Country Profile of CROATIA in English

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CROATIA
Country profile
Project number: UK/13/LLP-LdV/TOI-615
56,594
POPULATION
km2
4,284 mln
GDP per capita
$18,314
CURRENCY
Croatian kuna (HRK)
LanguageCROATIAN
COUNTRY BACKGROUND
SLOVENIA
HUNGARY
Zagreb
CROATIA
BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA
Geographical position: Croatia extends from the foothills of

the Julian Alps in the north-west and the Pannonian Plain in
the east, over the Dinara mountain range in its central region,
to the Adriatic coast in the south. There are 1,185 islands, the
largest ones are Krk and Cres. 67 islands are inhabited.
National Flag
Capital: Zagreb with 779,145 inhabitants

Climate in Croatia: Northern Croatia has a continental climate; Central Croatia has a semi-highland and highland climate, while the Croatian coast has a Mediterranean climate.
Population of Croatia: 89% Croats. National minorities include Serbs, Muslims, Slovenes, Italians, Hungarians, Czechs,
Slovaks, and others.
Official language: Croatian 96%, other 4% (Serbian, Italian,
Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, and German)
Coat of arms
Roman Catholic 87.8%, Orthodox 4.4%, other Christian 0.4%,

Muslim 1.3%, other and unspecified 0.9%, none 5.2% (2001
census)
Learnmera Oy www.thelanguagemenu.com
Country profile CROATIA
CROATIA FACTS
Religion
Most Croatians are Roman Catholic, and religion is a unifying

factor of Croatian culture. Though religion is not discussed in
the workplace, Catholicism has a great impact on everyday
life and many businesses close for Roman Catholic holidays.
Each town and city has a patron saint and celebrates the
saints feast day with ceremonies and festivals. Catholic religion has also played a large part in the historical and cultural
development of Croatia, and continues to be seen in everyday Croatian life.
National Pride
Croatians are very proud of their country and heritage and

can take criticism personally. Because of this, Croatians may
come off as being haughty and pretentious and can seem
slightly arrogant to foreigners. Croatians feel a strong sense
of nationalism after years of foreign control, and often refer
to their country as Our Beautiful Homeland.
Currency
Croatias currency, Kuna, was named after Kuna, a small

rodent, whose fur was used for payment in the region
many centuries ago. The animal is called Marten in
English. Kuna is subdivided into 100 lipa. The word lipa
means linden (lime) tree.
Tie
During the Thirty Years War in the 17th century, the

traditional small, knotted neckerchiefs worn by Croatian mercenaries aroused the interest of Parisians who
for some reason immediately took to the new fashion
accessory. The term for this new trend, cravat, derives
from the Croatian word.
CROATIA FACTS
Famous inventions
Croatian Slavoljub Penkala invented a mechanical pencil

in 1906. The patent was registered in 35 countries and his
company TOZPenkala is still in operation today in Zagreb.
The worlds first torpedo was built Constructed by Ivan Lupis Vukic in Rijeka Istria in the 19th century. was the worlds
first torpedo.
Ivan Vucetic, criminologist and anthropologist, was born on
the island of Hvar (later emigrated in to Argentina, and was
known as Juan). He became was the pioneer of scientific
dactiloscopy (identification by fingerprints), and his methods of identification are used worldwide.
Economic situation
Croatia has successfully established macroeconomic

stabilisation. Though the state still has a large presence
in the economy, GDP is rising and the Croatian market is
experiencing moderate expansion. Croatia spent the first
five years of its independence fighting the presence of the
Serbian military, and has only recently begun to improve
living standards and to make critical economic changes.
Tourism and an increase in consumer spending have also
refined Croatias economic climate. A member of NATO
and the UN, Croatia also joined the EU in July 2013.
Humour
Croatians enjoy irony and dark humour and will often laugh
at difficult situations and personal flaws. Croatians find
humour in sarcasm and do not typically change their tone
of voice or facial expression when telling a joke. For these
reasons, it can be difficult for foreigners to understand
Croatian humour. Croatians tend to tease others, especially
foreigners, but mean no ill intent and expect you to behave
the same towards them.
CROATIA FACTS
Nikola Tesla
Arguably the greatest genius of the 20th century, Nikola

Tesla was born in modern-day Croatia. While he was born of
Serbian parents, Tesla is celebrated around the country, from
statues to events in his honour. He developed the alternating
current method of delivering electricity (AC) as well asand
power generation systems by which almost all electrical
power is still delivered today. Tesla developed the processes
that led to the radio as well as other forms of wireless delivery. Neon and fluorescent lighting, the radar, faxes and other
Teslas other ideas were yearsfar ahead of his time.
Language
Before 18th century, Croats used an alphabet which was

called glagoljica or Glagolitic. Modern Croatian uses the
Latin alphabet and is a standardized variety of the Serbo-Croatian language used principally in Croatia, Bosnia
and Herzegovina, the Serbian province of Vojvodina and
other neighbouring countries.
The Serbian, Bosnian and Croatian languages are all very
similar in the spoken form. In fact, they differ even less
than American, British, and Australian English do from one
another. All three languages share three primary dialects,
and differ primarily in terms of vocabulary. As far as the
written language, differences exist in that Serbian uses
a Cyrillic alphabet while Croatian uses a Latin alphabet.
The Serbian, Bosnian and Croatian languages are all very
similar in the spoken form. In fact, they differ even less
than American, British, and Australian English do from one
another. All three languages share three primary dialects,
and differ primarily in terms of vocabulary. As far as the
written language, differences exist in that Serbian uses a
Cyrillic alphabet while Croatian uses a Latin alphabet.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
1 January: New Years Day

New Years Day is a public holiday in many places
around the world and Croatia is no exception.
Moveable date 60 days

post Easter, Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi is a Christian
observance that honors the
Holy Eucharist.
day that God assumed the

Virgin Mary into Heaven
following her death.
8 October:
Independence Day
6 January: Epiphany
22 June:
It and marks the day in 1991
Epiphany is celebrated to
Anti-Fascist Struggle Day
when the Croatian parliacommemorate the visit of
It marks the beginning of the ment decided to terminate
the Biblical Magi to the Baby uprising of Croatian anti-fas- the constitutional links
Jesus.
cist Partisans against Gerbetween Croatia and Yugoman and Italian occupying
slavia.
Moveable Sunday in spring: forces.
Easter Sunday
1 November: All Saints Day
The resurrection of Jesus
25 June: Statehood Day
On this day people light canChrist is celebrated on Easter It is a day to celebrate the
dles and visit the graves of
Day.
countrys 1991 declaration
deceased relatives.
of independence from YugoMoveable Monday in
slavia.
25 December: Christmas
spring: Easter Monday
Christmas is a family holiday
Easter Monday is the day
5 August:
spent together with family
following Easter Day.
Victory and Homeland
and loved ones.
Thanksgiving Day and the
1 May: May Day
Day of Croatian defenders
26 December:
Many public events are orIt is held as a memorial to
St. Stephens Day
ganized all over the country, the War of Independence
This day commemorates
and military style bean soup (1991-1995).
the life of St. Stephen, a
is given out to all people as
Christian deacon in Jerusaa symbol of a real workers
15 August:
lem who was known for his
dish as well as red carnaAssumption of Mary
service to the poor and his
tions as a symbol of blood of The feast day of the Assump- status as the first Christian
fallen workers.
tion of Mary celebrates the
martyr.
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
Croatia has become an increasingly popular tourist hotspot over the last few
years. In 2012, Croatia had 11.8 million tourist visitors, and in 2013 over 14 million
tourists and 73.25 million nights. With its rocky, indented shore and more than a
thousand islands, Croatia boasts one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline
that Europe has to offer. In addition, many of Croatias coastal towns and cities
have a fascinating history and are filled with the historical remains of Roman and
Venetian times.
Dubrovnik is one of the most prominent tourist attractions in Croatia and the Mediterranean. In the Middle Ages, it became the only city-state in the Adriatic to rival Venice and
achieved a remarkable level during the 15th and 16th centuries. Dubrovnik boasts spectacular churches, monasteries, fountains and the famous walls that surround the old city.
The Plitvice Lakes are considered to be one of the most beautiful natural destinations in
Europe. This system of 16 interlinked lakes and a large forest complex around it are famous for their unique colors and a wide variety of rare animal and bird species.
Hvar town, set in a picturesque natural bay, with the Pakleni island chain protecting it to
the south, is a popular port for yachts sailing around the Adriatic, especially in the summer months.
The area around Rovinj city has been described as an outstanding scenic wonder because of the pristine beauty of the indented coastline and its forests.
The sixth largest Croatian island, Korcula is separated from the mainland by a narrow
strait. The ancient Korcula city is among the most beautiful towns on the Croatian coast
and is known for the alleged house of birth of Marco Polo.
The amphitheater in Pula is the sixth largest surviving Roman arena and one of the best
preserved Roman monuments in Croatia. The Pula Arena was built around the 1st century
AD and could seat over 26,000 spectators.
The island of Mljet is one of the larger islands off the coast of Southern Croatia. With 72%
of the island covered by forests and the rest dotted by fields, vineyards and small villages,
Mljet is a perfect place to relax.
The 6th century Euphrasian Basilica is the top attraction of Pore, a 2,000 year old town in
Istria. It is one of the best examples of early Byzantine architecture in the Mediterranean
region and has retained its original shape, though accidents have altered a few details.
CROATIAN FOOD
Croatian cuisine is as diverse as the countrys past. The turbulent history of different nations influences (ancient Greeks and Romans, Italians, Turks, French) left its
mark on both culture and food. Croatian cuisine can be divided into coastal and
interior, the first being more Mediterranean, and the latter more continental.
1. Prut is a dry-cured ham, an essential part of every type of celebration in Croatia and
every restaurant menu. Traditionally it is cut in thin, long slices and served with cheese
and olives as an entree or a healthy snack in between meals.
2. Paki sir is cheese from Pag Island made entirely from
milk produced by sheep grazing freely local sparse
grass, various herbs and aromatic plants. The result
of all this is its special flavor which has been recognized globally and awarded year after year.
During its preservation it is coated with olive
oil and wrapped in cloth. The most popular
varieties of Paki sir are the mature ones
due to their strong, distinctive taste. Traditionally it is cut in thick triangle slices and
served with prut, or grated over seafood
pasta.
3. Ispod peke is a term describing a method of food preparation. The cook puts
ingredients (in most cases its lamb, octopus or veal, paired with seasoned potatoes)
into a stone oven under a heavy metal cover,
placing the hot coals on its top. The ingredients are left to cook slowly in their own juices.
4. Paticada is a traditional meat dish from Dalmatia.
Beef is the main ingredient which is marinated for 24
hours in red wine, garlic and various herbs such as rosemary
and sage, before cooking it for a few hours. Its taste is enriched
with dry plums, carrots, onions, cloves and nutmeg, and therefore the resulting sauce is thick, dark and rich in flavors. Traditionally paticada is served with homemade potato gnocchi.
CROATIAN FOOD
5. Crni riot is a black seafood risotto with cuttlefish and squid as main ingredients. Its
name and black color are a result of squids ink which gives this delicacy its distinctive
Mediterranean flavor and personality. Traditionally it is sprinkled with grated cheese.
6. Riba na gradele i blitva is traditionally the most common combination in Dalmatia:
mixed grilled fish paired with chard boiled with potatoes. Fresh fish prepared on gradele
(i.e. grilled on woodfire), seasoned with garlic, parsley and olive oil, is something youll
see locals preparing all along the coast. It is not the rule, but in most cases people round
it with sweet tasting chard, an ideal vegetable for hot summer days. This is one of those
Croatian dishes which perfectly embody Dalmatian tradition of simple yet delicious quality food.
7. Brudet is a fish stew traditionally made in Istria and Dalmatia. It ismade of several
types of fish, put in layers in a single pot and cooked in tomato sauce. Youre not allowed
to stir the ingredients but only shake the pot from time to time. The dish is prepared at
low tem-peratures, allowing the fish to cook slowly in its own juices. Traditionally brudet
is served with thick, gold polenta.
8. Tartufi are truffles, rare and highly valued mushrooms. They grow underground and
only specially trained dogs can locate them. Though small and unsightly, they are of superb, distinctive flavor and fragrance. Traditionally in Istria, slivers of white or black truffle
garnish the taste and look of omelettes, pastas and venison sauces.
9. Fui i pljukanci are yet another dish traditional for Istria. It is actually a homemade
pasta which comes in various sorts, of which fui and pljukanci are the most famous ones.
They are completely handmade and hand-rolled. In most cases, they are served either
with tartufi or some sort of thick game sauce. The most popular traditional combination
is with bokarin sauce a sort of ox native to Istria.
10. Janjetina s ranja, or lamb on the spit, is the most popular method of preparing lamb
in Croatia. The whole lamb is rotated slowly above hot coals, resulting in succulent roast
meat no one can resist. Traditionally it is served very simply with green salad and scallions.
10
AMAZING FACTS
Croatoa was founded in the first half of the 7th century on the ruins of the Roman Empire.
Dubrovnik, being an independent state at that time, was the first nation to formally recognize the United States as a nation when it declared independence from Great Britain.
Hum in Istria, with a varying population of 18 23 people, holds the Guinness World Record for being the smallest town in the world.
Almost 10% of Croatia is made up of 11 nature parks, eight national parks and two nature reserves.
The White House in the USA was built using stones from the Island of Bra (as well as
the Parliament building and New Palace in Vienna, Austria, the parliament building in Budapest, Hungary and the Diocletian palace in Split).
The oldest university of Croatia is the University of Zagreb, established in 1669.
The Dalmatian dogs got their names from
the south coastal region called Dalmatia.
Croatia is the homeland of the world renowned traveler Marco Polo, who was born
in the island of Korula in 1254.
The first hydro power plant was Iskrice,
made in ibenik and built on Krka river in
1895.
In Croatia, people can start voting at the
age of 16 if they have a job, but have to wait
until they turn 18 if they are unemployed.
In the Dinaric Alps in Croatia lives the
Olm (Proteus anguinus); it is the only
cave-dwelling chordate species found in
Europe. This creature can survive ten years
without food and lives blind and in the dark.
11
IMPORTANT TIPS
Communication Style
Generally Croatians communicate in a

direct and straightforward manner, but
there is, however, an emphasis on being respectful and diplomatic so as not to offend
anyone.
Many Croatian people speak in a loud
voice and have an animated communication style. Softly spoken people may be
seen as lacking in confidence.
Humour is often used in communication
and is not meant to be offensive but a way
of making light of difficult situations or a
persons flaws, and it is common to respond
in a similar fashion.
Non Verbal Communication
Personal space is usually respected in Croatian culture. People generally dont touch
each other when communicating until a
familiar relationship is established.
Direct eye contact is usually expected and
appreciated. Avoiding eye contact can be
taken as a sign you do not like the person;
however, making eye contact with eyes
wide open can suggest that a person does
not agree with what is being said.
Working practices in Croatia
Croatians are very fashion-conscious and

will always dress according to the latest
western styles. Croatians dress to reflect
their level of professionalism.
Deadlines are more flexible than in western
business culture, and work is often finished
at the last minute.
12
Working relationships in Croatia
Croatians are personable and will want to

know about your family and where you are
from. Do not talk about money or personal problems Croatians view this as a sign
of weak character, and the discussion will
leave your colleagues feeling uneasy.
Personal space is important, but a large distance indicates dislike. Eye contact is also
essential and is viewed as a sign of respect.
Croatians are often direct and view
soft-spoken or shy people as vulnerable and
weak.
Business practices in Croatia
Meetings are often lengthy and do not

tend to follow an agenda. Small talk usually precedes negotiations at meetings. It
is important to initially build a relationship
before discussing business matters.
Personal titles
Most professionals are addressed according to their qualification or their position

at work. Titles according to education are
Bachelor (prvostupnik), Master (magistar
struke), Doctor of Science or Doctor of
Arts (dr. sc. or dr. art.), Doctor of Medicine
(doktor medicine). If you are unsure of
titles, use Gospodin for Mr, Gospodja
for Mrs and Gospodina for Miss). Only
close friends and family members tend to
use first names. Never address someone by
their first name without being invited to do
so.
DOS AND DONTS

DOS
Do show respect towards everyone you

meet, including people that you do not
know, as Croatians will often acknowledge
strangers in passing.
Do ask Croatians for their opinions on the
subject matter at hand, as they will be
happy to assist you and this will help you
earn their trust.
Do translate one side of your business
card into Croatian. While not a necessity,
this shows respect and will impress your
Croatian business partners.
DONTS
Dont discuss religion, war, and other former Yugoslavian ethnicities. These subjects are taboo in Croatian culture.
Dont openly criticise your Croatian colleagues. Croatians are very proud and
easily offended, so make suggestions
rather than complaints and avoid direct
confrontation.
Dont make plans for your Croatian colleagues at the weekend

without their consent. Weekends
are considered family time and
Croatians do not tend to let business interfere with their personal
plans.
13
Cultural taboos
As Croatians like to know their new acquaintances and business partners very
well there might be some mixing of business with pleasure, but try not to overstep the boundaries.
It is important to avoid:
mixing confidential and intimate discussion on personal and business level
personal financial questions
any subject or question that might show
that you have lost respect for them or that
may cause them to lose respect for you.
discussions concerning the political and
military history of Yugoslavia, collapse of
communism, the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina (1992-1995), and anything related to
war crimes.
raising the thumb, index, and middle
finger at once, because it is a Serbian
gesture and is connected to Serbian nationalism.
discussing comparisons between the
nationalities of the former Yugoslavian
states, as this may also be found offensive.
For many Croatian-born people, religion
is an important part of their lifestyle with
the majority belonging to the Roman
Catholic faith. Be mindful of discussing
any subjects that may offend those of the
Christian faith, such as divorce, euthanasia, family planning, and alternative beliefs.
PEOPLE IN CROATIA
Croats are a South Slavic ethnic group at the crossroads of Central Europe, Southeast
Europe, and the Mediterranean. Croats mainly live in homeland Croatia, Bosnia and
Herzegovina and nearby countries Serbia and Slovenia. Likewise, Croats are an officially
recognized minority in Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Montenegro, Romania,
Serbia, and Slovakia.
Croats are noted for their cultural diversity,
which has been influenced by a number
of other neighboring cultures through the
ages. The strongest influences came from
Central Europe and the Mediterranean
where, at the same time, Croats have made
their own contribution.
Body language
People stand close to one another and talk
loudly. Strangers stare openly at one another. Formality is maintained in language
and behavior when people do not know
each other well. Strangers nod their heads
in passing. In stores, offices, and places of
14
business, people use formal language for

greetings and good-byes. Failure to greet
someone in a context that requires a greeting, or an overly familiar greeting, are serious breaches of etiquette. People who are
on friendly terms greet each other more
informally and usually kiss on both cheeks.
Young people are expected to offer the first
greeting to older people, and women to
men.
The formal you is used unless people are
age mates, good friends, or co-workers or
have reached a stage where the dominant
person invites the person of lesser status to
address him or her informally.
CUSTOMS AND ETIQUETTE

Meeting and Greeting
Greetings at first meetings will tend to
be formal and reserved.
A handshake, direct eye contact and the
appropriate greeting for the time of day
are standard.
Dobro jutro (good morning), dobro
dan (good day), and dobro vecer (good
evening).
Address people with their honorific
titles plus surname. If you are unsure of
titles then use Gospodin for Mr, Gospodja for Mrs and Gospodice for Miss).
Only close friends and family members
tend to use first names. Never address
someone by their first name without being invited to do so.
Close friends may greet each other with
an embrace and a kiss on each cheek.
Again, wait until the Croatian initiates this
form of greeting.
At social gatherings hosts introduce
guests, usually starting with the women
and then moving on to the men in a rough
approximation of age order, oldest to
youngest.
nals to begin.
Refusing second helpings initially is polite. After the host insists you should take
more.
Leaving a small amount of food on your
plate indicates that you are finished eating.
Gift Giving Etiquette

If invited to someones house, bring
flowers for the hostess. The host may be
given a box of chocolates or a bottle of
good wine.
Do not give chrysanthemums as they
are used at funerals and for gravestones.
When giving flowers, make sure there
are an odd number of stems.
Gifts are generally opened when received.
Dining Etiquette
Wait to be shown where to sit.
Table manners are Continental, i.e. the
fork is held in the left hand and the knife
in the right while eating.
At formal meals, the napkin is unfolded
and placed on the lap.
Do not begin eating until the host sig-
15
SOCIETY
Values
With more than 90% of Croatian-born

people belonging to the Roman Catholic church, many of the Croatian cultural
values stem from religious beliefs. These
include family and marriage, morality, devotion and compassion.
Honour is an important principle in Croatian culture, and it is closely linked with the
values of family. Making personal sacrifices
to benefit your family is highly regarded.
Children are expected to respect their
elders and are generally raised with strict
discipline.
The elderly are traditionally seen as a
source of knowledge and information on
culture, traditions and history, and they
are valued both within the family and the
broader community.
Good health is also valued in Croatian
culture for without it one cannot enjoy
their family and faith.
social status. People from a city have higher

status than people from villages, though
many urban dwellers have village family
connections. High-status individuals are
usually Croats. They may be of mixed ethnicity but are members of a predominantly
Croatian family. Jewish families are likely
to be of relatively high status. Ethnic Albanians are usually at the bottom of the social
system, and Gypsies are completely outside
of it.
Self-Identity
Croatia was one of the six republics of the

former Yugoslavia. Croats think of themselves as more closely linked with Austria
than with the other territories and cultures
of the former Yugoslavia. They do not refer
to themselves as a Balkan country but as a
European one.
Social Stratification
An unofficial class system is based on ones

family name and professional status rather
than wealth. Communist Party membership
challenged this class system, although it
was not uncommon for prominent families to join the party. In more recent years,
Croats increasingly became discontented
with the socialist government, particularly
people who were well educated, professional, and from prominent families. Most
high-status individuals speak English well
and are likely to speak one other European language. Dialect is also an indicator of
16
FAMILY IN CROATIA
Family Structure
As many Croatians are Catholic, monogamy is strictly

followed and marriage is encouraged. Most Croatians marry in their early twenties. Croatian-born
people may choose whom they wed; however,
they generally marry people of similar nationality, religion and social status. Divorce is
considered undesirable.
Extended families are valued and nurtured within Croatian culture.
Traditionally, married couples lived
with the husbands parents and were
expected to have more to do with his
relatives. Childcare was shared with
grandparents, and grandfathers traditionally spent quality time with the
grandchildren.
The elderly enjoy higher status than
younger members of the family.
Traditionally, Croatia was a patriarchal society, however women were encouraged to
join theworkforce during the Socialist rule and
now experience a fairly equal status with men. Rural
women often worked alongside their husbands, whilst
maintaining the household.
Women are still viewed as responsible for the housework and primary childcare, whilst pursuing higher education or maintaining a career. However, many
men share some of the home duties and actively raise their children.
The Relative Status of Women and Men
Croatia is portrayed as a patriarchal society, but women have fairly equal status with men.
Men enjoy more privileges and have a higher status, and many families prefer sons to
daughters. Women are represented in most professions, politics, and the arts and are not
likely to take a secondary role in public life. Women are as likely as men to pursue higher
education. Status differences are as marked between older and younger people, and between professional or working-class individuals, as they are between the genders. Gender
differences are more pronounced among farmers and the working classes than among
professionals.
17
CORPORATE CULTURE
Professionalism is extremely
important in Croatian business culture. Always maintain an appropriate relationship with your Croatian
colleagues, as respect will
decrease if the relationship
becomes too personal.
Business dress code
ally only one person makes major decisions

The dress code is formal in Croatia. Croatian and takes credit for success.
business people wear suits to the office and
to business meetings. Men wear suits with
Business Meetings
a jacket and tie, while women tend to have Meeting schedules are not very rigid in Croa wider range of options. Womens busiatia. There may be an agenda but it serves
ness attire is formal and must not be too
more as a guideline for the discussion than
revealing. In any case, dressing well is a sign anything else.
of respect, demonstrating your attitude to
Be prepared for lengthy meetings. People
business and attention to detail.
may go off on tangents, and time is never a
factor in bringing a meeting to a close.
There may be some small-talk at the beStructure and hierarchy
Croatians value authoritative superiors and ginning of meetings. This would become
more important as the relationship develrespect the knowledge, education, confiops. Never jump straight into business, as
dence and experience that come with stathis may come across as rude.
tus.
At least initially, be sure to temper your
Croatias collectivist society has significantly communication style if you are used to
being quite direct. Building the relationship
impacted business culture. Decisions are
is more important initially and should be
usually made without consultation, and
focused upon.
managers do not need to provide explanations as to why a decision was reached. Usu-
18
BUSINESS ETIQUETTE
Helpful hints
Greetings should include a firm handshake and direct eye contact, a weak hand
shake means that you are weak and no direct eye contact can be taken to mean that
you are hiding something.
Remain standing until you are invited to sit down as there might be a seat reserved
especially for you.
Always maintain direct eye contact while speaking.
Punctuality is expected and taken extremely seriously.
Expect some small talk and getting-to-know-you conversation before business is dis-
cussed
Business is conducted slowly. You will have to be patient and not appear ruffled by
the strict adherence to protocol
Companies tend to have a hierarchical structure, with decision-making power held
at the top of the company.
Do not try to schedule meetings on Friday afternoons, as many Croatians leave for
their country cottages after lunch.
Many businesses are closed in August.
Letters should be addressed to the company rather than to a specific person. This
prevents a letter from being held up if the person it is addressed to is away from the
office.
Punctuality
In Croatian culture, it is very important to pay particular attention to your time-keeping skills. It is considered good manners, whether attending a business meeting or social
lunch, to be punctual. A 15-minute grace period is normal in social settings, but might well
be frowned upon in a formal business environment where punctuality is appreciated.
Gift giving
Small presents like a book or a souvenir representing the country you are visiting from
would be acceptable. Expensive presents are not recommended, and most companies
have a ceiling on the value of the gift that can be accepted. Most business people would
not expect gifts to be presented at the first meeting.
Bribery and corruption
Bribery is used by both foreign and local businesses in order to acquire contracts or to cut
through bureaucratic red tape when they are starting a new business. The main problem in
Croatia seems to be the legal system, which has a backlog of over a million cases waiting to
be heard.
19
Veronica Gelfgren
Yulia Bazyukina
Marja-Liisa Helenius
Learnmera Oy
www.thelanguagemenu.com
Research
Research, layout
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Project number: UK/13/LLP-LdV/TOI-615

GDP per capita

Geographical position: Croatia extends from the foothills of

Capital: Zagreb with 779,145 inhabitants

Roman Catholic 87.8%, Orthodox 4.4%, other Christian 0.4%,

Country profile CROATIA

Most Croatians are Roman Catholic, and religion is a unifying

Croatians are very proud of their country and heritage and

Croatias currency, Kuna, was named after Kuna, a small

During the Thirty Years War in the 17th century, the

Country profile CROATIA

Croatian Slavoljub Penkala invented a mechanical pencil

Croatia has successfully established macroeconomic

Country profile CROATIA

Arguably the greatest genius of the 20th century, Nikola

Before 18th century, Croats used an alphabet which was

Country profile CROATIA

1 January: New Years Day

Moveable date 60 days

day that God assumed the

Country profile CROATIA

Country profile CROATIA

Country profile CROATIA

Country profile CROATIA

Country profile CROATIA

Generally Croatians communicate in a

Non Verbal Communication

Working practices in Croatia

Croatians are very fashion-conscious and

Working relationships in Croatia

Croatians are personable and will want to

Business practices in Croatia

Meetings are often lengthy and do not

Most professionals are addressed according to their qualification or their position

Country profile CROATIA

DOS AND DONTS

Do show respect towards everyone you

Dont make plans for your Croatian colleagues at the weekend

Country profile CROATIA

business, people use formal language for

Country profile CROATIA

CUSTOMS AND ETIQUETTE

Gift Giving Etiquette

Country profile CROATIA

With more than 90% of Croatian-born

social status. People from a city have higher

Croatia was one of the six republics of the

An unofficial class system is based on ones

Country profile CROATIA

As many Croatians are Catholic, monogamy is strictly

The Relative Status of Women and Men

Country profile CROATIA

Business dress code

ally only one person makes major decisions

Country profile CROATIA

Bribery and corruption

Country profile CROATIA

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