ZGRADONAČELNIK Zdravko Čizmar

Guest Zdravko ČizmarHosted by Ana Leko VučkovićMay 3, 2026

Zdravko Čizmar

About this episode

What you'll hear in this conversation

Imagine navigating life on the fourth floor of a building without an elevator – especially with young children, or as an elderly person. This isn't just an inconvenience; for nearly 10,000 residential buildings across Croatia, it’s a daily barrier that shapes who can live where, and how independently. Zdravko Čizmar, Secretary of the Croatian Elevator Association (HUDIZ), knows this reality intimately, having lived it himself. He joins us to explain how a new law and a national program are finally addressing this challenge, not just as a building upgrade, but as a critical social and economic investment. This conversation explores how a seemingly niche problem can reveal broader lessons about urban planning, community well-being, and the surprising complexities of getting a shared project off the ground.

Insights from the conversation

What to take from this episode

Zdravko Čizmar's personal experience living on the fourth floor of a building without an elevator, raising small children and seeing elderly neighbors struggle, shows the hidden human cost. The true challenge isn't just inconvenience; it's social isolation and a reduced quality of life for vulnerable groups, a lesson often missed by policymakers focused solely on infrastructure.

HUDIZ's detailed analysis revealed over 10,000 buildings in Croatia still need elevators. The scale of a seemingly niche problem often hides a massive market opportunity; when one in every fifteen buildings needs a specific upgrade, it's not a local issue but a national infrastructure challenge that creates new industries.

The initial push for 85% EU non-reimbursable funds, involving MEPs and Parliament, ultimately led to a national co-financing model. Even with a clear societal need and EU alignment, direct large-scale EU funding isn't always the path; securing funds can mean shifting from external grants to internal policy and national implementation.

The new law's funding structure divides the cost into one-third from the state budget, one-third from local government (voluntarily), and one-third from tenants. Co-financing models that distribute the burden across state, local, and individual levels are key to making large-scale infrastructure upgrades feasible, even with voluntary local participation.

To qualify for state co-financing, buildings must meet simple prerequisites: a decision by over 50% of co-owners, a minimum of three floors (ground plus three), and a completed main project. Setting clear, simple entry criteria streamlines adoption and reduces friction for homeowners when the goal is rapid uptake of a public good.

Co-owners have the flexibility to internally agree on payment models for their one-third share, even allowing some residents, like ground-floor tenants, to opt out of contributing to installation and maintenance. Not everyone benefits equally from an upgrade, and rigid payment structures can kill a project; flexible internal agreements increase consensus and project viability.

The average cost of an elevator is €60,000. Presenting a clear, average cost benchmark early in the conversation helps frame the financial challenge and makes the co-financing model more tangible. Don't hide the sticker price; use it to show the value of the subsidy.

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