The state secretary at the State Administration Office, Antun Palaric, said the bill was part of adjustment to European guidelines.
However, the bill is stricter than European Union directives, he said. It prohibits taking personal data to countries which do not guarantee their protection and envisages supervision of use of personal data as well as sanctions against those who abuse them.
Some opposition clubs of deputies said the bill did not clearly define the conditions under which citizens' personal data might be used and pointed to the danger of human rights violations.
Parliament also discussed a set of international agreements, including one on Croatia's participation in the Marco Polo programme, whereby the European Commission plans to set aside 32 billion euros to alleviate road transport and focus on ecologically friendlier routes, such as rail, sea and river.
The deputies also welcomed an agreement on Croatia's full membership of the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites EUMETSAT and an annexe to the International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-fouling Systems on Ships.