Freedom of Association
During the reporting period, Croatian civil society was active in its watchdog role and in speaking out against smear campaigns and concerns about the integrity of democratic processes.
On 9th April 2025, the Croatian CSO Gong joined over 570 civil society organisations across Europe to defend CSOs against escalating attacks from certain Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), namely from the European People’s Party and far-right groups. These MEPs have accused CSOs of misusing EU funds. The joint statement condemns these baseless allegations, and urges EU institutions to unequivocally support CSOs, ensure continued funding, and recognise civil society as a cornerstone of European democracy.
On 15th April 2025, Gong also issued a statement demanding that the Constitutional Court ensures individual voters have legal recourse in cases of suspected electoral irregularities. Currently, Croatian law allows only political parties, candidates, or groups of at least 100 voters to file complaints with the State Electoral Commission, leaving individual voters without direct legal protection. Gong urged the court to address this legal gap before the proposed electoral code reform in 2026.
Freedom of Peaceful Assembly
During the period under review, several protests and actions took place in the country over labour rights, women's rights, Palestine, education, and environmental issues.
In March 2025, approximately 1,000 schools and universities across Croatia went on strike. Teachers and professors, mobilised by unions, demanded improvements in their financial and non-financial working conditions. In response, the Croatian government held an emergency session and decided to reduce salaries and bonuses for the days spent on strike.
Night marches for International Women's Day on 8th March 2025 took place in Zagreb, Rijeka,and Osijek. Speakers at the marches addressed issues such as accessible public healthcare, free abortion rights, solidarity with foreign workers, and opposition to transphobia. The event emphasised the international nature of feminist struggles and called for unity in the fight against oppression and inequality.
In April 2025, approximately 20 pro-Palestinian activists staged a peaceful protest by blocking the entrance to the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs. They demanded an immediate end to all economic, military, energy, and educational cooperation with Israel, accusing the Croatian government of complicity in the ongoing war in Gaza. The protest was not officially registered, thereby prompting intervention by riot police who detained the demonstrators. The activists later reported that their treatment during detention was inappropriate, citing overcrowded cells and delayed access to water. They also claimed that police threatened legal action against them. They also claimed that police threatened legal action against them. The group also emphasised that their actions were a peaceful expression of dissent and not affiliated with any specific organisation.
On 4th April 2025, Zelena Akcija (“Green Action”) activists gathered in front of the city administration building in Zagreb to call on the mayor to abandon plans for waste incineration. Activists argued that the city's recent proposal to burn unsorted waste, either within Zagreb or at facilities abroad, poses significant health and environmental risks. The organisation urged the mayor to prioritise better alternatives.
On 12th April 2025, preschool educators and staff in Zagreb held a demonstration called the "protest of the invisible". They expressed frustration over poor working conditions, low salaries, and a lack of respect for legal regulations. The protesters demanded salary equalisation with primary school teachers, adherence to national pedagogical standards, and improved funding and working conditions in kindergartens.
On 16th April 2025, five CSOs from Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina renewed their call for Zagreb to name a public square after the victims of the 1993 Ahmići massacre, during which 116 Bosniak civilians were killed. Despite submitting the request in 2023, city authorities had not yet responded. Activists marked the massacre’s 32nd anniversary with a silent protest in Zagreb’s main square.
Workers gathered outside Croatian Radio-Television against a consolidation plan that could lead to 700–800 layoffs. Union leaders urged workers to stay united to protect the quality of programming and professional standards. The protest highlighted widespread concern over the impact of these layoffs on the public broadcaster’s future.
Freedom of Expression
In April 2025, employees of Croatia's Aeronautical Technical Centre sent an open letter to the government, urging the dismissal of the CEO and accusing him of mismanagement. The allegations concern unauthorised deals with foreign partners at rates lower than those charged to the Ministry of Defence, potentially harming the state budget. The letter also described a climate of fear among staff, citing punitive measures against employees who expressed professional opinions.