{"id":5853,"date":"2026-10-23T13:55:48","date_gmt":"2026-10-23T12:55:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kucaljudskihprava.hr\/?p=5853"},"modified":"2026-10-26T08:38:44","modified_gmt":"2026-10-26T07:38:44","slug":"the-right-to-participation-must-not-remain-a-mere-formality-changes-are-needed-in-croatias-decision-making-processes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.kucaljudskihprava.hr\/en\/the-right-to-participation-must-not-remain-a-mere-formality-changes-are-needed-in-croatias-decision-making-processes\/","title":{"rendered":"Public Participation in Decision-Making Must Not Remain a Mere Formality: Changes Are Needed to Ensure the Right to Participation in Croatia"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

The participation of citizens and civil society organisations in legislative and policymaking processes in Croatia is often reduced to fulfilling formal procedures, without genuine opportunities to influence decisions.<\/strong> How to ensure that the right to participation becomes an integral part of democratic decision-making rather than merely an administrative requirement was the central topic of an online panel discussion organised by Human Rights House Zagreb on 23 October 2026.<\/p>\n

The discussion was held to present Human Rights House Zagreb\u2019s thematic report, The Right to Participate in Decision-Making Processes in Croatia \u2013 A Human Rights and Civil Society Perspective<\/em>, in the context of the European Commission\u2019s 2026 Rule of Law Report.<\/p>\n

The panel brought together Tatjana Vla\u0161i\u0107, Deputy Ombudswoman of Croatia; Oriana Ivkovi\u0107 Novokmet, Executive Director of Gong; Josip Mili\u010devi\u0107, Secretary General of the Croatian Youth Network; Doc. dr. sc. <\/span> Matija Milo\u0161 from the Faculty of Law, University of Rijeka; and Tina \u0110akovi\u0107 from Human Rights House Zagreb, author of the report. The discussion was moderated by Ivan Novosel from Human Rights House Zagreb.<\/p>\n

Public Consultations Take Place Too Late and Often Lack Meaningful Dialogue<\/h2>\n

Presenting the report\u2019s findings, Tina \u0110akovi\u0107 highlighted longstanding challenges in exercising the right to participation in Croatia. Although formal mechanisms for public involvement exist, their implementation often fails to provide citizens and civil society organisations with meaningful opportunities to contribute to the development of public policies.<\/p>\n

According to data from the Information Commissioner, public consultations in 2025 lasted an average of 24 days, compared with the legally prescribed 30 days, while only one-third of public authorities published the composition of working groups responsible for drafting legislation. Another major concern is that consultations are typically launched only after legislative proposals have already been developed, significantly limiting opportunities to influence their content.<\/p>\n

Oriana Ivkovi\u0107 Novokmet from Gong pointed to the lack of transparency in legislative drafting, citing the preparation of Croatia\u2019s Act on Electoral Constituencies. In that case, Gong had to submit a freedom of information request to establish who was involved in drafting the legislation. She stressed that public debate cannot be replaced by online consultations alone and that opportunities for an open exchange of arguments between decision-makers, experts and citizens must be ensured before decisions have effectively been made.<\/p>\n

Similar concerns were raised by the Office of the Ombudswoman. Deputy Ombudswoman Tatjana Vla\u0161i\u0107 highlighted the insufficient transparency of working groups, shortened consultation periods and frequent use of urgent legislative procedures. She also drew attention to the failure of public authorities to respond to comments submitted during consultations and to adequately explain proposed legislative solutions.<\/p>\n

Vla\u0161i\u0107 further emphasised that online consultations are not equally accessible to all citizens. Digital barriers, insufficient information and the absence of alternative forms of public engagement particularly hinder the participation of certain groups, including older people and people living in poverty. Developing diverse and accessible forms of public participation, including in-person discussions and consultations at local and regional levels, is therefore essential.<\/p>\n

Youth Cannot Develop Trust in Institutions Without Opportunities to Participate<\/h2>\n

Josip Mili\u010devi\u0107 from the Croatian Youth Network addressed the participation of young people, noting that existing mechanisms are often poorly adapted to their needs, interests and ways of communicating.<\/p>\n

He argued that the issue cannot simply be reduced to young people\u2019s level of interest in politics. Rather, the key question is whether institutions create opportunities for young people to participate and enable them to experience how their views can influence decisions.<\/p>\n

Mili\u010devi\u0107 particularly emphasised the importance of participation from an early age, for example through student councils and involvement in decisions directly affecting everyday school life. If young people are not given opportunities to participate in decisions concerning their immediate environment, it is difficult to expect them to develop trust in more complex democratic processes later in life.<\/p>\n

Although mechanisms such as youth councils and student councils already exist in Croatia, their potential often remains underused. Mili\u010devi\u0107 therefore called for more consistent implementation of existing participation models and the exchange of good practices among schools, municipalities and other institutions.<\/p>\n

Democracy Does Not End with Elections<\/h2>\n

Matija Milo\u0161 from the Faculty of Law at the University of Rijeka addressed the broader understanding of the right to participation within Croatia\u2019s constitutional and political system.<\/p>\n

He stressed that democracy cannot be reduced to voting in periodic elections. Rather, it requires continuous opportunities for citizens to participate in shaping the conditions of their collective life. The right to participation is important not only for the democratic legitimacy of decisions but also for the rule of law, as it enables citizens to question existing power relations and take part in shaping them.<\/p>\n

Milo\u0161 emphasised that formal procedures alone cannot guarantee democratic participation if they do not provide genuine opportunities to discuss different political and social alternatives.<\/p>\n

In this context, he called for the development of new forms of civic organisation and participation, including citizens\u2019 assemblies and other deliberative models that would enable a broader range of citizens to actively contribute to policymaking.<\/p>\n

Stronger Legal Mechanisms and Changes in Institutional Practice Are Needed<\/h2>\n

The final part of the discussion focused on ways to improve the existing participation framework.<\/p>\n

In its thematic report, Human Rights House Zagreb recommends adopting a dedicated law on the right to participation that would more clearly regulate the models, procedures and obligations for involving citizens and civil society organisations in decision-making at national, regional and local levels.<\/p>\n

Tina \u0110akovi\u0107 explained that the existing legal framework primarily regulates online public consultations, while other forms of participation, such as public debates, dialogue and collaborative policymaking, remain insufficiently regulated and largely depend on the willingness of individual public authorities. The adoption of such a law would itself require broad consultations and the establishment of a partnership with civil society, both in the legislative drafting process and in assessing the law\u2019s impact on the right to participation.<\/p>\n

In addition to strengthening the legislative framework, Human Rights House Zagreb recommends establishing a permanent, independent cross-sectoral body for dialogue with civil society, developing sector-specific cooperation mechanisms and introducing participation coordinators within public authorities.<\/p>\n

The panellists agreed that legal reforms alone would not be sufficient without changes in institutional culture and a genuine willingness among decision-makers to engage in dialogue.<\/p>\n

The discussion highlighted the importance of public debates at an early stage of legislative drafting, better justification of policy decisions, stronger administrative capacities, and high-quality, systematic civic education. Citizens\u2019 assemblies and the wider application of successful local participation practices were also identified as potential ways forward.<\/p>\n

\u017deljka Leljak Gracin from the environmental organisation Biom also contributed to the discussion, highlighting challenges faced by civil society organisations working in environmental protection, where expert contributions frequently fail to translate into substantive changes to proposed policies and legislation.<\/p>\n

The central conclusion of the discussion was that the right to participation must be recognised and protected as a human right, rather than reduced to an administrative procedure.<\/strong> Its effective exercise requires transparent and inclusive processes, sufficient time for public debate, and mechanisms that enable citizens and civil society organisations to genuinely influence decisions affecting them.<\/p>\n

Human Rights House Zagreb will continue advocating for improvements to the legal and institutional framework governing the right to participation and promoting cooperation among civil society organisations, independent institutions and other stakeholders in developing more democratic and open decision-making processes.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Read the thematic report:<\/strong> The Right to Participate in Decision-Making Processes in Croatia – A Human Rights and Civil Society Perspective<\/a> (available in Croatian only).<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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