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1. Existence of a National Strategy on social inclusion
2. Scope and contents
3. Responsible authority
4. Revisions/Updates

Existence of a national strategy on social inclusion

In Croatia, there is no strategy for the social inclusion of young people as a separate strategic document. The basic document in the field of social inclusion is the Strategy for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion in the Republic of Croatia (2014-2020), wherein young people are listed as one of the groups at the highest risk of poverty and social exclusion.

Usually, one of the chapters of the National youth programme is dedicated to the social protection and inclusion of youth, but the programme has expired in 2017 (see chapter 1.9.).

Scope and contents

The purpose of the Strategy for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion in the Republic of Croatia (2014-2020) is to achieve, by a common approach of various stakeholders, the minimum living standard for the most endangered population and to ensure that conditions are in place for the prevention of new occurrences of poverty and social exclusion. Goals of the strategy are related to: eliminating poverty among children, active integration of vulnerable groups into society and the labour market, ensuring appropriate housing for all; preventing and eliminating causes of discrimination against vulnerable groups; preventing financial exclusion and indebtedness; ensuring Roma inclusion; and other goals specific for particular strategic areas.

Strategic programme activities are focused on the following three priorities and primary objectives:

Ensuring conditions for a successful fight against poverty and social exclusion and for reducing inequalities in the society

Activities under this priority focus on reducing the number of persons at risk of poverty and increasing the adequacy of social benefits in the social welfare system. Also, the emphasis is on the equal availability of educational, health care, social welfare and other services, the availability of housing, the reduction of regional differences and the prevention of indebtedness and financial dependence. The goals are also related to increasing the share of population with completed tertiary education, reducing the rate of unemployment and insufficient participation on the labour market, reducing the share of early school drop-outs by 2020.

Ensuring the conditions for the prevention of formation of new categories of the poor, as well as reducing the number of poor and socially excluded persons

Activities under this priority are aimed at ensuring the conditions for providing high-quality and accessible services for children from the earliest age/preschool services, extracurricular activities, primary and secondary-school education, and incentives for higher education and lifelong learning, as well as ensuring high-quality and accessible social services for all citizens (social welfare, health care, education). Furthermore, the emphasis is on creating opportunities for raising the employment rate of working-age persons and increasing the employability of disadvantaged groups. This priority also includes housing policy development (ensuring affordable apartments for youth and the socially endangered, protecting the real estate in which a person lives, etc.) and homelessness prevention. Also pointed out is developing innovative programmes in all fields (social innovation), as well as new work skills and greater use of EU funds.

Establishing a coordinated system of support for groups at risk of poverty and social exclusion, as well as a monitoring and evaluation system

Activities under this priority focus on establishing coordination and cooperation at all levels for the purpose of harmonizing policies and establishing a data collection and exchange system. It also emphasizes ensuring high-quality analysis and research for enabling the monitoring and evaluation of implementation measures to serve as a foundation for the adoption of strategic decisions and further policymaking in this area.

Responsible authority

The Ministry of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy is responsible for the Strategy for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion in the Republic of Croatia (2014-2020).

Usually, the Ministry adopts Implementation programme of the strategy for two-year period and then, it has an obligation to produce an annual report on the implementation of measures and submit it to the Government of the Republic of Croatia for adoption. The Implementation programme of the strategy has expired in 2016 and the last available report was submitted for 2016.

Revisions/Updates

There are no revisions or updates.