The Croatian right many citizens do not know they can use

ZAGREB, 28 September 2026 – Croatian citizens have a legal right to request information held by public authorities, including documents concerning public spending, contracts, decisions and official communications.

The right is guaranteed by the Croatian Constitution and regulated by the Access to Information Act, but awareness of how to use it remains limited, according to a report published by Dnevnik.hr.

Citizens do not generally have to explain why they want information or prove a public interest when submitting a request. They can ask public authorities for information they already possess, although the legislation does not require institutions to create new information or provide a new interpretation of existing rules.

Requests can be submitted electronically or by post to the public body concerned or its designated information officer.

If an authority refuses a request, citizens can appeal to the Information Commissioner. An appeal can also be submitted when an institution fails to respond within the statutory deadline.

The Information Commissioner is an independent body responsible for protecting the public’s right to access information held by government institutions and other public authorities.

The issue has gained renewed attention following concerns about public consultation procedures surrounding proposed changes to Croatia’s waste management legislation.

According to Dnevnik.hr, the Information Commissioner responded to complaints concerning public consultations on amendments to waste management legislation and an assessment of their impact.

One consultation concerning the assessment reportedly lasted only two days and took place over a weekend. The commissioner requested explanations from the relevant government bodies.

Public consultations are intended to give citizens and interested organisations an opportunity to comment on proposed legislation before decisions are made.

Data cited by Dnevnik.hr from the Information Commissioner’s 2025 report show that 94 of 809 public consultations carried out during the previous year lasted 30 days or longer, although legislation generally provides for consultations to last 30 days.

The report also found that public bodies frequently publish information about their regulations, decisions and finances, but that such information can be incomplete, outdated, difficult to search or published in unsuitable formats.

The right to information is therefore not limited to journalists or civil society organisations. Ordinary citizens can also use it to ask questions about how public money is spent and how decisions affecting their communities are made.

Croatia also has a digital platform, ImamoPravoZnati.org, which helps users submit requests for information to public authorities.

The subject is particularly relevant as Croatia prepares possible amendments to its access-to-information legislation.