Speaking to the press in Zagreb on Saturday in the break of an international anti-corruption round-table debate, Josip Kregar said the commission had strong powers and should be encouraged to exert them.
He said the commission could reveal data on officials' assets and their business ventures.
Kregar also said the experience of other transition countries in Europe confirmed that political will was necessary to prevent conflict of interest.
Tonci Tadic of the Party of Rights concurred, saying the commission had powers but would not become operational if there was no political will.
He said the previous Conflict of Interest Commission had been swamped with less important cases referring to local government although the basic idea had been that it should deal only with state officials.
Speaking of the right to information, Milena Gogic of the Croatian Helsinki Committee on Human Rights said the situation had started improving. She said the committee had received replies to 30 percent of its queries. She added information was most difficult to obtain from the government and the defence, transport and economy ministries.
Viktor Gotovac of TIH said another important factor in the development of democracy was the financing of political parties. He said Croatia lacked the legislation required to regulate this area.