Croatia faces low judicial independence, EU report finds

The European Commission's annual Rule of Law Report has highlighted a significant lack of perceived judicial independence in Croatia. According to Eurobarometer statistics, only 27 percent of citizens believe the independence of courts and judges in the country is ‘quite good’ or ‘very good.’

Trust is similarly low within the business sector, where only 28 percent of companies and entrepreneurs believe in the impartiality and independence of the judiciary. These figures place Croatia well below the European average, which typically exceeds 50 percent.

The report identifies several key reasons for this public skepticism, including perceived political influence over the appointment and advancement of judicial actors, as well as the influence of economic lobbies and wealthy interest groups on legal processes.