As of: February 28, 2024, 4:41 p.m
By: Johannes Welte
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Press
Split
A community in Istria is sounding the alarm: more and more illegal holiday homes owned by foreigners are causing Croatian beaches to disappear under concrete.
Umag - Croatia is one of the most popular holiday destinations for Germans and Austrians: the rocky coast with its dotted pebble beaches on the blue Adriatic is the country's trademark.
But the beaches are increasingly disappearing under ugly concrete slabs of holiday homes that are built far too close to the sea.
There are said to be over a million black buildings in Croatia.
After the collapse of Yugoslavia and the associated end of the communist regime, 30,000 new holiday homes are said to have been built along the coasts in Istria alone.
The problem: There were no development plans so far and so you could build whatever you wanted - with one exception: a 70 meter wide strip along the sea line has always been taboo.
In Italy too, free access to the sea is becoming increasingly rare, as one example shows particularly clearly.
This section of beach near Umag in Istria was completely concreted over © youtube/Grad Umag
Adriatic residents are fighting against foreigners: There are said to be over half a million black buildings in Croatia
According to Croatian law, the country's coasts and beaches belong to the public and must be freely accessible to every citizen.
But that's pure theory: In practice, holiday homes are always built far too close to the sea, walls and fences restrict access to the sea, and ugly concrete platforms on which residents bask in the sun deface the natural coast.
The section of beach probably most affected is near Umag in western Istria.
The city administration recently released a video about the illegal construction and issued a press release warning against the usurpation, destruction and privatization of the coastal strip.
Mayor complains: “Istria is a paradise for illegal developers”
“To the shame of all of us who live there, Istria has become a European paradise for illegal developers and usurpers.
Illegal construction work, the appropriation of forests, agricultural land and sea property are a 'cancer' that is eating away at our district every day to such an extent that it now threatens the normal quality of life of citizens," complains the mayor of Umag, Vili Bassanese, on
index .Mr
.
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Agricultural and forestry land that is actually only worth two to three euros per square meter would be converted into holiday properties that are sold for 30 to 50 euros per square meter.
Bassanese: “The consequence of this is that illegal settlements with thousands of inhabitants continue to emerge in Istria.
The silent occupation of Istria is taking place before our eyes.” What particularly annoys the mayor is that the illegal buildings are largely the work of foreigners, who in turn find willing local sellers.
Eight kilometers of public beach are no longer accessible
Bassanese further reports: “In the area of the city of Umag we have about eight kilometers of coastline that is absolutely inaccessible to citizens or tourists, it is defiled, occupied, and the only way to solve the problem is to approach those contact those who can.” There are the building inspectorate, the Ministry of the Environment and the Coast Guard.
But they apparently don't do enough.
As part of its accession to the EU in 2013, the state had some illegal second homes demolished within 24 hours of sending the notice, but at the same time, according to
taz
, it legalized thousands of illegal buildings, including the luxury beach hotel of the developer Stipe Latković on Vruja Bay in central Dalmatia.
According to the newspaper, former Social Democratic President Stipe Mesić personally put in a good word for his building permit.
Latković is considered a campaign donor for the Social Democrats.
After all, entrepreneur Latković's property was demolished last year after a public outcry.
A construction inspector is responsible for the whole of Istria
However, there is still no end to the wild growth in sight.
The profits that construction companies and real estate sharks make from the coveted properties are too great and corruption in the authorities is too widespread, reports
index.hr
.
And as far as Istria is concerned: According to
BR
, a single construction inspector is responsible for the entire peninsula.
A retired couple from Austria recently experienced a terrible miracle when their holiday home near Zadar was suddenly cut off from the public beach by black buildings.
You also have to be careful when renting apartments in Croatia.
An earthquake recently struck the Croatian coast