The government said at its session on Tuesday that the draft amendments clearly defined the remit of the State Election Commission and the State Audit Office. The former is expected to supervise and control all activities and the financing of election campaigns, while the latter is expected to annually audit the financial statements of political parties and political protagonists.
The government today sent into second parliamentary reading a draft law with more stringent conflict of interest rules. The new legislation aims to fully depoliticise the five-member Conflict of Interest Commission and the Commission will be given broader powers in deciding on disciplinary measures.
The list of office-holders covered by the new legislation has been expanded to include all office-holders appointed by the government, the parliament or the President of the Republic as well as CEOs and members of management boards of companies owned by the state and companies in which the government holds a majority interest.
Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor said the new legislation was a good and powerful tool in the fight against corruption and expressed hope that the new law could be adopted by the end of this week, as it was important for Croatia's efforts to meet criteria from the Judiciary and Fundamental Rights negotiating area in its accession talks with the European Union.
Kosor informed the government of her meeting earlier in the day with Viktor Orban, the Prime Minister of Hungary, which is chairing the EU in the first half of 2011.
She said that Hungary had supported Croatia's efforts to wrap up the EU entry talks as planned.
We can say with optimism that in 2011 we will certainly complete the negotiations and sign the accession treaty, Foreign Affairs and European Integration Minister Gordan Jandrokovic said at the government's meeting talking about a communication strategy for Croatia's admission to the EU.
The strategy will consist of two parts: an information campaign and a pre-referendum and referendum media campaign.
The information campaign means the continuation of activities in bringing news about the European bloc, a free EU telephone line, EU info points, conferences and discussions on EU-related topics.
In the third and fourth quarter, immediately before and after the signing of the accession treaty, a campaign about the referendum will be conducted.
Croatia's chief negotiator, Vladimir Dobnjak, warned about misinformation in connection with the EU and in this context dismissed some media reports that Croatia's territorial waters would be open for fishermen from other EU members after Zagreb joined the European bloc.
"This is not true, our territorial waters will be exclusively in our jurisdiction after admission to the EU," Drobnjak said, adding that one should insist on correct information.