General Information
The full membership in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is a
strategic foreign policy objective of Croatia and represents an important step in strengthening its international position.
The OECD is an international organisation gathering 38 most developed countries in the world. It promotes policies aimed at improving economic performance and the quality of life of people around the world. In cooperation with its member countries, the Organisation brings together national governments to share experiences and coordinate approaches for addressing economic and social challenges.
The
OECD Convention was signed on
14 December 1960 in Paris, which became the OECD’s headquarters.
The OECD’s mission is to
exchange experiences and develop policies (“better policies for better lives”) aimed at
increasing employment,
living standards and strengthening financial stability, supporting sustainable development and global trade growth, as well as addressing global challenges.
Since
June 2021, the OECD has been led by
Secretary-General Mathias Cormann, whose mandate lasts until
2031.
Croatia’s Accession Process to the OECD
In
January 2022, the
OECD Council opened accession discussions with six candidate countries:
Croatia, Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Bulgaria and Romania, and in
2024 with
Indonesia and Thailand.
The
Roadmap for Croatia’s Accession Process was adopted on
10 June 2022, thereby formally launching the full membership negotiations. This includes technical reviews across
25 OECD committees, eight of which fall under the responsibility of the
Ministry of Finance.
Economic Surveys
During the Accession process, the
Republic of Croatia is obliged to prepare and publish
two Economic Surveys within a two-year period.
The OECD Economic Surveys are periodic assessments of OECD member countries and selected non-member countries. They provide a comprehensive analysis of
economic developments, key economic and structural challenges, and recommendations for addressing them.
The
1st Economic Survey of Croatia 2023 was presented on
21 September 2023, while the
2nd Economic Survey of Croatia 2026 was presented on
30 January 2026.
Positive Messages from the Economic Survey of Croatia 2026
The Economic Survey presents the OECD’s findings and recommendations, confirming the Croatia’s progress in
economic recovery as well as the long-term resilience of its economy. The OECD also recognises
the efforts and achievements of the Government of the Republic of Croatia in implementing the Recovery and Resilience Plan.
The OECD highlights several challenges Croatia faces, including
population ageing and decline, green transition, housing affordability, and corporate governance in the state-owned and partially state-owned enterprises.
The given recommendations are largely aligned with the reforms whose implementation is already one of the main objectives of the
Government of the Republic of Croatia.
Key Reforms implemented within the scope of the Ministry of Finance during the Accession Process
Since the launch of OECD accession process, numerous reforms have been implemented to align Croatia with
OECD best practices, particularly in the areas of
capital markets, taxation, and governance of state-owned enterprise.
The
Government of the Republic of Croatia adopted the
Strategic Framework for the Development of the Croatian Capital Market 2025-2030, aimed at promoting digitalisation, strengthening corporate governance, increasing market liquidity, developing new financial instruments and encouraging regional cooperation.
Significant tax reforms have also been implemented to reduce administrative burdens for citizens and businesses, particularly in the areas of
VAT and corporate income tax. Through the
Fiskalizacija 2.0 project, inter alia, administrative procedures have been simplified, the threshold for entering the VAT system has been increased, a
zero VAT rate for solar panels has been introduced, and the corporate tax framework has been improved to encourage
investment, research and development (R&D). These measures contribute to strengthening a tax system that is
simple, predictable and supportive of economic growth.
In the area of
state asset management, two important laws were adopted in
July 2025:
the Act on Legal Entities Owned by the Republic of Croatia and the Act on the Centre for Restructuring and Sale. These laws establish a modern and transparent governance framework aligned with
OECD standards.
Membership benefits
The OECD membership brings important economic benefits for citizens by
supporting further reforms and improving living standards through sustainable economic growth. Membership will also improve the business environment for Croatian companies and strengthen
Croatia’s reputation as an attractive destination for international investors. In addition, full OECD membership can have a positive impact on the country’s
credit rating and further strengthen its ties with the
world’s most advanced economies.
Additional Information
OECD Economic Survey of Croatia 2026
https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/oecd-economic-surveys-croatia-2026_b52e3ac0-en.html
OECD Economic Survey 2026 for Croatia presented (in Croatian)
https://mfin.gov.hr/vijesti/predstavljen-ekonomski-pregled-oecd-a-2026-za-hrvatsku/4077
