The project, focusing on strengthening conciliation as an alternative in settling legal disputes, has been approved by the European Union as part of national programmes within PHARE 2005.
The Justice Ministry reported that the purpose of the programme was to organise and develop alternative ways of settling legal disputes, as one of the fundamental goals of the judicial reform.
The funds will be spent for a campaign to inform the public about alternative settlement of disputes, for the training of conciliators and parties to the conciliation procedure, as well as for the purchase of computer applications for conciliation centres, the minister said.
According to Lovrin, co-signatories to the agreement will ensure an additional 350,000 kuna for conciliation centres within the HUP, the HGK and the HOK.
Lovrin added that the ministry would try to raise the awareness of the public about other possibilities for settling legal disputes, since out-of-court settlements are speedier, simpler and more cost-effective than the usual court proceedings.
The Phare programme is one of the three pre-accession instruments financed by the European Union to assist the applicant countries of Central and Eastern Europe in their preparations for joining the European Union.