Opposition members in the parliamentary Committee on the Constitution and Standing Orders are generally satisfied with the legislation that obliges the prime minister and the government to report more frequently than was originally proposed to the Croatian Sabor and the European Affairs Committee concerning European Union issues, notably on European Council meetings.
The Committee on the Constitution on Tuesday discussed a final draft of the bill on cooperation between parliament and the government concerning European affairs which intensify the prime minister’s and cabinet’s obligations toward the Sabor.
The prime minister will report once a year to the Sabor regarding European Council meetings during that year and, after each meeting of the Council a written report is to be submitted within 15 days to the European Affairs committee session, outlining the business discussed at those meetings.
The government will be obliged prior to each meeting of the Council, to submit the agenda and relevant supporting documents for the meeting as well as draft resolutions if these exist.
The prime minister will, if required, at the invitation of the Parliament Speaker present Croatia’s opinion on matters to be discussed at European Council meetings or else, to submit a report on the Council’s meetings.
The Committee will adopt a formal decision on the bill on Wednesday.
Opposition members said that the idea that only parliamentary groups be allowed to discuss the prime minister’s annual report on the state of the nation was not in the spirit of parliamentarism.
The Sabor needs to adopt the bill on cooperation between parliament and the government on European affairs and the new Standing Orders by July 1.