Croatia and Montenegro implement major criminal law reforms

The Croatian government has submitted a package of criminal law amendments to Parliament, introducing life imprisonment for 15 of the most serious crimes starting January 1, 2027. The reforms, aimed at aligning with EU legal standards and addressing domestic safety concerns, also introduce new offenses such as ecocide and animal abuse. Under the proposal, those sentenced to life imprisonment may apply for parole only after serving 25 years.

In Montenegro, the government has approved 20 amendments to the Criminal Code. These changes include stricter penalties for sexual offenses against children and new provisions to address crimes committed via information and communication technologies, ensuring territorial jurisdiction even when the technology is accessed from abroad. Additionally, the government established a Digital Health Agency and introduced restrictions on certain timber exports.

Separately, former Montenegrin Minister of Agriculture Milutin Simović has been sentenced to six months of house arrest for abuse of office. The court found that he used state funds to cover approximately 1,535 euros in private expenses, including hotel and restaurant costs.

In another legal matter, an 85-year-old man in Montenegro, Milojica Vujisić, is scheduled to begin a five-year prison sentence on September 15 following a conviction for sexual abuse of a child.