ZAGREB, 1 July (Hina) - The Ministry of Culture and Media and Croatian Post signed a contract on Monday for the distribution of printed media as a service of general economic interest, resolving the issue for the next five years and providing an additional boost to the development of professional journalism.
“With this contract, the issue of printed media distribution is resolved for the next five years, giving an extra impetus to the development of professional journalism. By signing this contract, Croatia joins the majority of European countries that support printed media distribution through similar measures," the Ministry said in a statement.
The contract was signed by Minister Nina Obuljen Koržinek and Croatian Post CEO Ivan Čulo after months of work by an interdepartmental working group.
The process was initiated after Tisak PLUS d.o.o. informed publishers of the termination of their printed media distribution contract, which threatened the delivery of printed media to sales outlets and risked depriving the public of access to information via the press.
In February, the government established an interdepartmental working group to determine the need for funding distribution of printed media as a service of general economic interest. In April, following the working group's proposal, the government declared printed media distribution in Croatia as a service of general economic interest.
The Ministry of Culture and Media then conducted an open, transparent and non-discriminatory public tender process. After reviewing and evaluating the bids, Croatian Post was chosen as the most favourable bidder for the distribution of printed media, the statement said.
According to the contract, the total annual cost of distribution is estimated at €22,145,112 excluding VAT, or €27,681,390 including VAT, reduced by publisher contributions of €0.0015 per copy for daily editions and €0.0025 per copy for weekly and occasional editions.
The funds are secured within the Ministry's total expenditure limits, with government approval granted for the period from 2026 to 2030, at an average annual amount of €14,753,636.22 including VAT.
