Freedom of Expression

The Ministry of Culture and Media established the Expert Working Group for the Suppression of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP) in mid-2021, following the European Commission's adoption of the Action Plan for European Democracy. This initiative aims to support independent media by tackling the issue of SLAPP lawsuits, which threaten freedom of expression. Comprising various experts from the media sector, including journalists, publishers, and professional journalist associations such as HND and SNH, along with representatives from the Judicial Academy, the Croatian Bar Association, the academic community, the Office of the Ombudsman, and relevant government ministries, the working group seeks to develop effective strategies to combat SLAPP lawsuits through dialogue, knowledge exchange, and education. Since its establishment, the working group has organized round table discussions, public workshops, and expert seminars across Croatia to raise awareness and educate stakeholders about SLAPP lawsuits. These efforts include workshops held in Zagreb, Split, Osijek, Varaždin, and Rijeka, with the most recent workshop conducted in March 2024 in cooperation with the European Parliament and local media representatives. As part of its recommendations, the working group advocates for practical improvements, including enhancing awareness of SLAPPs within the judiciary to facilitate early recognition and dismissal of abusive lawsuits against journalists. Additionally, measures such as establishing a mechanism for early identification and dismissal of SLAPP lawsuits are proposed, with plans for implementation in the new Media Act. Moreover, Croatia has taken proactive steps by appointing a contact point at the Ministry of Justice and Administration to collect and exchange information on organizations providing guidance and support to individuals targeted by SLAPPs. While there is no precise legal definition of SLAPP lawsuits, efforts have been made to identify such cases through a review of court records. According to data from the Ministry of Justice and Administration, there was a slight decrease in the number of identified SLAPP-related cases in 2021 and 2022, with a total of 79 cases reported. Although an official survey on SLAPP lawsuits in the European Union, including Croatia, has not been conducted, the working group monitors comparative data published by organizations such as the CASE coalition. According to CASE reports, Croatia has seen an increase in the number of registered SLAPP lawsuits, highlighting the importance of ongoing efforts to address this issue.