM Andrej Plenković praising HRT as part of national identity and warning that digital space is getting noisier with manipulation and false narratives. Croatia’s Road Safety Win: A new Europe-wide study says Croatia cut alcohol-related road deaths by 66% from 2011 to 2021, dropping fatalities from 151 to 51. Eurovision Shockwave: Bulgaria won Eurovision 2026 in Vienna with Dara’s “Bangaranga,” while a five-nation boycott and protests around Israel’s participation shaped the week. Tech & Mobility Watch: Porsche is cutting 500+ jobs and shutting its e-bike division, while TikTok pushes deeper into travel bookings with TikTok Go. Wildfire Pressure: Croatia’s wildfire damage is up sharply this year, with more fires and a tougher season ahead.

Eurovision Shockwave: Bulgaria just won Eurovision 2026 in Vienna for the first time ever, with Dara’s “Bangaranga” scoring 516 points and beating Israel, Romania and Australia in a nail-biting final count. Croatia in the Mix: Croatia was among the 25 finalists, but the big tech angle of the week is how fast the contest is becoming a global streaming event—plus the usual drama around staging and audience votes. Local Tech & Science: Croatia’s Rudjer Boskovic Institute science communicator Marko Kosicek warns that if scientists don’t explain their work clearly, misinformation and AI-generated claims will fill the gap. Industry Pressure: Porsche is cutting 500+ jobs and shutting its e-bike division, including roles tied to Croatia—another reminder that “innovation” budgets can vanish overnight. Climate Watch: Croatia’s wildfires are up sharply this year, with more hectares burned and more fires recorded.

Porsche Restructuring: Porsche is cutting more than 500 jobs by closing three subsidiaries, with its e-bike division shut down entirely and battery/software units also hit as the automaker refocuses on core business amid weak demand. Wildfire Pressure: Croatia’s wildfire toll is rising fast this year—about 5,060 hectares burned in the first four months, up roughly 70% year-on-year, with more fires and a tougher season ahead. Digital Skills in Šibenik: Croatia is expanding regional AI and digitalisation capacity: Šibenik is getting a Centre for Digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence, with training for citizens, public staff and entrepreneurs plus more e-Građani use and cybersecurity education. Tech & Travel: TikTok is pushing deeper into bookings with TikTok Go in the US, letting users reserve hotels and experiences directly from videos. Science Communication: Croatian expert Marko Kosicek warns that when science isn’t explained clearly, misinformation fills the gap—so communication is now part of scientific responsibility.

Eurovision Live: The Eurovision 2026 grand final is tonight in Vienna, with 25 acts battling it out and the UK among the Big Four guaranteed finalists; Middle East Diplomacy: Israel and Lebanon extend their ceasefire for 45 days as Iran says it “cannot trust” the U.S. in talks; Croatia Tech & Heritage: Eastern Croatia archaeologists uncovered 302 Roman coins near a Danube watchtower site, while Šibenik pushes ahead with a new Centre for Digitalisation and AI; Sports Tech & Build-up: World Cup fever is ramping up—teams are locking in base camps and host cities are upgrading connectivity, including Rogers’ 5G+ boost for Toronto match days; AI in the Spotlight: Supertone released Supertonic v3, an on-device text-to-speech model now supporting 31 languages, including Croatian; Local Innovation: Croatia’s public consultation on a civilian nuclear energy law aims to set the rules for future nuclear know-how without committing to a plant.

Luxury Travel & Tech-Forward Hospitality: Jumeirah’s Prive Collection is bringing the Maltese Falcon into a new, invitation-only era, with weekly prices climbing from about €490,000 to €580,000—another sign that “access” is becoming the product, not just the yacht. AI for Everyday Use: Supertone released Supertonic v3, an on-device text-to-speech model with 31-language support (including Croatian) and fewer reading failures—built for faster, more reliable voice experiences without sending data to the cloud. Croatia’s Digital Push: Šibenik is getting Croatia’s first regional digitalisation and AI centre, with training for citizens, public staff and entrepreneurs plus wider use of e-Građani. Energy Policy: Croatia has opened a public consultation on a draft civilian nuclear energy law aimed at building the framework and expertise—without committing to a plant. Regional Tech Momentum: Osijek’s Drone Expo highlights growing civilian drone use, from border monitoring to precision agriculture. Eurovision Culture Shift: Eurovision’s sound is getting harsher and more electronic, with fans split as the contest leans deeper into EDM.

Croatian Cinema at Cannes: The 79th Cannes Film Festival kicks off with Croatian talent in the spotlight: Tamara Todorović’s short Nobody Said Anything premieres in the official short competition, while Vida Skerk’s Left Behind, Still Standing lands in La Cinef. World Cup Tech & Deals: Sky’s World Cup push cuts its 4K Sky Glass TV to “15p per day” ahead of England’s opener vs Croatia—plus the usual package catch. Public Health & Heat Risk: Academics warn England fans in Texas face serious danger from extreme heat around outdoor fan zones, even if stadiums are air-conditioned. EU Social Media Shift: New European social platforms are stepping up as users drift from X, while the EU keeps tightening rules under the Digital Services Act. Croatia in Medicine: KBC Split’s “Split Protocol” atrial fibrillation study lands in The New England Journal of Medicine, boosting Croatia’s clinical profile. Engineering Link: Azerbaijan and Croatia sign an MoU to expand engineering cooperation.