Lawmakers from both the ruling majority and opposition in Croatia on Thursday supported amendments to key judicial laws aimed at shortening court procedures, improving efficiency and rebuilding public trust, though some opposition members questioned whether the measures would deliver the intended results.
The debate centred on changes to the Courts Act and the USKOK (Office for the Suppression of Corruption and Organised Crime) Act. Lawmakers welcomed plans for the Varaždin County Court to take over some of the case backlog from the Zagreb County Court, as well as provisions strengthening the right to a trial within a reasonable time.
Ruling HDZ MP Ante Babić said the amendments would bring “concrete improvements” by ensuring faster case resolution and greater transparency in court operations.
Opposition SDP lawmaker Tonči Restović acknowledged limited progress but said the changes would not substantially improve efficiency or public confidence. He criticised revisions to the USKOK Act, including a proposal to reduce the required experience for its director from 15 to 10 years, scrap periodic security checks, and expand the powers of the Attorney General.
Justice, Public Administration and Digital Transformation Minister Damir Habijan said the number of unresolved cases had fallen from 475,000 in 2020 to 399,000 in the third quarter of this year, with a target of 300,000 by the end of 2026. He noted that Croatian courts receive around 1.3 million new cases annually.
Dalibor Paus of IDS and Dalija Orešković of DOSIP warned that the deeper issue lay in judicial staffing and the appointment of politically connected individuals, which they said undermines judicial independence.
Bridge MP Ante Kujundžić criticised persistent delays and inconsistent practices, saying cases involving political figures were often drawn out until they expired, further eroding public trust.
Minister Habijan said the government deliberately avoids calling the changes a “reform” because of public scepticism. “This is not a reform, but an effort to address challenges in the judiciary and improve public perception,” he said.