Milanović demands urgent probe and cleanup after hazardous EU waste dumped near Gospić

Croatian President Zoran Milanović demanded an urgent investigation and immediate remediation of land around the town of Gospić after an expert environmental report, released by the Office for the Suppression of Corruption and Organized Crime (USKOK), found contamination at the site.

USKOK published the results of forensic environmental testing that, according to Milanović, confirm the area has been polluted. The president said the findings point to the illegal disposal of hazardous materials and called for swift action to protect public health.

"The illegal — and therefore criminal — dumping of hazardous waste in Lika, in the area around Gospić, must be remediated immediately," Milanović wrote on Facebook.

He urged the Croatian government to stop hiding behind administrative procedures and public procurement rules, arguing those delays are unacceptable while people’s health is at risk.

In a longer post the president said too much time has passed since the contamination was discovered: "Too much time has passed since it was discovered that the area around Lika is being poisoned with hazardous waste from European Union countries and shamelessly used for private interests and profit, and it appears that all this has happened with the assistance of the now‑dismissed chief state inspector."

Milanović also pointed out that nobody has yet been held responsible for what he called an environmental crime and demanded clear answers and prompt cleanup: "Neither the company that deposited hazardous waste from Europe in Lika, nor the state institutions that should have stopped it but did not, have been held accountable. Lika — and Croatia — deserve answers: why has no one been punished so far for the illegal dumping of hazardous waste, and why have the competent state institutions silently allowed it? And, most importantly, when will the remediation of the hazardous‑waste dump begin? All previous excuses from the Government and the responsible ministries can no longer be tolerated. I call on them to act immediately and to protect the health of the people in Lika."

Photo: МИА.jpg')