A follow-up meeting concerning the Fifth Opinion on Croatia of the Advisory Committee on the implementation of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities by Croatia was organised on 23 May 2022 by the Croatian authorities.

The meeting, held in the Croatian Parliament, was opened and introduced by Deputy Prime Minister, Ms Anja Šimpraga, Ms Bahrija Sejfić, by Deputy Director of the Government Office for Human Rights and the Rights of National Minorities, by Ms Romana Kuzmanić Oluić from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and by Ms Marie B. Hagsgård, President of the Advisory Committee, elected in respect of Sweden and Ms Petričušić, Advisory Committee member elected in respect of Croatia.

This follow-up meeting gave representatives of the authorities, the Ombudsperson and representatives national minorities, including members of the Council for National Minorities and members of parliament belonging to national minorities, the opportunity to discuss current and future implementation of the main recommendations contained in the Resolution on the implementation of the Framework Convention by Croatia, which was adopted by the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers on the basis of the Fifth Opinion on 23 February 2022.

During the discussion, special emphasis was placed on further promoting inter-ethnic dialogue and self-identification as a national minority through the census, on combatting discrimination and hate crime, as well as hate speech, anti-minority rhetoric and stereotypes in the political discourse and in the media. The meeting further addressed the need to foster intercultural and inclusive education, the use of minority languages, as well as the display of topographical signs in minority languages and scripts. Other issues addressed included the effective participation of national minorities in political life and their access to socio-economic opportunities.