I bought a camera during my holiday in Croatia despite it wasn’t much in use after one year it broke down. Trader told me that guarantee period has lapsed. How long is the guarantee period in the EU?

The mandatory legal guarantee for which the trader is responsible (Consumer Sales and Guarantees Directive). This legal guarantee usually has a duration of 2 years but can be reduced to one year for used products. If you bought a new camera it’s been covered by the legal guarantee.