(1/4) "Croatian Public Administration on the road to the European Union: What To Expect While Expecting?"
by Dr. Anamarija Musa, Assistant Professor of Public Administration at the Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb.
by Dr. Anamarija Musa, Assistant Professor of Public Administration at the Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb.
Abstract:
Good administration is a prerequisite for effective membership in the EU, but also for the success of the European project in general. Croatia
embarked on the road to the EU, implementing the necessary administrative reforms in order to achieve the desired level of administrative capacity. The reforms conducted so far are focused on legal adjustments of the general public administrative framework, in accordance with the standards of the European administrative space. This has not lead to the development of new values and understanding of the functioning of public administration. A few further steps have to be made in order to change the existing paradigm of public administration: more transparent and open public administration, better regulation and better quality of services. To achieve more substantial results in the reform, the learning process should contribute to the development of a new understanding of public administration and relationship in society.
embarked on the road to the EU, implementing the necessary administrative reforms in order to achieve the desired level of administrative capacity. The reforms conducted so far are focused on legal adjustments of the general public administrative framework, in accordance with the standards of the European administrative space. This has not lead to the development of new values and understanding of the functioning of public administration. A few further steps have to be made in order to change the existing paradigm of public administration: more transparent and open public administration, better regulation and better quality of services. To achieve more substantial results in the reform, the learning process should contribute to the development of a new understanding of public administration and relationship in society.Read the full article: 
"Croatian Public Administration on the road to the European Union: What To Expect While Expecting?"
"Croatian Public Administration on the road to the European Union: What To Expect While Expecting?" (2/4) "Impact of Europeanization on Interest Groups Access and Representation in the Policy Making Process in Croatia"
by Igor Vidačak, Head of the Croatian Government Office for Associations.
Abstract:
This article seeks to explore some implications of EU integration on national system of interest representation, focusing both on opportunities and 
constraints for organized interests in Croatia. On the whole, EU accession has provided strong incentives for interest groups to adapt their influence-seeking behaviour to new policy dynamics at both national and EU levels. However, the scope of interest representation adaptation patterns and the extent of strategic re-orientation of Croatian interest groups largely depend on the available resources, sources of funding, reliance on membership and a number of other factors. Over the years, the effects of cognitive Europeanization have started to be visible, especially in regard to raising the expectations among representatives of the interested public about acceptable standards of openness, transparency, accountability and participatory decision-making. A number of policy initiatives launched in recent years confirm the trend of transforming the perception of good models of interaction between organized civil society and governmental actors in shaping new public policies in Croatia.
constraints for organized interests in Croatia. On the whole, EU accession has provided strong incentives for interest groups to adapt their influence-seeking behaviour to new policy dynamics at both national and EU levels. However, the scope of interest representation adaptation patterns and the extent of strategic re-orientation of Croatian interest groups largely depend on the available resources, sources of funding, reliance on membership and a number of other factors. Over the years, the effects of cognitive Europeanization have started to be visible, especially in regard to raising the expectations among representatives of the interested public about acceptable standards of openness, transparency, accountability and participatory decision-making. A number of policy initiatives launched in recent years confirm the trend of transforming the perception of good models of interaction between organized civil society and governmental actors in shaping new public policies in Croatia. Read the full article: "Impact of Europeanization on Interest Groups Access and Representation in the Policy Making Process in Croatia"
"Impact of Europeanization on Interest Groups Access and Representation in the Policy Making Process in Croatia"(3/4) "Specificity of Croatia’s accession negotiations and implications for EU membership"
by Vladimir Drobnjak, Chief Negotiator for EU Accession Negotiations.
Abstract:
Croatia’s accession negotiations, although coloured by European political uncertainty on further enlargement and the changing institutional architecture, carry strategic significance and an important stabilisation impact for Southeast Europe, supporting the European future of this region. The distinctiveness of Croatia’s negotiations is manifested through a complex multi-level exercise that requires significant resources on both the European and Croatian side, due to the benchmarking methodology among other factors. Consequently, this process has resulted in the establishment of administrative and institutional structures and coordination mechanisms that should continue to ensure the transparency, quality and efficiency of the system.Read the full article: "Specificity of Croatia’s accession negotiations and implications for EU membership"
"Specificity of Croatia’s accession negotiations and implications for EU membership"(4/4) "The Croatian Parliament’s posture in European Integration"
by Marija Pejčinović Burić, Member of the Croatian Parliament since 2008.
Abstract:
The Croatian Parliament has played an important political and legislative role in the process of integration of Croatia to the EU. Moreover, the work of its three parliamentary committees dealing exclusively with European integration issues has paved the way for its good functioning as a national parliament of a future EU Member State. In particular, a distinctive merit goes to the National Committee for follow-up of negotiations, which has in a way anticipated and, to a certain extent, played a essential role, as stated for the national parliaments in the Lisbon Treaty. Although, the key fundamentals are already set down in the most recent Constitutional amendments, there are still legal and institutional changes that need to be made in order to make sure that the Croatian Parliament will be fully operational once Croatia joins the EU.Read the full article: "The Croatian Parliament’s posture in European Integration"
"The Croatian Parliament’s posture in European Integration" 
