Croatia

Croatia did not meet its land release targets in 2024, but believes it is still on track to meet its Article 5 clearance deadline of 1 March 2026. While this goal is achievable, it is ambitious, particularly given continued clearance of extensive areas where no anti-personnel (AP) mines are found. Croatia does not plan to expand its survey or clearance capacity in 2025 but will need to significantly increase clearance output to meet remaining targets. This includes the release of a substantial area of AP mined area in areas under military control, making well-targeted survey and clearance critically important.

• Croatia should submit an Article 5 deadline extension request if there is any doubt that it will meet its deadline under the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC).

• The Croatian Mine Action Centre (CROMAC) should survey remaining suspected hazardous areas (SHAs) and review the basis on which confirmed hazardous areas (CHAs) are established. In particular, it should use survey to confirm evidence of mines before embarking on full clearance.

• CROMAC should fulfil the pledge in Croatia’s 2018 extension request to explore the potential for mine detection dogs (MDDs) to enhance the efficiency of technical survey (TS). The 2015 demining law, which only allows MDDs to be used in clearance and not for survey, should be amended.

Click here to download the "Clearing the Mines 2025" report for Croatia.