MEETING OF BUSINESS LAWYERS STARTS IN OPATIJA

OPATIJA, May 14 (Hina) - The Croatian legal system needs a thorough reform and first steps towards that goal are already being made, the president of the Croatian Association of Business Lawyers, professor Jaksa Barbic, said in Opatija on Wednesday. #L# Barbic called for the reform of the legislative sector. "The current disintegration of the legal system must be stopped and the state of legal security must be established, otherwise we cannot talk about a normal society," Barbic said. Barbic believes that the need for a normal situation in society is not based on Croatia's bids to join the European Union, but on a wish to live in normal conditions and have all institutions and business function efficiently. "Requests placed by the EU before potential members should be understood as assistance on the path towards the establishment of the rule of law to one's own benefit, not because the EU needs it," Barbic said. Political parties and experts are responsible for carrying out said reforms, he said. The three-day meeting of lawyers in Opatija is attended by a hundred domestic lawyers who are to discuss topics such as joint venture, ownership of real estate following privatisation, public procurement, arbitration in disputes, labour law and consumer protection. (hina) rml