The Croatian government has provided budgetary funds for the Academy amounting to one million kuna and will ensure as much next year, the Academy's acting director, Branko Bosnjak, said.
OSCE Mission chief Jorge Fuentes said that the establishment of the Academy was an important event and a step forward for Croatia.
Cooperation between state institutions and civil society is crucial in exercising civil rights and for the participation of citizens in decision-making. In order to accomplish its mission, the Academy must develop the existing programmes of training and cooperate with civil society organisations, Fuentes said.
The State Secretary at the Central State Administration Office, Antun Palaric, said that the Academy would facilitate the adjustment of Croatia's legislation to EU standards.
The Academy will start working next month, when a round table discussion on the right to access information will be held in Rijeka.
The Academy will not have many employees, but only the necessary technical staff, its lecturers will be domestic and foreign experts and it will organise seminars throughout the country, Palaric said.