The delegation of the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality was led by Anna Zaborska of the European People's Party and its conclusions were carried by the European Commission Delegation in Croatia in a press release on Tuesday.
The delegation visited Zagreb on April 20-21 and saw Croatia's determination to join the EU but also concluded that much more effort was necessary to complete reforms.
The delegation concluded that Croatia had made impressive progress also in women's rights and gender equality but that additional effort was necessary in those fields too.
The acquis communautaire orders member countries to eliminate every form of discrimination against women and asks that women and men be treated equally, the press release said, adding that women must have access to responsible posts in the political, economic and social spheres, an important but difficult process.
Strong political will is necessary to eliminate gender discrimination on the labour market as well as violence against women, including trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation, read the press release.
It added that the delegation had noted efforts aimed at strengthening cooperation between the justice and interior ministries as well as efforts to raise the awareness of police, judges and lawyers in terms of judicial reforms necessary to fight discrimination against women.
The delegation met senior officials in charge of gender equality and women's rights in parliament, the government, the EC Delegation, and nongovernmental organisations.