EU cooperation could help Croatia reduce corruption
Significance The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) has unblocked the long-stalled Zalac case. This shows the impact of the new institution on the fight against organised crime and corruption at the highest levels in the EU and Croatia. However, other high-profile cases are unresolved. Impacts Trust in the judiciary, traditionally very low, will not grow soon, but could improve in the long run with help from the EPPO. Populist parties are trying to use palpable public anger against elites, focusing on a referendum to end COVID-19 restrictions. With trust in institutions low, vaccine scepticism will remain high and Croatia will remain an EU laggard for its vaccination rate. The excessive length of judicial proceedings is a recurrent problem vexing investors.