Influence of EU policy on protection of national minorities in Croatia – Pre-negotiation and negotiation period

Abstract

The protection of national minorities’ rights is one of the EU values from the group of fundamental human rights. Although Croatia’s legislative framework on national minorities existed long before Croatia started pre-assessment negotiations, its enforcement was unsatisfactory. That is why the influence of EU policy on the protection of national minorities in Croatia by monitoring law enforcement has been essential. Creating a good policy practice is not just adopting laws but also implementing them correctly and efficiently, either through self-disciplinary procedures or by agreeing to external monitoring. Whether and how the process of Croatia’s accession to the EU has affected the strengthening of the protection of national minorities’ rights is the question that this paper seeks to answer.