Author
The Border Police Directorate of the MoI is in charge of the management of the detention centre (i.e., Reception Centre for Foreigners in Ježevo) and the staff working within the centre are mainly police officers. The Transit Reception Center in Trilj falls under the Split-Dalmatia Police Administration and is part of the Border Sector, while the Transit Reception Center in Tovarnik falls under the Vukovar-Srijem Police Administration and is organized under the Border Service.
The new Ordinance on accommodation in the Reception Centre for Foreigners and the method of calculating the costs of forced removal entered into force at the beginning of January 2022 and was amended in 2023.[1]
In 2025, in accordance with the mandates of the National Preventive Mechanism, officials from the Office of the Ombudswoman visited the Reception Center for Foreigners in Ježevo, the Transit Reception Center for Foreigners in Tovarnik, the Transit Reception Center for Foreigners in Trilj, the Reception Center for Applicants for International Protection in Dugi Dol, and the Trilj Border Police Station. The visits to the reception centers were focused on examining the implementation of measures (warnings and recommendations) issued following the visits conducted in 2024, during which they had assessed the respect for the rights of persons deprived of their liberty in the area of healthcare, the treatment of vulnerable groups, access to information on rights and the possibility of lodging complaints, the exercise of the right to legal aid, the possibility of visits by international and civil society organizations, the organization of outdoor time and telephone calls, as well as accommodation conditions.
Generally, it was established that improvements had been made in certain segments, particularly regarding material conditions in some centers; however, according to the Ombudswoman a large portion of the recommendations relating to the access to and exercise of the rights of persons deprived of their liberty has still not been fully implemented.
During the visits, it was established that accommodation conditions are gradually and systematically improving, and that a portion of the previously issued recommendations, particularly those relating to material reception conditions, has been largely adopted. As an example of positive developments, the Ombudswoman highlighted the Transit Reception Center in Trilj, where the premises where persons with restricted freedom of movement reside are air-conditioned.
Despite these improvements, conditions for regular outdoor time for persons deprived of their liberty have still not been secured.
In the Transit Reception Center in Tovarnik, the project ‘Improvement of Accommodation and Working Conditions in Transit Reception Center in Tovarnik,’ funded by the AMIF, is currently being implemented. The project includes, among other things, measures aimed at improving safety and material living conditions for foreigners, including the installation of video surveillance systems and alarm bells in isolation rooms, the installation of air conditioning units in rooms accommodating persons deprived of their liberty, and the construction of a canopy over the exercise yard.
In the Reception Centre in Ježevo, accommodation conditions were also upgraded within the framework of the project ‘Improvement of Accommodation and Working Conditions in the Reception Center for Foreigners in Ježevo’, also funded by AMIF. The common room was renovated and equipped, and a storage area was organized for storing the personal belongings of foreigners that are confiscated upon their arrival.
Despite the improvements in material conditions, an insufficient implementation of recommendations relating to the exercise of rights was still observed across all three centers, particularly in the areas of legal aid, complaint mechanisms, healthcare, visits, telephone calls, outdoor time, information on the grounds and duration of detention, contact with family, and access to the international protection procedure.[2]
Overall conditions
Conditions in the detention centre are satisfactory. According to the Ombudsman’s report for 2024 and 2025, the accommodation conditions are being improved in all three centres.
With the support of the EU AMIF financial instrument, a new kitchen, laundry and a heating system were installed in the course of 2019 as well as a football field.[3] At the end of 2020, the Ministry of Interior’s Decision was taken on the allocation of additional financial resources for the implementation of the project “Assistance in maintaining an adequate level of accommodation in the Reception Centre for Foreigners” within the framework of AMIF.[4]
In October 2020, information was published according to which the Reception centre for Foreigners in Ježevo implements the project: “Improvement of accommodation conditions and working conditions in the Reception Centre for Foreigners in Ježevo”. The aim of the project is to ensure adequate accommodation conditions for third-country nationals in accordance with EU standards, improve the infrastructure and to raise the level of quality of services as well as working conditions for employees in the Centre.[5] In June 2021, the Decision on the allocation of financial resources for the implementation of the project “Improvement of accommodation and working conditions in the Reception Centre for Foreigners in Ježevo – II. phase” was adopted.[6] In May 2021, the Decision on the allocation of financial resources for the implementation of the project “Improvement of accommodation and working conditions in the Transit Reception Centre Trilj” was adopted.[7]
In May 2022, a Decision was made on the allocation of financial resources for the implementation of the project “Improvement of accommodation and working conditions in the Transit Reception Centre for foreigners Trilj” within the framework of the AMIF.[8]
The purpose of this project is to improve the accommodation and working conditions in the Transit Reception Centre for foreigners in Trilj through the construction of sanitary facilities, the separation of the living area from the reception area for foreigners, the installation of a video surveillance system and an alarm bell, and the procurement of additional necessary equipment and furniture.
In 2023, following two decisions taken in 2018 and 2020, two decisions were made on the allocation of financial resources for the implementation of the project aimed for maintaining an adequate level of accommodation in the Reception Centre for foreigners within the framework of the AMIF.[9]
In April 2024, the Directorate for European Affairs, International Relations and EU Funds of the Ministry of the Interior adopted a Decision on the direct award of financial resources for the implementation of the project “Support for Financing the Accommodation and Stay of Foreign Nationals in the Reception Centre for Foreigners” under the AMIF. The purpose of the project is to support the Ministry of the Interior in financing adequate living conditions for third-country nationals and other irregular migrants accommodated in the Reception Centre for Foreigners. The total value of the project amounts to €500,000 including VAT and is financed in full (100%) through the operational support of the AMIF Programme.[10]
The new Ordinance on accommodation in the Reception Centre for Foreigners and the method of calculating the costs of forced removal entered into force at the beginning of January 2022.[11] The Ordinance was amended at the end of 2022 and in 2023.
According to the Ordinance, each room must guarantee 4m2 per person and have access to daylight.[12] Every person has their own bed and there is sufficient space and separation between beds, as well as sufficient space to store personal possessions. Men and women are separated, except in the case of family. Family members, if they are not accommodated in the same room of the Centre, will be provided with daily meetings and socialising.[13] Detainees are provided with clothes,[14] although they are all dressed in identical tracksuits and cannot, in usual circumstances, use their clothes. Upon arrival in the Centre and during their stay, persons use the clothes, bed linen and hygiene supplies they are assigned. If necessary, their clothes are being washed and put away packed in a storage room, and only exceptionally foreigners may be allowed to use their own clothes, if the clothes are suitable for staying in the centre.[15]
There used to be a so-called library within the centre so detainees had access to books in various languages. Yet, according to the CPT report, the Centre had no library. However, in response to the report, the Croatian Government reported that bookcases have been set up in the living area. The books are available in English, German, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Turkish, Arabic, Urdu, Pashto and Farsi and the list is continuously updated.
The centre is cleaned on a regular basis and there are sufficient showers and toilets. There is a common room with a TV available and migrants can spend most of the day there, watching TV or playing cards. There is also a facility for buying cigarettes and drinks. There are two public phones available to migrants at the Centre that can be used at their own cost. However, detained migrants are not allowed to use their mobile phones, which are seized upon admission to the Centre.[16]
The Reception Centre in Ježevo is the only centre where persons deprived of their liberty are granted internet access via two laptops, with announcements of further improvements to accessibility through the procurement of additional digital equipment.[17]
If a person is in possession of any cash, it will be temporarily seized.[18] While staying in the Centre, people may however use the seized cash for necessary payments; the exchange of foreign currencies is done once a week. Any detainee cannot be in possession of an amount of money superior to EUR 53.09.[19]
The costs of accommodation of foreigners in the centre are charged as a flat rate at the amount of 33.18 euros per day and are calculated from the day accommodation until the day of discharge from the centre.[20] These costs are borne by the foreigners themselves and in the case of families, the costs are borne by the person who holds the funds.[21]
According to the Ordinance, persons are provided with three meals a day, of which at least one must be a warm meal. Children are provided with four meals a day. Specific diets can be prepared upon request for religious reasons, or when ordered by a doctor (e.g., for pregnant women).[22] In practice, quality of food is generally reported to be of a satisfactory level.
People are entitled to stay outdoors for at least two hours a day in a specially designated area within the Centre (there is a football playground serving as an outdoor exercise area).[23] This does not always happen, for example during bad weather conditions.
Migrants, have the right to practice their religion, but they must respect the religious and cultural worldviews of other people in the centre. In addition, upon their requests, foreigners will be allowed be contact with religious communities.[24]
In 2023, the ECtHR issued its judgement in the case of Daraibou v. Croatia, concerning detention conditions in the premises of the Border Police station of Bajakovo. The case concerned a fire that broke out in the basement room of Border Police station Bajakovo, where applicant and three other migrants were detained as irregular migrants pending their expulsion back to Serbia next day. According to the Government, the applicant and other detainees set fire to their mattresses, bedsheets and clothes, probably using a cigarette lighter. The fire was intense and spread uncontrollably. A number of police officers rushed into the basement area to rescue the detainees. One of the detainees died at the scene of incident, while two others later succumbed to their injuries. The applicant had suffered severe injuries. The applicant complained under the substantive and procedural limbs of Articles 2 and 3 ECHR that Croatia is responsible for not preventing a life-threatening situation, a fire in the police station, owing to which he suffered grave bodily injuries and that no effective investigation has been carried out in that respect. In its judgement,[25] the ECtHR ruled, unanimously, that two violations of Article 2 (right to life/investigation) of the ECHR occurred. The Court concluded that the authorities had failed to provide the applicant with sufficient and reasonable protection of his life and limb, in violation of Article 2. It also held that there had been a further violation of Article 2 as concerned the investigation into the tragic fire. Although the authorities’ initial reaction had been prompt, certain questions – concerning searches and monitoring of detainees, as well as the adequacy of the premises – had been left unanswered and no attempt had been made to establish whether there had been broader institutional shortcomings which earlier identification could have prevented similar errors in the future.[26] In April 2025, Centre for Peace Studies submitted recommendations to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in the case of Daraibou v. Croatia, proposing concrete measures for the execution of the judgment. This submission responded to the Government’s 17 October 2023 Action Plan, intending to update the Committee of Ministers that the proposed measures are insufficient for appropriately implementing the judgment. CPS stated that individual measures have not been effective or adequate, as detailed in the submission, while for general measures, CPS claimed that the structural and complex issues
leading to systematic human rights violations persist in Croatia and that general measures proposed by the Government do not result in the fundamental, systemic changes needed to fully implement the ECtHR’s judgment.[27]
Health care and special needs in detention
During the stay in the centre, access to health care services is provided to third country nationals. In case individual medical condition worsens outside working hours of the Centre’s doctor’s office, officials will take measures to provide assistance and all measures to eliminate the danger to the foreigner’s life or health. Special medical care is provided to pregnant women and women giving birth.[28]
Upon admission to the centre, the foreigner is obliged to undergo a general medical examination.[29] Immediately upon placement in the centre, the person is obliged to inform the officials about any existing health and mental condition. In case of infection or suspicion of the existence of an infectious disease, the foreigner is placed in a special room and provided with medical care.[30]
The health and medical care of persons who are accommodated at the Reception Centre in Ježevo is conducted by a general practitioner. An emergency medical service also comes to the Centre when called. If a person does not speak English, the telephone interpretation is conducted by interpreters with whom the Ministry of the Interior has concluded an agreement either during a basic medical examination, a screening, or during health checks but also when transporting persons to specialist examinations and during treatments in hospitals and specialised institutions. Psychosocial assistance and protection are conducted in cooperation with the Croatian Red Cross.
The Ministry of Health enters into contracts with the Health Centre of Zagreb County, the Health Centre of Split-Dalmatia County, and the Health Centre of Vukovar-Srijem County for the provision of daily healthcare services to persons detained in the Reception Centre for Foreigners and the Transit Reception Centres for Foreigners in Trilj and Tovarnik, which are carried out by a physician or a nurse and physician.
According to the knowledge of Croatian Law Centre, there is no special mechanism in the detention centre to identify persons with special reception needs. A special facility exists for vulnerable groups within the Centre. This facility is an integral part of the Reception Centre for Foreigners, which is an organisational unit of the Border Police Directorate. Beside rooms for accommodation, the facility has a living room and a playroom for children, and facilities for education, health care, isolation, psychologists and educators.
However, as stated above, concerns regarding -among others- the identification of vulnerabilities and access to healthcare were identfied in in the Ombudswoman’s report for 2024 and 2025. Furthermore, in her 2025 annual report, the Ombudswoman stated that structured procedures, tools, or standardized questionnaires for identifying vulnerable groups have not yet been established in any of the centers. Vulnerability assessments are conducted unsystematically, without a clearly defined methodology and without the continuous involvement of appropriately trained staff. At the Transit Reception Centre in Trilj, a social worker and a psychologist are still not employed, while at the Reception Centre in Ježevo, the duties of the psychologist and the social worker are performed by individuals lacking the appropriate professional qualifications. The Reception Centre in Tovarnik is the only one that employs a social worker and a psychologist.[31]
In 2022, the Croatian Red Cross (CRC) made a leaflet on the topic of mental health and psychosocial support for detained persons. The leaflet explains what reactions people in detention can have and what they can do to make it easier for themselves.[32]
In 2025, the CRC continued to provide psychosocial support in all three centres.[33]
[1] Official Gazette 145/2021, 155/2022, 137/2023
[2] Ombudswoman: Annual Report for 2025, available at: https://www.ombudsman.hr/hr/download/izvjesce-pucke-pravobraniteljice-za-2025-godinu/?wpdmdl=23118&refresh=69cd1d3691f351775050038.
[3] Council of Europe, Report to the Croatian Government on the visit to Croatia carried out by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT), 10 to 14 August 2020, available at: https://rm.coe.int/1680a4c199.
[4] Ministry of Interior, Decision on the allocation of additional financial resources for the implementation of the project “Assistance in maintaining an adequate level of accommodation in the Reception Centre for Foreigners”, available at: https://bit.ly/3KAeu4W.
[5] Ministry of Interior: Project “Improvement of accommodation conditions and working conditions in the Reception Centre for Foreigners in Ježevo“, 23 October 2020, available in Croatian at: https://bit.ly/3emgiiW.
[6] Ministry of Interior, Decision the allocation of financial resources for the implementation of the project “Improvement of living and working conditions in the Reception Centre for Foreigners in Ježevo – II. phase”, available at: https://bit.ly/3KzJKRi.
[7] Ministry of Interior, Decision on the allocation of financial resources for the implementation of the project “Improvement of accommodation and working conditions in the Transit Reception Centre Trilj”, available in Croatian at: https://bit.ly/3MI0197; Decision on allocation of additional financial resources, available in Croatian at: https://bit.ly/43i8eI7.
[8] Ministry of Interior: Project “Improvement of accommodation and working conditions in the Transit Reception Centre for foreigners Trilj”; available at: https://bit.ly/46cW8SH.
[9] Ministry of Interior, Decisions on the allocation of financial resources for the implementation of the project aimed for maintaining an adequate level of accommodation in the Reception Centre for foreigners, available at: https://bit.ly/4cqJt0u.
[10] Ministry of the Interior: Support for Financing the Accommodation and Stay of Foreign Nationals in the Reception Centre for Foreigners,2 May 2025, available at: https://mup.gov.hr/potpora-u-financiranju-troskova-smjestaja-i-boravka-stranaca-u-prihvatnom-centru-za-strance/294053.
[11] Official Gazette 145/2021, 155/2022
[12] Article 9 Detention Centre Ordinance.
[13] Ibid.
[14] Article 11 Detention Centre Ordinance.
[15] Article 11 Detention Centre Ordinance.
[16] Article 8 (3) Detention Centre Ordinance.
[17] Ombudswoman: Annual Report for 2025, available at: https://www.ombudsman.hr/hr/download/izvjesce-pucke-pravobraniteljice-za-2025-godinu/?wpdmdl=23118&refresh=69cd1d3691f351775050038.
[18] Article 21 (1) Detention Centre Ordinance
[19] Article 21 Detention Centre Ordinance.
[20] Article 27 (5 )- (6) Detention Centre Ordinance.
[21] Article 28 (2) Detention Centre Ordinance.
[22] Article 16 (2) – (5) Detention Centre Ordinance.
[23] Article 15 (1) Detention Centre Ordinance.
[24] Article 17 Detention Centre Ordinance.
[25] ECtHR, Daraibou v. Croatia, Judgment, available at: http://bit.ly/3THBvbb.
[26] ECtHR, Press Releases: Judgment Daraibou v. Croatia – fatal fire in police-station basement room used to detain illegal migrants; available at: https://bit.ly/3lFUYfS.
[27] Centre For Paeace Studies: RULE 9.2. COMMUNICATION by the Centre for Peace Studies, Case of Daraibou v. Croatia No. 84523/17, available at: https://www.cms.hr/wp-content/uploads/Rule-9.2_Daraibou-v.-Croatia_CPS.pdf.
[28] Article 13 Detention Centre Ordinance.
[29] Article 12 (2) Detention Centre Ordinance.
[30] Article 7 Detention Centre Ordinance.
[31] Ombudswoman: Annual Report for 2025, available at: https://www.ombudsman.hr/hr/download/izvjesce-pucke-pravobraniteljice-za-2025-godinu/?wpdmdl=23118&refresh=69cd1d3691f351775050038.
[32 Information provided by the Croatian Red Cross, 18 January 2023.
[33] Information provided by Croatian Red Cross, 13 February 2026.