AGP Executive Report

Space & Astronomy: The 2026 total solar eclipse (Aug 12) will be Europe’s first visible one in the 21st century, and cruise ships are being pitched as a low-crowd, low-light-pollution viewing option, with routes flagged across the Med and even Greenland/Iceland. Media & AI: NEM Dubrovnik 2026 in Croatia’s TV hub is spotlighting consolidation, long-term content deals, and how AI is reshaping production and distribution across Central and Eastern Europe. Sports Tech: England and Scotland are using GPS performance-tracking during World Cup games and training to monitor workloads in real time and reduce injury risk in a packed tournament. Croatia in Tech/Logistics: ENNA Logic is buying Siemens Vectron locomotives to expand cross-border freight capacity across 11 countries using ETCS corridor-ready systems. World Cup Impact in the Region: Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey is denied entry to Canada and will miss Ghana’s opener, while Canada’s first home match vs Bosnia ends 1-1. Croatian Culture: Zadar’s St. Donatus church is getting urgent rehabilitation after moisture and sea spray threatened reinforced concrete supports, with corrosion protection based on migrating inhibitors.

World Cup Costs & Controversy: FIFA’s 2026 kickoff is here, but fans are already furious over steep pricing—from tickets to basic stadium buys—fueling a wider debate about who the tournament is really for. Local Tech & Heritage: In Zadar, the Italian ambassador backed new Italy–Croatia business links and an Interreg push tied to Adriatic offshore wind and the blue economy. Conservation Engineering: Cortec’s MCI® tech is highlighted for restoring Zadar’s St. Donatus by tackling moisture-driven corrosion risks in historic concrete structures. Sports Tech in Practice: NFL stadiums are reshaping their fields for World Cup rules, including switching to natural grass and reinforcing durability for soccer. Education Beyond the Classroom: Zagreb students took part in a TechSkills Forum in Cairo, focusing on what AI can’t replace—critical thinking, communication, creativity, and cross-cultural skills. Security & Travel Flow: Slovenia is easing border checks with Croatia and Hungary to reduce summer gridlock, shifting to more mobile, targeted policing. Cyber & Scams Watch: FIFA’s digital risk is in focus, with warnings about ticket fraud and broader cyber threats around the tournament.

Renewables Finance: EBRD is backing PPC with a EUR 175 mln loan for about 400 MW of new wind and solar across Bulgaria, Greece and Romania, aiming for ~760 GWh clean power and sizable CO2 cuts. AI in Healthcare: HeartSciences says the European Patent Office granted a new European patent for ECG-based assessment of diastolic function, expanding its AI-ECG IP portfolio. Croatia Demographics: Croatia’s Ministry of Demography and Immigration signed a cooperation deal with universities to support the Demographic Renewal Law, with a focus on birth rates, return of emigrants and research-led policy. Tech & Platforms: YouTube is bringing back direct messages after six years, rolling out a new DM feature with age-verified, signed-in users. Mobility & Law: Uber sued New York City to block a rule limiting when ride-hailing platforms can remove drivers, arguing it could raise safety risks. Energy Storage: Hungary inaugurated a major battery storage system in Buj (99.8 MW / 288.576 MWh), using BYD LFP batteries and local operations. World Cup Tech & Security: FIFA’s expanded 48-team tournament is also a bigger cyber and fraud target, with warnings about scams and spoofed FIFA sites. Croatian Culture via AI: A Zagreb creator’s AI videos are going viral as “emotional time machines,” using AI to preserve everyday city memories.

Energy Transition in the Region: Hungary just inaugurated the region’s largest battery storage system in Buj, with two lithium iron phosphate installations totaling 99.8 MW and 288.576 MWh—BYD batteries, Sieyuan transformers, and Power Electronics inverters powering smarter charging and grid support. Croatian Nutrition & Public Health: Zagreb is spotlighting Maja Ljubas, one of Croatia’s first publicly specialized vegan nutritionists, as Prijatelji životinja pushes back on misconceptions and points to research-backed benefits of well-planned plant-based diets. Sustainable Tourism Management: Dubrovnik is getting international attention after a turnaround from overtourism to a “role model” approach, with the city citing cruise limits, traffic regulation, and smarter visitor management plus tech-driven flow spreading. Tourism Pressure & Costs: Madeira ranks as Europe’s top romance-and-privacy pick for couples—while Dubrovnik tops the list—showing how “privacy” and lower tourism pressure are becoming key travel signals. EU Border Tech Impact: Frontex warns the EU’s biometric Entry-Exit System (EES) could still mean long border queues for up to two more years, with travel groups estimating major spending at risk. STEM for Youth: Oman’s World Robot Olympiad qualifier drew 65+ student teams, using “Robots Meet Culture” to blend engineering with heritage storytelling. World Cup Tech Angle: England’s World Cup preparations got a boost after a weather-delayed 3-0 warm-up win over Costa Rica, with Thomas Tuchel praising intensity and adaptability ahead of Croatia.

Dubrovnik Tourism Tech & Policy: Dubrovnik is being spotlighted by the BBC as a model for sustainable tourism, with the mayor pointing to cruise limits, smarter visitor management, traffic controls and tools like the Dubrovnik Pass to spread crowds through the day. EU Border Tech: Frontex warns the biometric Entry-Exit System (EES) could keep causing border queues for up to two more years, with travel groups estimating major spending losses if delays persist. Croatia Energy Strategy: Croatia is stepping up nuclear planning for long-term grid stability and decarbonisation, including reviewing previously studied sites and restarting nuclear engineering studies with the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing. Digital Infrastructure: Gnomon Capital has acquired Croatian data-centre operator DC North, boosting regional capacity for colocation and connectivity. STEM Education: Oman’s WRO qualifier drew 65+ student teams, using “Robots Meet Culture” to link engineering with heritage storytelling. Media & Streaming: Omdia forecasts Netflix could reach ~400M subscribers by 2031, while European rivals may need consolidation to compete. Archaeology Days (Croatia): 27 Croatian museums and institutions open for free events (12–14 June), with Zagreb’s programme featuring interactive walks and guided tours.

Digital Infrastructure Deal: Liechtenstein’s Gnomon Capital has acquired Croatian data-centre operator DC North in Varaždin, boosting local capacity for colocation, connectivity and disaster recovery as demand rises across Europe. Croatian Tourism & Borders: Croatia’s tourism is up in the first five months of 2026 (4.5M visitors, +7% overnight stays), while Europe’s new Schengen Entry/Exit System (EES) is already triggering delays that WTTC warns could hit 41M arrivals and €45.4B in spending. Coastline Under Pressure: Croatian beaches are shrinking as erosion, sea-level rise and extreme weather intensify, worrying coastal towns that rely on tourism. Robotaxis in Europe: Transport ministers from 17 EU countries back large-scale cross-border testing to speed up autonomous ride services despite patchwork national rules. World Cup Tech & Rules: FIFA reversed its ban on reusable bottles after backlash, allowing only sealed disposable bottles into stadiums as heat looms. Human Health Research: Croatian researchers highlight that chronic stress “allostatic load” builds differently across people, meaning current blood-based tracking may miss key patterns. STEM in Sports: A ranked look at World Cup kits and a rundown of referees/VAR teams underline how much tech and planning now shape the tournament.

Autonomous Mobility in Europe: Bolt is starting a year-long robotaxi “living laboratory” in Luxembourg, with five self-driving vehicles in Bissen expanding toward up to 30 in Luxembourg City, aiming for driverless readiness while keeping a safety driver onboard. Croatia Tourism Update: Croatia’s tourism keeps climbing: HTZ reports +7% overnight stays and +5% arrivals in the first five months of 2026, with 4.5 million visitors and 14 million overnights, led by the Adriatic coast. EU Border Tech Pressure: The EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) is already causing long Schengen delays, and WTTC warns it could cut one-third of international visitors—up to 41 million arrivals and $45.4B in spending. Zagreb Infrastructure Disruption: Slavonska Avenija in Zagreb stays closed indefinitely due to safety concerns during the Vjesnik tower removal, with a complex bypass plan likely to mean congestion. Energy & Skills: EBRD approved a EUR 175M loan for PPC renewable projects (wind and solar) across Romania, Greece and Bulgaria, including training for battery energy storage engineers. Tech & Society: A wave of debate continues after Vinnie Jones blamed “addictive” screen tech for children’s mental health struggles, urging more time outdoors.

Autonomous Mobility in Europe: Bolt is starting a year-long autonomous robotaxi trial in Luxembourg, with five driverless vehicles in Bissen expanding toward up to 30 in Luxembourg City, using Stellantis vans with Pony.ai tech and a safety driver onboard. Croatian Infrastructure Disruption: Zagreb’s Slavonska Avenija stays closed indefinitely as works around the Vjesnik tower continue, with officials citing safety risks from a structurally unstable section and rerouting traffic via a complex bypass plan. Energy Transition Finance: The EBRD approved a EUR 175m loan for PPC to build about 400 MW of wind and solar across Romania, Greece and Bulgaria, plus training for battery energy storage engineers. Tourism Pressure on Nature: Croatia’s national parks are already seeing heavy summer crowds, raising the recurring challenge of balancing conservation with visitor growth. Unfinished Tech-in-Healthcare Symbol: A new report revisits “Blato,” Zagreb’s decades-stalled university hospital project, highlighting how political and funding shifts left a massive structure unused. World Cup Tech & Health Angle: Experts warn the 2026 World Cup could act as a “global mixing” test for infectious diseases, as millions move through airports, transit and packed venues. World Cup Warm-up (Local Interest): England plays Costa Rica in a World Cup warm-up in Orlando, with coverage on ITV1 and a 9pm kick-off.

Autonomous Driving in Europe: EU transport ministers are set to back a faster, cross-border “testbed” approach for self-driving taxis, easing the patchwork of national rules; Croatia is among the countries involved, and the first European trial already started in Croatia with Pony.ai (with Uber and Croatian startup Verne, backed by Rimac). Croatia’s Tech & Environment: Bosnia and Herzegovina-linked groups have filed a complaint against Croatia over plans for a radioactive waste disposal center at Trgovska Gora near the Una basin, pushing the issue to the Council of Europe’s Berne Convention. World Cup Tech & Health: England may use palm-cooling devices from Therabody (CryoTherm Palm) during World Cup heat, while experts warn the tournament’s mass mixing could create “perfect conditions” for infectious disease spread. EU Clean Transition: The European Commission approved Lithuania’s €884m Social Climate Plan to fund energy-efficiency upgrades, EVs, and bike lanes for vulnerable households and micro-enterprises. STEM/Industry Signal: Bangladesh’s engineering exports jumped 20% (July–May FY2025–26), led by electrical and electronic equipment—an example of higher-value manufacturing growth. Culture & Creativity: Animafest Zagreb 2026 opens with ~300 animated films and international guests, spotlighting new talent across Europe.

Self-Driving Taxis in Europe: The EU is set to speed up robotaxi trials with a new “testbed” approach, aiming to cut country-by-country approvals; the first European trial already started in Croatia (Pony.ai with Uber and Verne, backed by Rimac). Pay Transparency Push: New EU salary transparency rules begin, but Croatia is still finalising national implementation; job applicants must get starting pay or pay ranges upfront, and employers can’t ask about previous earnings. Croatia’s World Cup Prep: Croatia closed preparations with a late 2-1 friendly win over Slovenia, with Luka Modrić scoring after Ivan Perišić set him up. World Cup Tech & Records: FIFA will collect match items to document the 2026 tournament in museums, while coverage highlights record-chasing stars and the “Group F curse” that’s never produced a champion. Cybersecurity Watch: Silent Ransom Group (SRG) is upgrading data-leak extortion with fast-flux botnet tactics, complicating disruption efforts. Science in Croatia: A Zagreb museum exhibition spotlights Croatian sailors trapped in Arctic ice in the 19th century, linking their observations to modern climate and ice research.

Autonomous Mobility in Europe: The EU is set to accelerate self-driving taxi trials with a new “testbed” approach, aiming to avoid approvals country-by-country; the first European trial already started in Croatia (Pony.ai with Uber and local startup Verne, backed by Rimac). EU Pay Transparency: New rules on salary transparency and limits on asking candidates about past pay take effect across the bloc, but Croatia is still finishing national implementation. Cybersecurity: Silent Ransom Group (SRG) is upgrading data-leak extortion with fast-flux botnet infrastructure, making its infrastructure harder to track—law firms are among the targets. Croatian Science History: A Zagreb Natural History Museum exhibition highlights Croatian sailors trapped in Arctic ice for two years in the 19th century, whose observations helped shape modern climate and ice research. World Cup Tech & Safety: FIFA says it will collect items after every match to document the 2026 tournament, while electricity operators warn of major demand spikes during key late-night games.

Heat & Power Demand: UK grid operator Neso warns World Cup viewing could trigger electricity spikes up to 800MW, driven by millions of TVs, kettles and fridge use during late-night matches—England’s Croatia opener is expected to draw the biggest audience. Sports Tech for Safety: England plans to use palm-cooling devices in training and during match water breaks, as researchers flag dangerous heat at many 2026 venues and FIFA adds cooling breaks. Cybersecurity: Silent Ransom Group (SRG) is upgrading data-leak extortion with fast-flux botnet infrastructure, making its domains harder to track; the FBI says law firms are a key target. Local Science Heritage: Zagreb’s Croatian Natural History Museum opened an exhibition on Croatian sailors trapped in Arctic ice for two years, highlighting observations that shaped modern climate and ice research. EU Pay Transparency: Cyprus is among countries missing the EU pay-transparency deadline, with many states delayed or still without draft legislation. Health Research: A Croatia-linked rheumatology expert chaired an EULAR session where low-dose naltrexone failed to beat placebo for fibromyalgia pain in a well-designed trial.

World Cup Tech & Safety: The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off June 11 with a 48-team, 104-match setup across the US, Canada and Mexico, but it’s also bringing new rules and big operational headaches—plus weather risks already hit a Saudi warm-up in Texas, where lightning halted play for nearly two hours. Heat-Response Innovation: England is preparing for extreme conditions with palm-cooling devices and extra hydration breaks, as researchers warn many host venues could push dangerous temperatures. Medical Research: A Croatia-linked rheumatology team chaired an EULAR session where low-dose naltrexone failed to beat placebo for fibromyalgia pain, though some participants reported perceived symptom relief. EU Pay Transparency: Cyprus is among EU states missing the pay-transparency deadline, highlighting uneven rollout across Europe. Croatian Science Heritage: Zagreb’s Natural History Museum opened an exhibition on Croatian sailors trapped in Arctic ice for two years, whose observations helped shape modern climate and ice research. Local Tech & Work: Zagreb launched a fully accessible coworking space for entrepreneurs with disabilities, boosting inclusive startup support. Cybersecurity: Researchers detailed how the Silent Ransom Group used fast-flux infrastructure, with the FBI warning of ongoing attacks on law firms and other sectors.

Heat-tech in sport: England is preparing for FIFA World Cup 2026 with palm-cooling devices, using the tech in training and during water breaks to reduce core body temperature as many venues face dangerous heat and humidity. EU Pay Rules: The EU Pay Transparency Directive is due by 7 June 2026, but most countries are lagging; the report highlights the gender pay gap and the potential annual cost of slow implementation. Cybersecurity: Researchers say the Silent Ransom Group (SRG) is using fast-flux DNS infrastructure for data theft and extortion, with the FBI issuing warnings to law firms and other targeted sectors. Croatia in the EU spotlight: The European Commission urges Croatia to tighten control of public spending, improve efficiency, and focus investment on long-term growth, amid rising expenditure pressures. Local heritage & science: Croatia’s Ludbreg church restoration (Holy Trinity) is uncovering human remains and other archaeological findings while reinforcing the 15th-century structure for future seismic safety. Tourism: Croatia’s national tourist board reports positive 2026 momentum, citing growth in arrivals and overnight stays and stronger demand from key markets, including the US via new air links. Diplomacy: India’s Jaishankar congratulated Slovenia’s new Foreign Minister Tone Kajzer, as Slovenia signals a shift toward “quiet diplomacy” and closer ties with the US and NATO.

Sports Tech & Heat Safety: England will use palm-cooling devices at FIFA World Cup 2026 to handle extreme humidity and temperatures, with the plan tested in West Palm Beach and supported by research showing palm cooling can lower core body temperature; England’s group opener is vs Croatia on June 17. Cybersecurity: The Silent Ransom Group (SRG) is shifting to Fast Flux DNS infrastructure, and researchers say they’ve mapped the setup to help disrupt the extortion operation targeting sectors like legal, healthcare, finance and insurance. EU Policy: The European Commission urged Croatia to tighten control of public spending, improve efficiency, and focus investment on long-term growth as part of the European Semester spring package. Croatia Tourism: Croatia’s National Tourist Board reports positive 2026 momentum, citing stronger demand from key markets and new US air links like United’s New York–Split route. Heritage & Science in Practice: In Ludbreg, a €2m restoration of the Holy Trinity church is underway to improve seismic resilience, and workers have uncovered human remains that will be studied further.

Water Monitoring Tech: Croatia’s Josip Juraj Strossmayer Water Institute is rolling out satellite-based monitoring for rivers, lakes and seas, pairing space observations with field measurements to spot pollution and eutrophication earlier—starting with a Drava River pilot after a major wastewater plant upgrade. EV Charging Push: The European Investment Bank is teaming up with Ireland to speed up public EV charging, aiming for a charger within reach of every community using procurement and financing templates for local authorities. Energy & Climate Economics: SolarPower Europe says solar has saved Europe €12.8bn since the Iran-war oil shock began, averaging €136m per day, with calls for more storage and faster financing. Croatia Jobs & Wages: Croatia’s average net salary hit €1,621 (+9%), but pay growth and levels vary sharply by sector—IT leads, while agriculture lags. Tourism Momentum: Croatia’s tourism board reports strong 2026 momentum, boosted by new US routes and a focus on value-for-money and safety. Road Safety Data: Greece’s road deaths fell to the lowest since 1963, yet a survey still flags risky driving habits like heavy phone use and fatigue. World Cup Tech/Rules: FIFA bans reusable water bottles at the 2026 tournament, a move critics say could endanger fans in extreme heat.