Osijek-Baranja County (pronounced [ôsijeːk bǎraɲa], Croatian: Osječko-baranjska županija, Hungarian: Eszék-Baranya megye) is a county in Croatia, located in northeastern Slavonia and Baranja which is defined part of the Pannonian Plain. Its center is Osijek. Other towns include Đakovo, Našice, Valpovo, Belišće, and Beli Manastir.
Osijek-Baranja County was established in 1992, with border changes in 1997.
The Stifolder or Stiffoller Shvove are a Roman Catholic subgroup of the so-called Danube Swabians. Their ancestors arrived ca. 1717 - 1804 from the Hochstift Fulda and surroundings (Roman Catholic Diocese of Fulda), and settled in the Baranja area, such as in Jagodnjak, etc.[4] They retained their own German dialect and culture, until the end of WW2. After WW2, the majority of Danube Swabians were expelled to Allied-occupied Germany and Allied-occupied Austria as a consequence of the Potsdam Agreement.[5]Only a few people can speak the old Stiffolerisch Schvovish dialect. A salami is named after the people.[6]
Current Župan (prefect): Ivan Anušić (HDZ)
The county assembly is composed of 55 representatives, organized as follows:
Directly elected minority councils and representatives are tasked with consulting tasks for the local or regional authorities in which they are advocating for minority rights and interests, integration into public life and participation in the management of local affairs.[7] At the 2023 Croatian national minorities councils and representatives elections Albanians, Germans, Hungarians, Roma, Serbs and Slovaks of Croatia each fulfilled legal requirements to elect 25 members minority councils of the Osijek-Baranja County while Bosniaks, Macedonians, Montenegrins and Slovenes of Croatia electing individual representatives.[8] Numerous municipalities, towns or cities in the county elected their own local minority councils as well.[8]
Several minorities in Osijek-Baranja County have their Minority Councils. Here is the list of minorities' Councils with links to their respective Statutes and name of Osijek-Baranja County in their language.
Bosniaks, Montenegrins, Macedonians, Rusyns and Slovenes have one representative each.
The Serbian Joint Council of Municipalities, consisting of Erdut, Jagodnjak and Šodolovci municipalities is active within the county.
The Kopački Rit nature park is located within this county. Other notable attractions in the country include Đakovo Cathedral, Tvrđa, Bizovac spa, Đakovački vezovi, Osijek Zoo and Aquarium, Urban Fest Osijek, Red fićo in Osijek, Battle of Batina monument, Eastern Continental wine region and other.
