Habijan presented the new law: ‘Croatian judiciary is strengthening cooperation with the EU, it will be more efficient’

“This bill provides a modern, revised and functional legislative framework that will enable Croatian judicial authorities to act more effectively in cross-border criminal cases and strengthen our cooperation with other EU members,” said Minister of Justice, Administration and Digital Transformation Damir Habijan in the Croatian Parliament.

Implementation provisions have been incorporated into the draft law to enable the application of the Regulation of the European Parliament and the Council on the transfer of proceedings in criminal matters. EU member states will thus be able to transfer the management of criminal proceedings to each other. In this way, comparative criminal proceedings (in connection with the same suspect and the same facts) in different member states are prevented. The regulation applies from February 1, 2027.

The law also more precisely defines the provisions of the EU regulation on the European arrest warrant, after the opinion of the European Commission on inconsistency.

About a hundred requests for European arrest warrants arrive in Croatia every year, Minister Habijan said.

Raukar Gamulin (Možemo): Does the system take over formal European mechanisms?

SDP’s Kristina Ikić Baniček recalled the opinion of the European Commission from March last year, according to which “Croatia did not adequately incorporate the European arrest warrant into its legislation”.

“I will not go into the assessment of whether it was negligence, ignorance or bad intentions, but I do not see how twisting the rules on a single arrest warrant that is valid throughout the EU would benefit anyone in Croatia. I believe that this proposal is resolved in an appropriate way,” said Iki. Baniček.

Možemo MP Urša Raukar Gamulin stated that the proposed law regulates Croatia’s participation in the fight against organized crime, corruption, financial fraud, human trafficking and other serious forms of cross-border crime.

“Behind this law, a much more serious issue is hidden. And that is, does Croatia have a judiciary that can participate equally in the European area of ​​justice? Or do we have a system that formally takes over European mechanisms, but has difficulty implementing them in practice?”, she asked.

Despiteč with certain objections, SDP and Mo&zcaronwe will support the law, as well as the ruling HDZ.

This law will be the basis and framework for better judicial cooperation with the judiciary of the European Union. If it turns out that something needs to be done before the second reading, I am sure that the minister and his associates will consider it,” said HDZ representative Ljubica Luka.

Four candidates in the election for members of the Commission for deciding on conflicts of interest

In addition to the new law, the deputies discussed a single final list for the election of members of the Commission for deciding on conflicts of interest. The Committee for Selection, Appointment and Administrative Affairs brought a list of čfour candidates, on which Svetislav Drakulić, Simona Marić Ćurić, Sanja Ružman and Filip Štefan. The members of the Commission will be decided by all parliamentarians, by secret ballot.

“The club of representatives of the SDP will participate in the election of the members of the Commission, or maybe not, but certainly, with or without our participation, the one of the four candidates chosen by the parliamentary majority will be elected. That’s how we will treat the work of the Commission in the future,” said SDP’s Arsen Bauk.

HDZ’s Danijela Blažanović she assessed that each of the proposed candidates brings certain professional qualities and specific knowledge.

Over the years, the commission for deciding on conflicts of interest has become one of the most recognizable mechanisms for protecting the public interest. Its credibility depends on the quality and professionalism of its members. Therefore, it is important that the people we elect have enough knowledge, experience and integrity to make decisions that often have great public importance,” stressed Blažanović.