General Principles and Challenges of Public Administration Organization in Croatia

Public administration in Croatia has been fraught with organizational, political and personal challenges, which are gradually being addressed, particularly through accession to the European Union. Additionally, new reforms have been included in the current (2022–2027) National Plan for Public Administration Development, while the novel concept of wages was introduced in public services. The Constitution distinguishes between State and local authorities by limiting State authority to the right to self-governance. It also establishes mutual relations between the Parliament, government and State administration, as well as local and regional self-governments. Public administration in Croatia can be categorised into State administration, local and regional self-governments, and numerous entities with public authority. A majority of public services can be considered a part of public administration, although employees are not ‘real’ civil servants; they are ‘ordinary’ employees with a rather unique status. The State administration comprises two types of organizational units: ministries and State administrative organizations. Local and regional self-governments comprise municipalities and towns (local) and counties (regional), with local self-governments being particularly fragmented. An important aspect of public administration is the presence of legal entities with public authority, such as public institutions and regulatory agencies, which are sui generis legal forms.

KEYWORDS public administration, organization, reforms, State administration, local and regional self-governments