AmCham welcomes the planned activities of the Ministry that should result in improvement of legal certainty as well as business and investment environment in Croatia. AmCham’s annual Survey of the business environment in Croatia shows that efficiency of judicial system is of major importance to the business community. 

With the relaxation of the epidemiologic measures and recommencement of economic activities, it is to be expected that the justice system will be overloaded by new cases (foreclosures, bankruptcies, litigations, etc.), and in combination with the existing backlog, this will contribute to creating additional business insecurity in Croatia. Therefore, the recommendations for the operation of courts are aimed at solving the problem of additional backlog during the COVID-19 crisis as well as long-term increase in courts’ efficiency. AmCham proposes introduction of two shifts in courts, automatic delegation by case type and number, introduction of deadlines for each step of the court proceedings, promotion of ADR, amendments to the Methodology for the Evaluation of Judges, creation of a national court registry and holding court hearings via electronic means of communication.

The recommendations for amendments to the Companies Act will remove the obstacles foreign entrepreneurs face in transferring business shares or winding up inactive companies on the territory of the Republic of Croatia in a simple way which does not require them to be physically present. This will prevent them from refraining from doing business in the Republic of Croatia because of potentially facing a long and expensive winding-up procedure in the event of cessation of business.

AmCham's „Recommendations for Judiciary Improvements“ are available here.