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Country Background

Croatia is located in Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia. The capital of Croatia is Zagreb. The official language is Croatian. The country’s population in 2016 was approximately 4 million. Croatia is a predominantly Christian country, with about 86% of the population Roman Catholic.

Constitution & Legal Structure

Croatia is referred to as a parliamentary republic and became an independent sovereignty in 1991. The Constitution was written in 1990 and has since been amended. Croatia has three branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial. Croatia is a member state of the European Union.

Constitutional Status of Islamic Law

Islamic law has no constitutional status in Croatia.

Jurisdiction(s) of Islamic Law

Islamic law has no official jurisdiction of operation in Croatia.

Dominant School of Islamic Law

Croatia has no official school of Islamic law. 

Sources of Law for Legal Research

Official Publications

• Legislative
  
  • Drzavni Sabor composed of the Zastupnicki Dom [House of Representatives] and the Zupanijski Dom [House of Counties]
  • Narodne Novine (official gazette)
  • Laws and consolidated codes can be found here
• Executive
  • Government Portal
  • President
  • Ministry of Justice
• Judicial
  • Supreme Court
  • Constitutional Court

Unofficial Databases

• FAOLEX: Croatia (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) database of national laws and regulations on food, agriculture, and renewable natural resources.
• NATLEX: Croatia (International Labour Organization) database of national laws on labor, social security, and related human rights.
• RefWorld Legal Information: Croatia (UNHCR)
• WIPO Lex: Croatia (World Intellectual Property Organization)

References:

For an extended list of legal resources for this country, see the Library of Congress’s Research Guide, and for a narrative review, see the GlobaLex Foreign Law Research Guide (most updated version, where available). The Constitution is available in the LOC Guide in its original language and at Constitute in English translation. For full versions of past constitutions, amendments, and related legislation, see HeinOnline World Constitutions Illustrated or Oxford Constitutions of the World [subscription required for each].