TRANSPARENCY OF LOBBYING IN CROATIA

Lobbying is not regulated in Croatia. There is no obligation for lobbyists to be registered and no transparency standards are set in this field. Although over time there has been some reflection at government level on the possible regulation of lobbying, no legislative initiative has materialised to date. Some ad-hoc initiatives are being implemented, such as the Croatian Society of Lobbyists consisting of 80 members, which has taken steps to promote ethics and transparency in lobbying activities, including the setting-up of a voluntary registration system.

According to the European Commission ‘EU-Anti-Corruption Report’ on Croatia of 3.02.2014 COM 2014

Croatia has made considerable efforts to improve the anti-corruption framework, although implementation has still to demonstrate sustainable results. In the field of law enforcement, the Bureau for Combating Corruption and Organised Crime (USKOK) is carrying out important high-level corruption investigations. There appears to be more emphasis on repression of corruption than on prevention, and the overall sanctions applied, with the exception of some notable high-level cases, appear to be insufficient deterrents. Favouritism and politicising of the public administration, as well as integrity standards in politics, remain causes for concern. More steps need to be taken to strengthen anti-corruption safeguards concerning state-owned companies. Further key issues include: the verification mechanisms for conflicts of interest and asset disclosure of public officials; risk control in public procurement; the protection of whistleblowers; and the need to address effectively corruption risks in the healthcare sector.

The following points require further attention:

• Carrying out substantial checks of the asset declarations and conflict of interests of public officials at central and local levels, in line with the Constitutional Court decision of 2012; ensuring prioritisation of checks, improved methods and techniques of verification, including use of electronic tools, access to relevant information, cooperation with other authorities and accessibility of public interest information in a user-friendly format. Ensuring that the Conflict of Interest Commission has sufficient powers to impose deterrent sanctions. Ensuring a fully professional and merit-based recruitment, promotion and dismissal system for public officials at mid-management and lower levels. Developing comprehensive codes of conduct for elected officials at central and local level and ensuring corresponding accountability tools and dissuasive sanctions for potential violations of such codes.
• Establishing an effective mechanism for prevention of corruption in state-owned and state-controlled companies, including aspects relating to donations and sponsorships. Ensuring implementation of effective anti-corruption action plans within state-owned and state-controlled companies to promote comprehensive prevention policies, effective reporting mechanisms and high accountability standards. Ensuring access to public interest information relating to these companies presented in a user-friendly format.
• Implementing a comprehensive strategic approach to preventing and reducing corruption risks in public procurement at both central and local levels, including effective monitoring of the implementation of transparency and access to public information rules, systematic risk assessments, prioritisation of controls in vulnerable sectors and procedures, enhanced checks on compliance with public procurement rules and on the implementation of public contracts. Ensuring effective control mechanisms in the healthcare sector, including public procurement aspects.
• Implementing effective protection mechanisms and raising awareness in both the public and private sectors for whistleblowers who report corruption and malpractice.