Croatia declared free of landmines after 31 years

After more than three decades of painstaking work, Croatia has officially declared its entire territory free of landmines. Interior Minister Davor Božinović announced the historic milestone in late February 2026, marking the end of a challenging chapter stemming from the 1990s Homeland War. This achievement fulfills the nation’s commitments under the international Ottawa Convention and brings unparalleled peace of mind to its citizens.

A Monumental Cleanup Effort

The scale of the demining operation was massive, reflecting the severe contamination left behind after the conflict ended. Demining teams successfully located and safely removed approximately 107,000 landmines and over 407,000 pieces of unexploded ordnance from across the country. The total cost of the decades-long national clearance effort is estimated at around 1.2 billion euros.

Clearing these dangerous remnants of war required navigating some of the country’s most difficult and unforgiving terrain. Technicians and specially trained dogs had to scour steep hillsides, dense forests, and remote rural areas that were entirely inaccessible to heavy machinery. The tireless dedication of these clearance teams ensured that every suspected area was meticulously surveyed and certified safe for public use.

Reclaiming Land Through European Collaboration

The removal of these hidden hazards unlocks immense potential for the country’s economic and environmental future, safely returning vast tracts of land to local farmers to revitalize the agricultural sector. Furthermore, the clearance efforts have reclaimed major portions of protected ecological networks, allowing wildlife to thrive without human-made threats. You can read more about how land restoration impacts the European ecological network through the European Environment Agency.

Croatia did not achieve this monumental task alone, relying heavily on international cooperation and financial support. The European Union provided crucial funding through various cohesion programs, including the CROSS and CROSS II projects, which directed over one hundred million euros toward the final clearance phases. These strategic investments allowed the country to deploy state-of-the-art metal detectors and specialized machinery, while additional details regarding European cohesion policies can be found on the European Commission website.

A Global Blueprint for a Safer Future

Croatia’s ultimate success serves as an inspiring blueprint for other nations currently grappling with the deadly legacy of landmines. The highly structured, data-driven approach utilized by the Croatian Mine Action Centre demonstrates that even heavily contaminated regions can be entirely restored. The country’s comprehensive mapping systems offer incredibly valuable lessons for ongoing clearance operations across the globe, and further resources are available through the International Campaign to Ban Landmines.

Today, locals and international tourists alike can fully explore the breathtaking landscapes of the Balkans without the lingering fear of hidden explosives. The government views this completion not just as a technical success, but as a profound moral victory and a tribute to the resilience of its people. As global efforts to eradicate landmines continue, Croatia stands as a powerful testament to peacebuilding, and you can learn more about the treaty guiding these efforts at the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention portal.