These modifications adjust the legislation on this matter to the Constitution. The existing law is lacking and there are problems in its implementation, so the purpose of the new bill is to solve those problems and cut the costs of organising a referendum, Administration Minister Davorin Mlakar said at a government session.
He added that a referendum on Croatia's admission to the European Union would cost some HRK 50 million.
Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor said that the law on referenda would strengthen direct democracy.
The deadline for calling a referendum is 120 days after the parliament receives a motion to that effect. This time frame can be extended in the event of requests for checking whether criteria for the referendum have been met or in the event that the Constitutional Court should check whether the referendum question is in line with the Constitution.
Referenda at local levels will require 20 percent of signatures of voters in an individual local self-government unit.