A Review of the Croatian Public Administration Reform

Public administration reform is a very important area of Croatian EU accession negotiations. The main criticism regarding the Croatian public administration is addressed towards its size and inefficiency. Public administration reforms run slowly. The existing legal and administrative system in Croatia is complex, and needs urgent simplification. Large discretionary powers lead to inefficiency and legal uncertainty, and provide incentives for corruption. Criticism is also referred towards the underdevelopment of local and regional self-government, and towards weak decentralization. Modernization of public administration (state administration, local self-government and public services), its full professionalization and provision of fast and reliable public services is an integral part of good entrepreneurial environment and a requirement for a better living standard of all citizens. Only by promoting a proactive way of thinking of state officials, the public administration can achieve its purpose, which is serving the citizens. In March 2008 the Croatian Government adopted "The Public Administration Reform Strategy" for the period between 2008 and 2011. This established a strategic framework for further reforms of state administration.