Conference on benefits of Croatia's OECD accession

Organized by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the Croatian Employers' Association (HUP), and Business at OECD (BIAC), with the support of the European Commission Representation in Croatia, a conference titled “The Benefits of Croatia’s Accession to the OECD” was held on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, at the National and University Library in Zagreb.
 
The conference provided an opportunity to discuss the advantages that membership in this prestigious organization brings to the citizens of Croatia, with a particular focus on benefits for the business community and the improvement of corporate governance aimed at harmonizing management practices in the private and public sectors.
 
In his opening remarks, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman stated that the accession process is progressing excellently and that the technical reviews are expected to conclude by the end of 2025. Croatia's membership in the OECD is projected for the first half of 2026. Speaking about the reforms being implemented as part of the accession process, the minister highlighted the new Law on Legal Entities Owned by the Republic of Croatia as a significant reform in corporate governance, which will contribute to establishing a unified regulatory framework aligned with the highest standards and best practices of the OECD.
 
Regarding the benefits of Croatia’s OECD membership, Grlić Radman emphasized the importance of political stability for successfully implementing the reforms necessary for accession. He noted that OECD membership would benefit the entire country, pointing out that OECD member states typically experience 2-3% higher GDP growth per capita compared to non-member states, thanks to improved policies and reforms. He expressed confidence that Croatia's membership in the OECD would further inspire Western Balkan countries on the path to a better future, affirming Croatia’s readiness to share best practices and policies once it achieves membership.
 
OECD Chief Economist Alvaro Santos Pereira shared the organization's perspective on the most critical reforms Croatia is undergoing during the accession negotiations and spoke about the benefits of OECD membership for the Croatian business community. HUP Director-General Irena Weber outlined employers' expectations, particularly emphasizing improvements in the business and investment environment.
 
The discussion on the advantages of OECD membership and enhancing the business and investment climate featured contributions from Podravka Group CEO Martina Dalić, BIAC Executive Director Hanni Rosenbaum, and HUP President Mihael Furjan. A panel focusing on corporate governance included Achraf Bouali, Head of the OECD Global Relations Centre in Istanbul; Ante Žigman, President of the Board of the Croatian Financial Services Supervisory Agency (HANFA); Gordan Kolak, CEO of KONČAR Group; Neven Vranković, Vice President of Atlantic Group; and Judita Cuculić Župa, Senior Economic Advisor at the European Commission Representation in Croatia.

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