Article 1

In Article 32(1) of the Standing Orders of the Croatian Parliament (as published in Narodne novine [Official Journal], no. 71/00, 129/00, 117/01, 6/02 – consolidated text, and 41/02, 91/03 and 58/04), sub-paragraph (15) shall be amended to read as follows:
“ – determine the composition of temporary delegations in cases when he/she is invited abroad as the Speaker of Parliament, taking into account adequate representation of both genders.”

Article 2

In Article 44(2), the full stop at the end of the sentence shall be deleted and the following wording shall be added: “, taking into account adequate representation of both genders.”

Article 3

Article 54 shall be amended to read as follows:
“Parliamentary working bodies may invite public officials, scholars, professionals and other persons to sessions in order to obtain their views on matters being discussed at a given session.
“Unless otherwise specified in these Standing orders, a maximum of six public officials, scholars and professionals may be appointed to working bodies with all rights of working body members except for decision-making authority.
“The procedure for the appointment of committee members referred to in paragraph (2) of this Article shall commence with the publication of a public invitation to propose candidates. Any such invitation shall specify the final date for the submission of proposals. Candidates may be proposed by professional institutions, professional organisations, civil society organisations and individuals.
“Any public invitation to propose candidates shall be extended by the Elections, Appointments and Administration Committee. Pursuant to the selection of candidates, the Elections, Appointments and Administration Committee shall present its proposal for the decision on the appointment of committee members under Paragraph (2) of this Article to the Parliament for adoption.”

Article 4

A new Article 54a shall be inserted after Article 54 to read as follows:

“Article 54a

“A parliamentary working body may, pursuant to these Standing Orders, adopt procedural rules governing its work.”

Article 5

In Article 56(1), a new sub-paragraph 4a shall be added after sub-paragraph 4 to read as follows:
“4a. the Defence Committee,”
Sub-paragraph 6 shall be amended to read as follows:
“6. the Committee on the Economy,”
A new sub-paragraph 6a shall be added after sub-paragraph 6 to read as follows:
“6a. the Development and Reconstruction Committee,”
Sub-paragraph 10 shall be amended to read as follows:
“10. the Labour and Social Partnership Committee,”
A new sub-paragraph 10a shall be added after sub-paragraph 10 to read as follows:
“10a. the Health and Social Welfare Committee,”
Sub-paragraph 12 shall be amended to read as follows:
“12. the Committee on Croats outside the Republic of Croatia,”
Sub-paragraph 14 shall be amended to read as follows:
“14. the Physical Planning and Construction Committee,”
A new sub-paragraph 14a shall be added after sub-paragraph 14 to read as follows:
“14a. the Environmental Protection Committee,”
Sub-paragraph 16 shall be amended to read as follows:
“16. the Agriculture, Fishing and Rural Development Committee,”
A new sub-paragraph 16a shall be added after sub-paragraph 16 to read as follows:
“16a. the Regional Development, Forestry and Water Management Committee,”
A new Paragraph (2) shall be inserted after Paragraph (1) to read as follows:
“The Delegation of the Croatian Parliament to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Delegation of the Croatian Parliament to the Parliamentary Assembly of NATO shall have the status of the working bodies specified to in Paragraph (1) of this Article.”

Article 6

In sub-paragraph 1 of Article 63(1), a comma shall be inserted after the words “domestic policy” and the words “and defence” shall be deleted.
In sub-paragraph 3 of the same Article, the words “defence and safety” shall be deleted.
Sub-paragraph 7 of the same Article shall be amended to read as follows:
“ – other matters of internal policy and national security.”

Article 7

A new sub-heading and Articles 64a and 64b shall be inserted after Article 64 to read as follows:

“Defence Committee

“The Defence Committee shall establish and monitor the implementation of policies and, in procedures to enact legislation and other regulations, it shall have the rights and duties of the competent working body in matters pertaining to:
“- the structure and authority of state administrative bodies in the field of defence,
- defence and safety,
- co-operation with bodies in the Republic of Croatia that operate in the fields of defence and safety, and
- other matters of defence and safety.

“Article 64b

“The Defence Committee shall have a chairperson, deputy chairperson and 11 members from among the ranks of parliamentary deputies, while up to 6 additional members may be appointed to the Committee from among public officials, scholars and professionals engaged in matters of the defence system and safety.”

Article 8

The sub-heading above Article 67 shall be amended to read as follows: “Committee on the Economy”.
Article 67 shall be amended to read as follows:
“The Committee on the Economy shall establish and monitor the implementation of policies and, in procedures to enact legislation and other regulations, it shall have the rights and duties of the competent working body in matters pertaining to:
“- the basis of the economic system and the securing of conditions for the operation of markets and the protection of market competition,
- the co-ordination and improvement of economic life,
- commodity stockpiles and current economic trends,
- the electric power industry, shipbuilding and other industries,
- business restructuring and transformation of ownership,
- the securing of conditions for investments by foreign partners and economic relations abroad.”

Article 9

Article 68 shall be amended to read as follows:
“The Committee on the Economy shall have a chairperson, deputy chairperson and 11 members from among the ranks of parliamentary deputies, while an additional 6 members may be appointed to the Committee, in particular, one each from among higher-level trade union representatives, the Croatian Employer Association, the Croatian Chamber of Commerce, and the Croatian Chamber of Trades and Crafts, as well as two representatives of scientific and professional institutions.”

Article 10

A new sub-heading and Articles 68a and 68b shall be inserted after Article 68 to read as follows:

“Development and Reconstruction Committee

“Article 68a

“The Development and Reconstruction Committee shall establish and monitor the implementation of policies and, in procedures to enact legislation and other regulations, it shall have the rights and duties of the competent working body in matters pertaining to:
“- the concept and strategy of the economic development of the Republic of Croatia,
- the economic development of all regions of the Republic of Croatia, particularly those lagging behind in economic development,
- the reconstruction and development of areas where wartime operations were conducted or which were directly affected by wartime destruction and devastation,
- the reconstruction of commercial facilities destroyed in the war,
- economic factors, development of free enterprise, and capital investments of particular importance to the Republic of Croatia, and
- other issues of economic policy, reconstruction and development.

"Article 68b

“The Development and Reconstruction Committee shall have a chairperson, deputy chairperson and 11 members from among the ranks of parliamentary deputies, while up to 6 additional members may be appointed to the Committee, one each from among higher-level trade union representatives, the Croatian Employers Association, the Croatian Chamber of Commerce, and the Croatian Chamber of Trades and Crafts, as well as two representatives of scientific and professional institutions.”

Article 11

In Article 71(1), sub-paragraph 5 shall be deleted.
The former sub-paragraph 6, which shall become sub-paragraph 5, shall be amended to read as follows:
“- international treaties and programmes of international cultural, educational and other co-operation when this is of interest to individual national minorities in the Republic of Croatian and the Croatian minorities in European countries.”
The former sub-paragraphs 7 and 8 shall become sub-paragraphs 6 and 7.

Article 12

The sub-heading above Article 76 shall be amended to read as follows: “Labour and Social Partnership Committee”.
Article 75 shall be amended to read as follows:
“The Labour and Social Partnership Committee shall establish and monitor the implementation of policies and, in procedures to enact legislation and other regulations, it shall have the rights and duties of the competent working body in matters pertaining to:
“- labour and the employment status of employees working in the public and private sectors, and employment and housing policy,
- pension insurance schemes,
- the rights of disabled persons,
- the enhancement of work-space and safety at work
- the enhancement and development of bipartite and tripartite social dialogue, and
- protection of the rights of former political prisoners.”

Article 13

Article 76 shall be amended to read as follows:
“The Labour and Social Partnership Committee shall have a chairperson, deputy chairperson and 11 members from among the ranks of parliamentary deputies, while up to 6 additional members may be appointed, in particular, two from among higher-level trade union representatives, one from the Croatian Employers Association, one from the Croatian Chamber of Commerce, and one from the Croatian Chamber of Trades and Crafts.”

Article 14

A new sub-heading and Articles 76a and 76b shall be inserted after Article 76 to read as follows:

“Health and Social Welfare Committee

“Article 68a

“The Health and Social Welfare Committee shall establish and monitor the implementation of policies and, in procedures to enact legislation and other regulations, it shall have the rights and duties of the competent working body in matters pertaining to:
“- health protection and the organisation of health-care services,
- combating addiction,
- social welfare,
- protection of displaced persons,
- protection of elderly and indigent persons and other matters of social policy and health-care.”

"Article 76b

“The Health and Social Welfare Committee shall have a chairperson, deputy chairperson and 11 members from among the ranks of parliamentary deputies, while up to 6 additional members may be appointed to the Committee, in particular, one from the Croatian Medical Chamber, one from the Croatian Nurses Chamber, three from among health professionals and one from among social welfare professionals.”

Article 15

The sub-heading above Article 79 shall be amended to read as follows: “Committee on Croats outside the Republic of Croatia”.
Article 79 shall be amended to read as follows:
“The Committee on Croats outside the Republic of Croatia shall establish and monitor the implementation of policies and, in procedures to enact legislation and other regulations, it shall have the rights and duties of the competent working body in matters pertaining to:
“- the legal and actual status of the Croatian ethnic communities and Croatian minorities in other countries and the presentation of proposals for measures to improve overall co-operation in order to achieve and protect their rights and preserve their national identity,
- all forms of international and other co-operation wherever this may be in the interest of Croats living in neighbouring countries and throughout the world, as well as the related targeting of financial support,
- the promotion of programmes for the return of Croatian emigrants and the care for Croatian immigrants in the areas of special state care,
- initiatives and suggestions presented by Croats from neighbouring countries,
- the maintenance of regular contacts with the representatives of Croats outside the Republic of Croatia,
- protection of the rights and interests of Croatian citizens living or residing abroad as well as the provision of special care and protection for Croatian ethnic communities outside the Republic of Croatia.”

Article 16

Article 80 shall be amended to read as follows:
“The Committee on Croats outside the Republic of Croatia shall have a chairperson, deputy chairperson and 11 members from among the ranks of parliamentary deputies, while up to 4 additional members may be appointed to the Committee from among public officials, scholars and professionals.”

Article 17

In Article 82, the full stop at the end of the sentence shall be deleted and the following wording shall be added: “from among the ranks of parliamentary deputies, while up to three additional members may be appointed from among representatives of war veterans associations and organisations emerged from the Homeland War.”

Article 18

The sub-heading above Article 83 shall be amended to read as follows: “Physical Planning and Construction Committee”.

Article 83 shall be amended to read as follows:
“The Physical Planning and Construction Committee shall establish and monitor the implementation of policies and, in procedures to enact legislation and other regulations, it shall have the rights and duties of the competent working body in matters pertaining to:
“- the promotion of physical planning for the purposes of more efficient use, management and protection of spatial resources,
- the co-ordination of activities to protect spatial resources,
- the promotion of regional spatial development,
- protected areas of particular interest to the Republic of Croatia and the construction of buildings of importance to the Republic of Croatia,
- the promotion of spatial regulation in the interests of the most effective spatial management, construction and harmonisation of building construction of importance to the Republic of Croatia,
- the utilisation and protection of the architectural heritage,
- the conditions and methods of preparing, adopting and implementing physical planning documents,
- the system to monitor the state of space (the information system for physical planning and spatial status reporting),
- construction site development,
- other physical planning matters, and
- construction.”

Article 19

Article 84 shall be amended to read as follows:
“The Physical Planning and Construction Committee shall have a chairperson, deputy chairperson and 11 members from among the ranks of parliamentary deputies, while an additional two members may be appointed to the Committee from among scholars and professionals.”

Article 20

A new sub-heading and Articles 84a and 84b shall be inserted after Article 84 to read as follows:

“Environmental Protection Committee

"Article 84a

“The Environmental Protection Committee shall establish and monitor the implementation of policies and, in procedures to enact legislation and other regulations, it shall have the rights and duties of the competent working body in matters pertaining to:
“- fundamental solutions to the protection and promotion of comprehensive environmental protection activities pursuant to international criteria,
- measures to monitor, preserve and reinforce the biological and ecological balance between natural resources (the sea, water, air, soil, mineral wealth, flora and fauna) and economic development,
- measures to utilise and manage specific parts of the environment, particularly with regard to specially protected parts of nature,
- the monitoring and analysis of issues concerning nuclear and radiological safety in order to secure a high level of security and effective protection of persons and the environment from ionising radiation,
- the promotion of measures to reverse the current status of environmental degradation and the further prevention of pollution in order to promote the quality of human life and health (municipal and industrial waste treatment, hazardous waste treatment, secondary materials management,
- complaints directed to the Parliament indicating harmful activities concerning environmental degradation and investigation into whether such complaints have valid grounds.”

"Article 84b

“The Environmental Protection Committee shall have a chairperson, deputy chairperson and 11 members from among the ranks of parliamentary deputies, while an additional three members may be appointed from among public officials, scholars and professionals.”

Article 21

The sub-heading above Article 87 shall be amended to read as follows: “Agriculture, Fishing and Rural Development Committee”.
Article 87 shall be amended to read as follows:
“The Agriculture, Fishing and Rural Development Committee shall establish and monitor the implementation of policies and, in procedures to enact legislation and other regulations, it shall have the rights and duties of the competent working body in matters pertaining to agriculture, sea and freshwater fishing, mariculture, veterinary medicine, village, rural communities and rural development.”

Article 22

Article 88 shall be amended to read as follows:
“The Agriculture, Fishing and Rural Development Committee shall have a chairperson, deputy chairperson and 11 members from among the ranks of parliamentary deputies, while an additional three members may be appointed to the Committee from among public officials, scholars and professionals.”

Article 23

A new sub-heading and Articles 88a and 88b shall be inserted after Article 88 to read as follows:
“Regional Development, Forestry and Water Management Committee”.

"Article 88a

“The Regional Development, Forestry and Water Management Committee shall establish and monitor the implementation of policies and, in procedures to enact legislation and other regulations, it shall have the rights and duties of the competent working body in matters pertaining to regional development, forestry and water management.

“Article 88b

“The Regional Development, Forestry and Water Management Committee shall have a chairperson, deputy chairperson and 11 members from among the ranks of parliamentary deputies, while an additional three members may be appointed to the Committee from among public officials, scholars and professionals.”

Article 24

In Article 100(1), sub-paragraph 9 shall be deleted.

Article 25

In Article 101, the full stop at the end of the sentence shall be deleted and the following wording shall be added: “from among the ranks of parliamentary deputies, while an additional three members may be appointed to the Committee from among representatives of non-governmental organisations and professional institutions engaged in the promotion of gender equality and the protection of human rights.”

Article 26

In Article 204(2), the words “by Article 203(5)” shall be replaced by the words “by Article 203(5)”.

Article 27

In Article 226(1), the words “and these Standing Orders” shall be deleted.

Article 28

In the implementation of these Standing Orders, the linguistic standards for vocations and occupations shall be applied in their feminine or masculine form, subject to the actual gender, in compliance with the principles of gender equality.

Article 29

This Decision shall become effective as of the date of its adoption, and it shall be published in Narodne novine [Official Journal of the Republic of Croatia].