Committee on Croats outside the Republic of Croatia


Establishment of the Committee on Croats outside the Republic of Croatia is set out  by the Act on Relations of the Republic of Croatia with Croats Abroad.

The Committee on Croats outside the Republic of Croatia (hereinafter: the Committeee) was established by The Government of the Republic of Croatia as an advisory   body of the Republic of Croatia that provides assistance to the Government of the Republic of Croatia in creation and implementation of policies, activities and programs related to Croats abroad.

Members of the Committee are representatives of Croats living outside the Republic of Croatia and  ex officio members.

The Committee holds a meeting at least once a year and discusses the implementation of Strategy and Act on Relations of the Republic of Croatia with Croats Abroad and other issues of interest for Croats abroad.
Members of the Committee  who are Croatian nationals living abroad are representatives of Croatian  associations, organizations and institutions outside the Republic of Croatia, persons well respected in their local communities, engaged in preservation and strengthening of Croatian identity in their communities and in enhancement of the relationships with the homeland.

Croatian communities outside the Republic of Croatia choose their representatives from most significant and numerous associations, organizations and institutions and other forms of organizations and they are elected to term of office of 4 years (e.g. from Croatian world congress and others)

Representation of Croats outside the Republic of Croatia in the Committee is determined by the number and importance of Croats in the respective country, their  activities and community bonds to  the Republic of Croatia, as well as their contribution to  the reputation and interests of the Republic of Croatia, as follows:

Nine members – representatives of Croats from Bosnia and Herzegovina out of whom one is a representative of the Catholic church from Bosnia and Herzegovina
Seventeen members - representatives of Croatian minority
Twenty two members - representatives of Croatian Diaspora
Members of the Committee - representatives of Croats living outside the Republic of Croatia are appointed by the Government of the Republic of Croatia and proposed by Croatian communities in the countries they come from.

Ex officio members of the Committee are representatives of state bodies and institutions, Catholic church and civil society organizations.

Ex officio members of the Committee  are state secretary of the Central State Office for Croats abroad and his deputy, state secretaries in the ministries competent for foreign affairs, internal affairs, science, education, sport, culture, economy, entrepreneurship, labour and pension system, health and social care, tourism, regional development and finance, members of Croatian parliament who represent Croats abroad, president of  Croatian Heritage Foundation,   representatives of Academia,  director of Croatian Bureau of Statistics, the  representative of Croatian Radio and Television, representative of The Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, the  representative of Catholic church ( president of foreign congregation ), the representative of National and University Library in Zagreb, the representative of scientific institutions that deal with issues related to Croats abroad, Croatian Chamber of Economy, Croatian Chamber of Trades and Crafts, the representative of  Croatian Employers’ Association, the representative of non-governmental organizations which promote better relationships with Croats abroad (e.g. “Prsten” etc).

Citizen associations, citizens and media representatives may attend the sessions of the Committee, but should not disturb the order and the course of the session, and they have no right to participate in the session, or express their attitudes and opinions in public during the session.

If there are more people who attend the Committee sessions than the seats available, the president of the Committee determines the number of persons who can attend the Committee session.

Citizens can register to attend the Committee sessions no later than three days before the session to the ex officio advisor who deals with issues related to Croatian Diaspora at the Central State Office for Croats abroad phone 01/6444 675 or e-mail coreskovic@hrvatiizvanrh.hr and then the advisor informs the president of the Committee about that.

The number of persons who can attend the session of the Committee depends on the size of the venue, and they will be accepted following the order of registration. registered.