Zagreb - This week, the Croatian Parliament will amend the Defence Act and the Armed Forces Service Act to create conditions for introducing basic military training. The agenda also includes amendments to this year's state budget.
Parliament will debate the defence laws on Wednesday and vote on Friday. According to current plans, preparatory activities and call-ups for basic military training will begin in November and December, with the first recruits expected in barracks as early as January next year.
Defence Minister Ivan Anušić said last week that the basic training would last two months and that details of the programme and skills to be taught would soon be announced. He added that all participants would undergo a medical examination beforehand to determine their fitness for training.
Those who, for religious or moral reasons, refuse to perform military duties may claim conscientious objection and instead undergo basic training in the Civil Protection Directorate for three months or serve in local government units for four months. Recruits will receive a monthly allowance of €1,100 for military training, while compensation for civilian service will be lower, to be determined by government regulation.
On Thursday, Parliament has reserved time for the second reading of a package of five judiciary-related bills, including amendments to the Whistleblower Protection Act that introduce deadlines for expedited court proceedings.
"The response to a lawsuit must be submitted within 15 days, the main hearing scheduled within 30 days after receiving the response and the first-instance procedure completed within six months. The second-instance court must decide on appeals within 30 days," said Justice, Public Administration and Digital Transformation Minister Damir Habijan.
The amendments also raise the upper limits for penalties against retaliation towards whistleblowers -- up to €100,000 for legal persons, €15,000 for individual entrepreneurs and €6,000 for individuals.
Due to Croatia's bid to join the OECD, Parliament will also discuss amendments to the Agricultural Land Act on Tuesday.
The proposed changes remove the reciprocity condition for cases where agricultural land is inherited by legal or natural persons from countries that are signatories to the OECD Code of Liberalisation of Current Invisible Operations.
Currently, foreign legal and natural persons may not own agricultural land unless otherwise stipulated by international agreements or special regulations. Exceptionally, such persons may inherit ownership rights provided reciprocity exists.
Opposition submits around 50 amendments to the budget revision
On Tuesday, government representatives will respond to around 50 amendments to the state budget revision, mostly submitted by opposition MPs.
Only one amendment came from the ruling majority, submitted by HDZ MP Magdalena Komes, who proposed reallocating €1 million for the construction and equipping of the Sisak School of Economics.
Given past practice, that amendment is likely to be the only one accepted, though the outcome will be known on Friday when Parliament votes on the budget revision and other items.