Ahead of the 29th Lađa Marathon, the Prime Minister held a working meeting with local leaders and announced key projects for the Neretva Valley, from protection against seawater intrusion to better road connectivity.
Saltwater intrusion threatens to destroy the agricultural production that sustains much of the Neretva Valley, and the construction of a downstream dam-the central topic of the working meeting in Metković-is the only way to halt it. Prime Minister Andrej Plenković visited Metković on Saturday, August 9, 2026, where, ahead of the traditional Lađa Marathon, he met with Dubrovnik-Neretva County Prefect Blažo Pezo and mayors and municipal heads from the Neretva area. The key projects discussed-protection against salinization, wastewater management, and better highway connectivity-will determine whether people remain in the region.
Plenković was unequivocal: this undertaking goes far beyond mere infrastructure. "For the Neretva Valley, this is one of the key issues. Saltwater intrusion threatens agricultural production, which is why this project is not just an infrastructural endeavor but a direct question of survival for production in an area that largely depends on farming," the Prime Minister stated. Alongside the dam, two major projects were also on the table: continued investment through Hrvatske ceste (Croatian Roads), with a special focus on an access road that will finally better connect the valley to the highway, and a large wastewater management project covering Metković, Ploče, and Opuzen.
Immediately before the meeting with local authorities, Plenković met with representatives of the Neretva Lađa Association and confirmed continued strong state support for the event, which brings together 31 teams and around 400 rowers from across Croatia. This is the 29th edition of the Lađa Marathon, a unique event that over nearly three decades has grown into one of the largest amateur sporting events in this part of Europe. "This unique event successfully combines tradition, unity, and competitive spirit, preserving the heritage and identity of the Neretva Valley," Plenković wrote on his Twitter profile the day before.
This year's marathon was exceptionally tense, with teams from the Crni Put Lađa Association and the Gusari Komin Lađa Association sharing victory. The Government of the Republic of Croatia congratulated the winners with a message that "the Lađa Marathon year after year confirms the strength of tradition, unity, and Croatian heritage."
During his stay in Metković, the Prime Minister also touched on several current issues. Commenting on illegal waste dumping in the Gospić area and Lika-Senj County, he was clear: all those responsible must be prosecuted, and a remediation plan should be prepared with support from the Environmental Protection Fund. Regarding Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to Serbia, he said that this event does not change Croatia's policy: Croatia will continue to provide political, diplomatic, military, and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. He also addressed the recent railway accident between Sveti Ivan Žabno and Gradec, emphasizing that the cause must be determined by an investigation.
For residents of the Neretva region, however, the most important messages were those about projects that directly determine the future of agriculture, the economy, and the retention of people in the area-and the dam is the first line of defense.
