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3 clusters · 11 sources · 11 days · First seen · Last updated

Categories: POLITICS · BUSINESS

Croatia administrative reforms 2026

Entities: SMART card system · Autocesta Zagreb‑Macelj (AZM) · Croatian Motorways (HAC) · Hrvatske autoceste (Croatian highways) · Oleg Butković

Overview

In July 2026 Croatia launched a wave of administrative modernisations. The Tax Administration introduced an electronic VAT‑refund form for non‑EU shoppers, allowing customs officers to scan a barcode and speed up tax‑free processing for purchases over €100.

A week later the government announced transport‑related reforms: all physical toll booths will be removed and replaced by Multi‑Lane Free Flow technology, with electronic toll collection devices (ENC) retained only for heavy vehicles and SMART cards discontinued on 1 October. A draft law also amends traffic‑fine appeal rules, offering a reduced two‑thirds payment for fines settled within the deadline and raising the threshold for mandatory fine orders.

On 27 July the same measures were detailed, confirming that licence‑plate reading will handle most traffic and that the ENC‑only model aims to cut congestion, travel time, fuel use and emissions. Three days later the cabinet approved €160.5 million in financing for the electronic toll collection system, with €115.6 million coming from EU‑backed recovery funds and the remainder funded by Hrvatske autoceste. The project, covering design to digital user functions, is slated to begin implementation on 1 March 2027, alongside a state guarantee that could provide up to €2.1 billion in long‑term credit for the highways operator.

Timeline

  1. about 20 hours ago

    [POLITICS] 4 sources
    Croatia approves €160 million electronic toll collection system funding

    Croatia will fund a €160.5 million electronic toll collection system, with €115.6 million from the EU‑backed recovery plan and the rest by Croatian highways, targeting rollout by March 2027.

  2. 4 days ago

    [POLITICS] 4 sources
    Croatia overhauls road tolls and traffic‑fine appeal rules

    Croatia will retain ENC toll devices with a new free‑flow system and phase out SMART cards, while a draft law revokes reduced‑fine discounts for drivers who lose appeals, raising the mandatory fine threshold.

  3. 11 days ago

    [BUSINESS] 4 sources
    Croatia streamlines VAT refunds for non‑EU shoppers starting July 2026

    Starting 17 July 2026, Croatia will use an electronic, barcode‑enabled VAT‑refund form for non‑EU shoppers, speeding up customs processing while keeping standard exit‑border requirements.

Sources

072info.com · biznis.kurir.rs · dulist.hr · eventbrite.co.uk · financije.hr · glasistre.hr · n1info.hr · radiokameleon.ba · ramski-vjesnik.ba · tportal.hr · vijesti.hrt.hr

This summary has been updated 1 time: see revision history