On this page

1. Legal/policy framework for the functioning and development of youth organisations

2. Public financial support

3. Initiatives to increase the diversity of participants

Legal/policy framework for the functioning and development of youth organisations

In Croatia, there is no law on youth (organisations), therefore there is no legal definition of a youth organisation. Nevertheless, the National Youth Programme 2014-2017 distinguishes between two types of organisations – youth organisations and organisations for young people. While the former category refers to civil society organisations led by young people (individuals under the age of 30 in managerial positions), the later refers to all civil society organisations with activities partially or entirely oriented towards young people. The new National Youth Programme 2023-2025 maintains this distinction, although it does not provide an explicit explanation as the previous Programme did.

The Act on Associations  elaborates on the constitutional right to citizens’ associations, defining them as all forms of free and voluntary partnership of individuals or legal entities. These associations serve the purposes of protecting their interests or promoting human rightsand freedoms, as well as ecological, humanitarian, informational, cultural, national, pro-natal, educational, social, vocational, sports, technical, health, scientific, or other beliefs and aims, with no intention of profit-making. Young people and their active participation are cited in the body of the text as examples of contributing to the public good. According to the Ordinance on the Content and the Means of Conducting the Register of Associations of the Republic of Croatia and the Register of Foreign Associations in the Republic of Croatia, organisations are required to be categorised based on their form, scope, and target group. Therefore, civil society organisations have the option to define themselves as working with or for young people as a specific target group.

Youth organisations participate in the Youth Council, as explained in the Section 5.3.

The Croatian Government has also established a Council for the Implementation of the Youth Guarantee, wherein youth civil society organisations have their representatives.

Public financial support

At the end of each year, the Government of the Republic of Croatia prepares a proposal for the State Budget for the following year, which is then deliberated upon in the Croatian Parliament. Once the Croatian Parliament adopts the State Budget, the Croatian Government can implement it. The State Budget includes a line for the ministry responsible for youth and a budget item relating to the youth policy implementation.

Details on public funding schemes, through which youth organisations receive financial support, are described in the Chapter 1.7: Funding youth policy.

Initiatives to increase the diversity of participants

According to the new National Youth Programme 2023-2025, individual target groups are not explicitly specified, instead the Programme refers to young people aged 15 to 30. Within the framework of the vision and mission, the National Youth Programme asserts that priority areas should contribute to the development and optimal utilisation of the potential of all young people in Croatia. It aims to equip all young people with resilience and life skills necessary for a constructive response to challenges they face and to create conditions for equal opportunities, particularly focusing on young people in rural areas and those with fewer opportunities, such as young people with disabilities and those at risk of poverty and social exclusion.