Croatia at a Glance

• Population: approx. 4.44 million


• Capital city: Zagreb, approx. 780.000 inhabitants


• Language: Croatian


• Religions: approx. 90% Catholics, 4% Serbian-orthodox, 1% Muslim


• Form of government: Parliamentary Democracy

Economy

Relations between Germany and the Republic of Croatia are close and good. This is based on the one hand on the large number of Croats living permanently in Germany (236,000 were registered in 2003) and former guest workers. On the other, many German tourists visit Croatia every year (2004: approx. 1.5 million). Other important factors are the voluminous economic transactions and the cultural influence exerted by Germany and/or Austria through the centuries. Many Croats speak German.
Germany is Croatia's second most important trade partner – Croatia ranks 49 amongst Germany’s trade partners. Bilateral exchange shows an upward trend. Germany takes second place after Austria in foreign direct investment. A bilateral investment protection agreement entered into force in April 2000. There is also a road traffic agreement and an arrangement on the provisional application of a civil aviation accord.

Culture and Science

Bilateral cultural cooperation is based on the German-Croatian Cultural Agreement of 26 August 1994. It focuses on promoting mobility in the scientific and academic sector and fostering the prominent role of the German language in the Croatian education system: 25% of all Croat pupils learn German as their first foreign language. The Goethe Institute, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) with three academic teaching posts and the Central Agency for Schools Abroad (four so-called programme teachers in Croatian grammar schools) are engaged in Croatia. All the political foundations (with the exception of the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation) have offices in Zagreb. The German international school in Zagreb with attached nursery school began teaching activities at the start of the school year 2004/05.

Links

www.kroatische-botschaft.de (Official representation of Croatia in Germany)
www.DeutscheBotschaft-Zagreb.hr (German Embassy in Croatia)
www.goethe.de/zagreb (Goethe-Institute in Zagreb)