ZAGREB, 28 Feb (Hina) – Interior Minister Davor Božinović  said on Friday, in honour of International Civil Protection Day, that “most modern challenges cannot be addressed solely through military skills” but require strengthening civil protection and educating young people in useful skills for crisis situations.

“Pandemics, industrial disasters, natural calamities, cyber threats, supply chain disruptions, etc. – these are all challenges that demand broad knowledge and preparedness,” he said at a ceremony marking also Croatian Civil Protection Day and the 20th anniversary of the European emergency number 112 in the country.

Alongside the introduction of basic military training, Croatia will also develop a civil service as part of a broader strategy to enhance societal resilience, the minister said. “Resilience cannot be an exclusively military concept; it must encompass all aspects of civil protection and crisis management.”

For this reason, he said, young people must be equipped with skills that benefit society as a whole, from first aid and crisis logistics to energy security and rescue operations in extreme conditions. “In cooperation with the Ministry of Defence, through amendments to the Defence Act, we are sending a broader message, one that is not merely preparation for wartime threats but an investment in a society capable of responding to any crisis.” Božinović  said that in today’s world, it was not enough to merely respond adequately to crises; they must also be anticipated, prevented and mitigated.

Trut: Investment in further modernisation of the civil protection system is necessary

Civil Protection DirectorВ Damir Trut highlighted the need for further investment in modernising the system to ensure greater safety for all citizens.

“We are aware of the times we live in, as well as the global risks. The European Union is also conscious of this and is actively discussing the strengthening of EU civil protection mechanisms in the context of preparedness not only for natural disasters but also for new types of risks, including wars.”

Since the introduction of the unified emergency number 112 in Croatia 20В years ago, more than 37 million calls have been recorded, Trut said. “That represents countless stressful situations for our operators, whose job demands professionalism, composure and calmness to ensure an effective response. Today, we can proudly say that we are among the top EU countries whose citizens would call 112 in an emergency.”