The presentation was attended, among others, by Croatian President Stjepan Mesic and the institute's
founder, George Soros. Also presented at the event was a study on the openness of Croatian society.
Croatian society is far from what experts consider open, but progress has been made over the last ten years, the chair of the Institute's steering board, Slavica Singer, said.
The two-year study, which was conducted by a team of some 500 people, referred to the transparency of political processes, minorities and marginalised groups, education, economic rights and entrepreneurship, media and the rule of law.
Croatia must continue investing efforts to establish an open society, said Soros, whose institutes promote the development of civil society and NGOs throughout the world. Over the years, Soros has supported a number of initiatives in Croatia worth more than 45 million US dollars.
The latest developments in the EU, caused by the rejection of the constitutional treaty in some countries, are not expected to have an effect on Croatia, Soros said, calling on international investors to support Croatia's development.
"The Open Society Institute Croatia is an important participant in civil society which in Croatia has developed at a slower pace than in other transition countries," President Mesic said.
One should continue making big steps to make society open in all areas and everyone should assume their share of responsibility in the process, Mesic added.
The Open Society Institute Croatia is a nonprofit organisation which is part of the Open Society Foundation, established by philanthropist George Soros. The Institute has been active in Croatia since 1992, when it started supporting the democratic development of the country. After the initial stage during which it provided substantial humanitarian help for the country in war, the Institute entered the period in which it sponsored a number of initiatives in the fields of civil society, education, media, arts and culture, public health, law and economy.