On 23 February 2023, the government of the Republic of Croatia adopted a Decision to Establish a National Council for Digital Transformation (22/2023). The Council is composed of high-ranking representatives of State administration bodies and other relevant public institutions, representatives of local government and representatives of academia.  

In addition to monitoring the implementation of the guidelines for the digital transformation of the Republic of Croatia in accordance with the Strategy for Digital Croatia 2032, the tasks of the Council are the following: (i) monitoring the implementation of the strategic goals of the Strategy for Digital Croatia 2032; (ii) proposing measures and activities to achieve the strategic goals of digital transformation; (iii) monitoring the effect of the implementation of digital transformation measures on the overall development of society; (iv) monitoring the measures and activities in the framework of digital policies at the level of the EU and in third countries; (v) making recommendations for harmonising digital policies and departmental priorities in the field of digitisation; (vi) encouraging interdepartmental cooperation, and cooperation with local and regional self-government units in the implementation of measures and activities; (vii) encouraging professional research in the field of digital transformation; (viii) providing recommendations for legal solutions for the implementation of digital transformation; and (ix) other tasks related to the improvement of digital transformation.  

Furthermore, special tasks related to the State information infrastructure are: (i) providing recommendations for determining the criteria for data storage in data centres; (ii) approving the Annual Plan of Work, Development and Integration of Shared Services, and accepting the price list of services and the catalogue of services of the SSC; (iii) approving technical standards and the method of connection to the components of the central interoperability system; and (iv) giving an opinion for the approval of State information infrastructure projects.  

The administrative and organisational tasks of the Council were performed by the CSODDS and now by the Ministry of Justice, Public Administration and Digital Transformation. For the operational implementation of tasks, the Council establishes working groups.  

The Ministry of Justice and Public Administration performs tasks related to the digitalisation of the judiciary and public administration, together with judicial and penitentiary authorities. Regarding the responsibilities and institutional structures related to digitalisation, the Ministry has established a dedicated Digitalisation of Justice and Public Administration Sector, which performs tasks associated with the digital transformation of the judiciary and public administration – key priorities of the NDS. In addition, the Sector participates in broader initiatives and partnerships related to the digital transformation of the public administration, and prepares relevant documents for the use of EU funds related to this area.  

According to the Law on Amendments to the Law on the organization and competence of State Administration Bodies, the Central State Office for the Development of the Digital Society ceases to operate on 16. June 2024., and the work, together with the officials and assets, continues in the Ministry of Justice, Public Administration and Digital Transformation.

Damir Habijan Minister of Justice, Public Administration and Digital Transformation Source: Vlada Republike Hrvatske - Damir Habijan (gov.hr)

The Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds aims at even development of all parts of Croatia, and its mission is to ensure quality public policies to improve working and living conditions in all parts of Croatia, especially in less developed areas. The importance of the Ministry for the digital transformation stems from its key role in overall strategic planning as well as coordination of the activities related to the management of EU programmes and funds.  

The body responsible for coordinating the monitoring of the implementation of the NRRP is an organisational unit at the sector level within the Ministry of Finance. It is in charge of the preparation of the Report on the implementation of the NRRP, based on submitted reports, communications and other available sources, and has the authority to carry out audits based on which it confirms that the key stages and target values established in the NRRP have been met. 

The Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure performs administrative services and other professional actions related to the field of electronic communications representing the basic information-communication infrastructure.  

The Central State Office for Public Procurement performs administrative and professional tasks related to central public procurement for State administration bodies, the government of Croatia and its professional services, the Croatian Parliament and the Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia. This includes determining the total need for the procurement of goods and services of central public procurement entities, and the establishment of a database related to the requirements of central public procurement entities by procurement categories. It is also responsible for coordinating activities between the subjects of central public procurement, planning the implementation of procurement procedures and applying advanced technology in the implementation of public procurement procedures.  

The Croatian Agency for the Protection of Personal Data carries out administrative and professional tasks regarding personal data protection. More specifically, it supervises the implementation of personal data laws and regulations, detects alleged misuse of personal data, decides on the course of action to be taken in case of violation of personal data laws and centrally registers all the official personal data in Croatia. The Agency is also the central government body tasked with implementing the technical aspects of information security for government bodies. The technical areas covered include: (i) standards for information systems security; (ii) security accreditation of information systems; (iii) management of the cryptographic material used in the exchange of classified information; and (iv) prevention and response to computer threats.  

The Agency for Small Business, Innovation and Investment (HAMAG-BICRO) supports SME development, and promotes investment and innovation. It is an independent institution under the supervision of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development. It promotes digital innovation procurement within the public sector and has pioneered the use of advanced procurement mechanisms suggested by the EU that may be applicable in the context of ICT/digital projects in the public sector.   

The Information Systems Security (ISS) Bureau is the central State authority responsible for the technical areas of information security of State bodies of the Republic of Croatia, which include information security standards, security accreditation, management of cryptographic material used in the exchange of classified information, and coordination of prevention and response to computer threats to information systems’ security.  

The Croatian Bureau of Statistics (CBS) provides statistical data on economic, demographic, social, health and ecological conditions, activities and events. In addition, it fulfils the international commitments of Croatia related to the production and dissemination of official statistics. 

In the establishment of the information environment in the Republic of Croatia, the role of the Information Systems and Information Technology Support Agency (APIS IT LLC) is to (i) develop and monitor the implementation of eGovernment directives, laws and policies; (ii) support the public administration in developing its own IT strategies; (iii) develop and support a common ICT infrastructure; and (iv) promote best practices for the development of information systems, including the protection of personal data, the use of shared services and the access to the information resources of the government administration with corresponding authorisation and authentication. 

Since 2019, the APIS IT LLC has been participating as a partner to the CSODDS in the establishment of the SSC, as a strategic EU project of the Croatian public administration aimed at consolidating the State’s information infrastructure and creating a private public administration cloud. 

The Financial Agency (FINA) is a government-owned company and provider of financial and electronic services. It streamlines the information-communication infrastructure, and supports the State and public finances systems, as well as the registers and information services of the administrative, regional and local self-government bodies. FINA has also been entrusted with the development of an IT network to communicate with State administration bodies (HITRO.HR). 

FINA operates through four regional operational centres (Zagreb, Split, Rijeka and Osijek) and through a network of branches and outposts, enabling nationwide access to services. 

The Croatian Academic and Research Network (CARNET) is a public institution that operates under the Ministry of Science and Education in the field of ICT and their application to education, ranging from network and internet infrastructure, through eServices, to security and user support. CARNET also provides shared services according to the Decree on Organisational and Technical Standards for Connecting to the State Information Infrastructure.