In the Multipurpose Hall of the Providur’s Palace, a panel discussion titled “Integrated Development of City Islands – the Arhipelogos Project” was organised by the City of Zadar and the University of Zadar. Participants included the Mayor of Zadar, Šime Erlić; the Rector of the University of Zadar, Prof. Josip Faričić, PhD; the President of the Association for the Development of Croatian Islands – the Island Parliament, Denis Barić; and the owner of the Maljić Family Farm from the island of Premuda, Jole Maljić. The discussion focused on the need to develop the islands while considering the specific characteristics, needs, and developmental potential of each island.
“Financing individual public projects does not provide a sufficiently holistic perspective on investments in a given area. In cooperation with the scientific community, we have sought to achieve a synergistic effect through an integrated approach and thus improve the quality of life — in this case, on the islands. The needs of islanders are great, and sometimes it seems that our efforts are not sufficient, even though it is often impossible to do more at that moment. We now have more instruments to support the islands than ever before, and we plan to strengthen our Department for Islands,” said Mayor Erlić.
As an islander himself, from the island of Rava, the Rector of the University of Zadar, Prof. Faričić, pointed out numerous problems faced by islanders — transport connectivity that depends not only on the frequency of routes and the speed of vessels but also on weather conditions; unreliable water supply; poorly resolved wastewater management with ecological and other consequences; outdated land registries; depopulation; population ageing; lack of mooring facilities; and insufficient healthcare and social care, among others. He emphasised the importance of the active engagement of the scientific community, which should not treat the islands merely as objects of research and the islanders as research subjects, but rather establish a year-round coexistence and transform the islands into spaces of co-action.
In this context, the University of Zadar has designed the Arhipelogos programme (from archipelago + logos), which will soon, in cooperation with the City of Zadar, the Municipality of Preko, and Zadar County, see its first concrete implementations.
Speaking about the complex administrative-territorial system and its impact on the development of islands, Prof. Faričić noted that the Zadar islands were for centuries part of the Zadar commune (with the exception of Vir, which belonged to the Nin commune, and the central and southern parts of the island of Pag, which belonged to the Pag commune). The brief French administration in 1806 established the first island municipalities, and the Austrian administration later introduced tax, i.e. cadastral municipalities (aligned with the structure of island parishes of the Archdiocese of Zadar). With the reduction of municipalities in 1962, the Zadar islands became part of the Zadar, Biograd, and Pag municipalities, leading to the current administrative organisation in which numerous island municipalities of Zadar County share the reality of 555 local government units in Croatia. “It is time for a thorough analysis and discussion on whether the time has come to merge certain island municipalities, following their already initiated functional integration,” he said.
“The separation of islands from the mainland is both a blessing and a curse. It is a blessing because the islands are more resistant to the pressures of intensive construction that has affected the mainland coast, thus preserving a more harmonious relationship between humans and nature. On the other hand, that distance can be a curse, as during stormy weather maritime transport is interrupted and power outages occur, with multiple harmful consequences for island life,” Prof. Faričić noted.
He stressed the need to establish mobile medical and social care teams (including psychologists, social workers, and others) to reach elderly island residents, while also ensuring broadband internet access — both for the elderly and for younger people (even though their numbers are decreasing or they visit only on weekends or during holidays) — so that islanders are not forced to rely on expensive alternative solutions such as Starlink due to poor network coverage by telecom operators. “In previous considerations of island development, the importance of weekend residents has been neglected — yet they are closely connected to the islands and without them the situation would be drastically worse,” the rector added.
He also noted that, alongside many significant improvements in island life through infrastructure investments and the introduction of new passenger ships, there is a need to provide new ferries to connect the islands within the administrative boundaries of the City of Zadar and to continue maintaining transport infrastructure, including fire roads that serve multiple functions, such as providing access to olive groves and other cultivable land. Finally, he called for more frequent and direct communication between island communities, through local councils, and city authorities.
The President of the Island Parliament, Denis Barić, praised the innovations introduced by the new Islands Act but expressed concern that they may not be implemented due to the coexistence of various conflicting regulations. Meanwhile, Jole Maljić pointed out that the main advantage of island life lies in its quality, especially for those who spend time there with their children.
After the panel, moderated by Assoc. Prof. Tomislav Klarin, PhD, from the Department of Economy, Irena Kozulić, Head of the Centre for Projects, Science and Technology Transfer, presented the Arhipelogos Project as an example of integrated investment aimed at the sustainable development of island communities, the promotion of an entrepreneurial environment, and the strengthening of island economies through the revitalisation of public, cultural and social infrastructure on the Zadar islands. The project is being jointly developed by the University of Zadar and the City of Zadar.