Croatia’s Plan to Build a Radioactive Waste Facility Near the Border Draws Criticism from Bosnia

The Croatian Parliament has adopted legislation enabling the construction of a radioactive waste management facility in Čerkezovac, near the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina, triggering strong criticism from Bosnian authorities, who firmly oppose the selected location and are preparing legal and institutional measures to block the project.

Croatia has been a co-owner of the Krško Nuclear Power Plant in neighbouring Slovenia for more than 40 years. Under a bilateral agreement, Croatia is required to start taking over half of the low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste from the plant by 2028. The newly adopted law allows the launch of an environmental impact assessment (EIA) process and, if deemed environmentally acceptable, the construction of the facility.

Bosnian authorities and civil society representatives warn that no institution in Bosnia and Herzegovina has given consent to locating such a facility directly at the border, potentially affecting around 300,000 residents and posing long-term risks to the Una River basin, part of the wider Danube catchment area. Additional concerns relate to the transport of radioactive waste through densely populated and seismically active areas, as well as the methodology and transparency of site studies.

Croatian officials insist that the project complies with international safety standards and argue that the choice of location is a sovereign decision. According to the Croatian government, the waste will be processed, placed in special containers and stored safely for decades.

Comment by the Institute of Danube Research

The Institute of Danube Research views Croatia’s decision through the lens of transboundary environmental security and international obligations within the Danube region.

The Una River basin is part of the broader Danube ecosystem, and decisions regarding radioactive waste management near state borders must fully comply with the principles of the Aarhus Convention and good-neighbourly relations.

Even where formal compliance with international standards is claimed, the absence of consent from the neighbouring state and the high level of public opposition create long-term environmental, social, economic and security risks.

IDR stresses that projects of this sensitivity require:

-         a comprehensive transboundary environmental impact assessment;

-         full transparency and public access to information;

-         serious consideration of alternative solutions, including waste management at the site of origin or locations agreed by all affected parties.

The Croatia–Bosnia case is highly relevant for the entire Danube region, including Ukraine, as an example of how inadequate dialogue may escalate into long-term transboundary environmental disputes.