Tagged: Croatia

According to Petsinclude, the government of Croatia is a unitary parliamentary constitutional republic. The President of Croatia serves as head of state and is elected by popular vote for a five-year term, while the Prime Minister is the head of government and is appointed by the president. The Croatian Parliament (Sabor) has 151 members who are elected to four-year terms, and it has the power to pass laws, approve budgets, ratify treaties and appoint judges. The judicial branch consists of local courts, appellate courts, a Supreme Court and other specialized courts. The constitution guarantees basic rights such as freedom of speech, assembly, association, religion and movement although these rights are often restricted in practice due to political instability or armed conflict in certain parts of the country. Citizens also have access to free public education up to university level studies along with healthcare services throughout the country although these are inadequate due to lack of resources in rural areas. Poverty levels remain high with over 20% of the population living below the poverty line. Women’s rights are often neglected in Croatia and they face discrimination in many aspects including access to education and employment opportunities as well as legal protection from gender-based violence such as rape or domestic abuse. In addition, minorities such as Roma suffer from discrimination when it comes to accessing basic services such as healthcare or education. Croatia is a small European nation located on the Adriatic Sea between Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is home to a population of around 4 million people and has been an independent state since 1991. The country’s foreign policy is based on the principles of democracy, economic development, regional cooperation and integration into the European Union (EU). Croatia maintains diplomatic relations with over 100 countries around the world and is a member of several international organizations such as the United Nations (UN), Council of Europe (COE), World Trade Organization (WTO), North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and many others. Croatia has close ties with its immediate neighbors in Central Europe, particularly Slovenia, Hungary, Serbia and Bosnia & Herzegovina. The country actively participates in regional initiatives such as CEFTA (Central European Free Trade Agreement) which seeks to promote economic integration among member countries. Additionally, Croatia also contributes to other multilateral forums such as Visegrad Group which seeks to strengthen cooperation between Central European states. At a global level, Croatia works closely with other EU nations through initiatives such as Schengen Area which seeks to facilitate free movement of goods and people within Europe. Additionally, Croatia also contributes to UN peacekeeping operations across Europe and participates in various UN conventions on issues such as human rights and environmental protection. Overall, Croatia’s foreign policy seeks to promote peace and stability both regionally and internationally by engaging actively in multilateral forums such as EU and UN. The country also works closely with its partners to ensure sustainable economic growth through investment opportunities that benefit both parties involved. See relationshipsplus for Croatia defense and foreign policy.