This information comes from the assessment conducted in country for the Croatia report, which was published in March 2002.
The basic legislative framework for commercial activity in Croatia is in place. Difficulties in implementation and enforcement arise from a variety of causes. Generally, however, these difficulties can be traced to a lack of practical experience in interpreting and applying these laws. Two areas are of immediate concern:
Croatia suffers from "hasty transplant syndrome." The specific laws that have been borrowed from other countries are generally adequate; however, in some cases, they have not been fully harmonized with the broader context of the Croatian legal system.
End users (e.g., the judiciary, the bar, and litigants) lack specific guidance on how these laws are to be interpreted and applied. Nature – and the legal profession – abhors a vacuum.
Addressing these needs can be initiated in the near term. Success in meeting this challenge will be determined by the government's willingness to place pragmatism above tradition, and use "best practices" as its guide for reform.
Key Development Data & Statistics
Year
Latest Data
External debt stocks (% of GNI)
2007
48.6
GDP (current US$) (billions)
2007
51.3
GNI per capita, Atlas method (current US$)
2007
10,460
Population, total (millions)
2007
4.4
Population growth (annual %)
2007
0
Exports (current US$) (billions)
2008
12.4
Imports (current US$) (billions)
2008
25.8
Top Exports: transport equipment, machinery, textiles
Top Imports: machinery, transport and electrical equipment, chemicals
Source: World Bank Group 2009, CIA World Factbook 2009
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