The Croatian Parliament has last week begun discussions on the government’s legislative proposal that should modernise and improve the relations and position of Croats outside Croatia.

According to the national news agency HINA last week’s parliamentary debate showed a high degree of agreement. Representatives supported a stronger connection between Croatia and its emigrants, but also the need for bolder political moves. Emigration was recognised as a key part of Croatia’s future.

“Caring for Croats outside the homeland is not only a constitutional, but also a moral obligation. It is a question of identity, history and the survival of the people,” said Nino Raspudić (Independent Representatives Club). In the discussion on amendments to the Law on Relations of the Republic of Croatia with Croats Outside Croatia, he also highlighted the security aspect. He particularly referred to the importance of Croats in BiH as a constituent people.

Irena Dragic (Social Democratic Party Parliamentary Club) emphasised the need for incentives for young people who want to return. She proposed scholarships for shortage professions, seasonal work in state institutions, and assistance with resolving housing issues. “The return of emigrants is a condition for the survival of Croatia,” said Dragic.

Viktorija Knezevic (Centre and National Platform North Party) and Zvonimir Troskok (Most) highlighted the importance of electronic voting for Croats living abroad. “The right to vote is fundamental. If we want a true connection with the diaspora, we have to start from that,” said Knezevic. She reminded that the turnout outside Croatia is less than five percent.

Tomislav Josic (Homeland Movement) called for a review of political representation. He warned of the disparity between the number of representatives from the diaspora and representatives of minorities within Croatia.

In the final text of the amendments to the Act on Relations between Croatia and Croats Outside Croatia, based on which the Ministry of Demography and Immigration will take over part of the tasks from the scope of the Central State Office for Croats Outside Croatia that relate to creating conditions for the return of Croatian emigrants (diaspora) and their inclusion in economic and social life in Croatia.

It is estimated that around 3.8 million Croatian emigrants and their descendants (up to and icluding the third generation) live outside Croatia and around the world, most of them in the United States of America (1.2 million), Germany (half a million), Argentina (300,000) and Australia and Canada, at least 350,000 each.

In order to make the authentic voice of young Croats heard, the legal amendments plan to establish a Youth Council, which would have 65 members. The same number of members, ten more than now, would also be included in the Government Council for Croats Outside Croatia, which plays an important role in improving relations with Croats outside Croatia and has come up with a number of initiatives.

This body would include 13 representatives of Croats from Bosnia and Herzegovina, 17 representatives of the Croatian national minority and 35 representatives of the Croatian diaspora. The law also envisages the proclamation of a Week of Croats Outside Croatia, during which the Croatian diaspora would have the opportunity to show in their homeland what they are, how they have preserved their common heritage and identity.

The current Act on Relations between the Republic of Croatia and Croats Outside the Republic of Croatia (“Official Gazette”, No. 124/11. and 16/12.) regulates the relations of the Republic of Croatia with Croats outside the Republic of Croatia, establishes the Central State Office for Croats Outside the Republic of Croatia and the Council of the Government of the Republic of Croatia for Croats Outside the Republic of Croatia, introduces the Status of Croats without Croatian Citizenship, regulates relations between bodies that have tasks related to Croats outside the Republic of Croatia within their scope of competence, protects the rights and interests of Croats outside the Republic of Croatia and strengthens their communities, regulates the manner of achieving cooperation with Croats outside the Republic of Croatia, prescribes measures and activities for return and immigration, as well as other issues of importance for Croats outside the Republic of Croatia.

Given that the Act on Amendments to the Act on the Organization and Scope of Work of State Administration Bodies (Official Gazette, No. 57/24) entered into force on 17 May 2024, whereby the newly established Ministry of Demography and Immigration took over some of the tasks from the scope of work of the Central State Office for Croats Outside the Republic of Croatia, which relate to creating conditions for the return and immigration of members of the Croatian diaspora to the Republic of Croatia and their inclusion in economic and social life in the Republic of Croatia, the Government of the Republic of Croatia proposes amendments to the special Act on Relations between the Republic of Croatia and Croats Outside the Republic of Croatia, which place certain tasks under the jurisdiction of the established state administration bodies.

The final draft law amending the Act on Relations between the Republic of Croatia and Croats Outside the Republic of Croatia (hereinafter: the Final Draft Law) amends and supplements the current Act in order to align it with the Act on Amendments to the Act on the Organisation and Scope of Work of State Administration Bodies, or to align it with the changes that have occurred in the legal system and changes in public policy in this area of ​​work, so that the newly established Ministry of Demography and Immigration can fully take over the tasks that have been placed under its jurisdiction. At the same time, the Final Draft Law corrects certain provisions of the current Act that have proven unenforceable in practice given the significant time elapsed since their adoption and the changes that have occurred in the legal system, and introduces certain novelties aimed at improving cooperation between the Republic of Croatia and Croats outside the Republic of Croatia.

The final draft law, in order to align it with the Act on Amendments to the Act on the Organization and Scope of Work of State Administration Bodies, regulates the provisions in which the newly established Ministry of Demography and Immigration takes over the tasks from its jurisdiction, becomes the new prescribed holder of relations and cooperation with Croats outside Croatia, which also took over the tasks of the Sector for Integration and Status Issues of Croats outside the Republic of Croatia, which was established within the Central State Office.

In order to correct the unenforceable provisions of the current Act, the Final Draft Law deletes the provisions related to the Status of Croats without Croatian Citizenship because the practice of applying the law so far has determined that they are not enforceable in the Croatian legal system, while in the meantime, amendments to the Act on Croatian Citizenship and the Act on Foreigners have created a legal framework within which the status issues of Croats outside the Republic of Croatia who do not have Croatian citizenship are regulated in an appropriate and very efficient manner with regard to exercising rights in the Republic of Croatia. Furthermore, certain provisions related to the technical and administrative organisation of sessions of the Council of the Government of the Republic of Croatia for Croats Outside the Republic of Croatia are also deleted as redundant, which will be regulated in the future by the Rules of Procedure of the Council. Other provisions of the current Act that have proven to be unenforceable or, given the passage of time, redundant and unnecessary are also deleted.

The final draft law replaces the term “Croatian minorities” with the term “Croatian national minority”, introduces the Week of Croats Outside the Republic of Croatia instead of the Day of Croats Outside the Republic of Croatia, and the number of members of the advisory body of the Government of the Republic of Croatia – the Council for Croats Outside the Republic of Croatia – is expanded and increased in the number of representatives representing Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina (from 9 to 13) and Croats living in emigration (from 29 to 35). A new advisory body is also being introduced, which is being established to improve relations with the younger generations of Croats outside Croatia – the Council of Young Croats Outside the Republic of Croatia, which will bring together young representatives of Croats outside the Republic of Croatia.

The final draft law also introduces new provisions within the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Demography and Immigration aimed at improving the enabling environment for return and immigration, as well as provisions that regulate in more detail the regulation of the residence of immigrants and returnees, members of the Croatian diaspora without Croatian citizenship, the submission of applications and conditions for issuing a certificate for the regulation of residence, advisory support for returnees and immigrants, and specialized integration measures and activities. Ina Vukic