The discussion was organised by the Croatian government and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Mission to Croatia before the bill enters second reading in Parliament.
Commending the DIP's work, Prime Minister Ivo Sanader said that the bill was part of the overall reform of the electoral system.
Parliament Speaker Vladimir Seks said that the DIP should be a guarantor of lawful and fair elections at all levels of government.
Citing a joint analysis of the OSCE and the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe, OSCE Mission chief Jorge Fuentes said that the possibility of other state institutions being included in the DIP's work, such as the Constitutional Court, should be considered.
Fuentes also proposed that the DIP be comprised of rotating members with varying terms of office in order to ensure independence of the body.
The discussion was also attended by members of Parliament, legal experts and representatives of non-governmental organisations.