The Government is establishing four regional councils for the coordination of European Union development agreements and funds

The Government of the Republic of Croatia has established the Council for Slavonia, Baranja and Srijem, the Council for the North, the Council for Central Croatia, and the Council for Adriatic Croatia, interdepartmental advisory bodies that coordinate regional policies and the implementation of development priorities. The decision was made at the Government session on September 17, 2026, and published in the Official Gazette (Narodne novine) no. 105/2026 of September 18, 2026, under the official designation Decision no. 1261. It was signed by the Prime Minister mr. sc. Andrej Plenković.

Legal Basis and Background

The decision is based on Article 31, paragraphs 1 and 4 of the Regional Development Act of the Republic of Croatia (“Official Gazette”, no. 45/26). It bore the designation Class: 022-03/26-04/402, Registry No: 50301-05/14-26-2, and is dated in Zagreb, September 17, 2026.

Upon the date of entry into force, the previous Decision on the Establishment of the Council for Slavonia, Baranja and Srijem (“Official Gazette”, no. 21/17, 66/18, and 101/20) was repealed, thereby extending the existing model for one region to four areas.

The Councils are defined as interdepartmental advisory bodies that coordinate the regional policies of the Government, encourage cooperation between state administration bodies and regional and local self-government units, and contribute to the alignment of multi-level governance.

Composition and Leadership

The President of each Council is the Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia, and the function of Vice President is held by the minister responsible for regional development, who is also a member of the Council.

Common members of all four bodies are:

• ministers responsible for finance; labor, pension system, family and social policy; defense; science, education and youth; tourism and sport; sea, transport and infrastructure; agriculture, forestry and fisheries; internal affairs; economy; physical planning, construction and state property; health; justice, administration and digital transformation; Croatian veterans; culture and media; foreign and European affairs; environmental protection and green transition, and demography and migration
• the chairperson of the Croatian Parliament committee responsible for regional development
• the director of the Central Agency for Financing and Contracting of European Union Programs and Projects
• the presidents of the Croatian Association of Counties, the Association of Cities in the Republic of Croatia, the Croatian Association of Municipalities, the Croatian Chamber of Economy, the Croatian Chamber of Crafts, the Croatian Chamber of Agriculture, and the Croatian Employers’ Association

Members by Individual Regions

In addition to the common members, regional representatives are appointed to each Council:

• Council for Slavonia, Baranja and Srijem: prefects of Osijek-Baranja, Vukovar-Srijem, Virovitica-Podravina, Požega-Slavonia and Brod-Posavina counties; mayors of Osijek, Vukovar, Virovitica, Požega and Slavonski Brod; directors of county development agencies and the rectors of Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek and the University of Slavonski Brod
• Council for the North: prefects of Bjelovar-Bilogora, Koprivnica-Križevci, Krapina-Zagorje, Varaždin and Međimurje counties; mayors of Bjelovar, Koprivnica, Krapina, Varaždin and Čakovec; directors of development agencies and the rector of the University of Northern Croatia
• Council for Central Croatia: prefects of Karlovac, Sisak-Moslavina and Zagreb counties; mayors of the City of Zagreb, Karlovac and Sisak; directors of development agencies and the rector of the University of Zagreb
• Council for Adriatic Croatia: prefects of Dubrovnik-Neretva, Istria, Lika-Senj, Primorje-Gorski Kotar, Split-Dalmatia, Šibenik-Knin and Zadar counties; mayors of Dubrovnik, Pazin, Gospić, Rijeka, Split, Šibenik and Zadar; directors of regional development agencies and the rectors of the universities in Rijeka, Pula, Zadar, Split and Dubrovnik

Tasks, Work and Costs

The tasks of the Council are the coordination of the implementation of public policies in the area for which a particular Council was established, the coordination of the implementation of the development agreement if one has been concluded for that area, monitoring the use of funds, instruments and programs of the European Union, the European Economic Area and national sources, monitoring the preparation and implementation of development and strategic projects, and providing opinions and recommendations.

The Councils meet as needed, and at least once a year; sessions are held in person, and exceptionally remotely via electronic means. The conclusions of the sessions are published on the website of the Government of the Republic of Croatia, and administrative and professional tasks are performed by the ministry responsible for regional development. The President of the Council, the Deputy President, members and their substitutes are not entitled to reimbursement of expenses nor to remuneration for work in the Council.

With the new framework, the four regions receive permanent coordination bodies headed by the Prime Minister, thereby linking decision-making on development agreements and the drawdown of European funds to the prefects, mayors, development agencies and universities of the respective area.

Original document: Decision on the establishment of the Council for Slavonia, Baranja and Srijem, the Council for the North, the Council for Central Croatia and the Council for Adriatic Croatia, Narodne novine no. 105/2026 of September 18, 2026, Decision no. 1261, Class: 022-03/26-04/402, Registry no: 50301-05/14-26-2, Zagreb, September 17, 2026, signed by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia mr. sc. Andrej Plenković.