The government on Thursday sent to parliament the final version of a bill on foreign nationals from the EU, whereby the government no longer establishes an annual quota of permits for the employment of foreigners.

The act stipulates that employers in search of labour must contact, before applying for residence and work permits, the Croatian Employment Service (HZZ), which will conduct a labour market test.

If there are no unemployed persons in Croatia that meet the employer’s requirements, the employer must submit an application for a residence and work permit to the Interior Ministry, which then requests an opinion from the HZZ regarding hiring a specific foreign national.

The government also approved the programme of support to the University and Croatian National Theatre in Mostar worth HRK 6 million to be provided from the budget of the Central State Office for Croats Abroad.