Zagreb - The Croatian Parliament on Friday amended five judicial laws to align with standards for OECD membership, expected next year.
Changes affect the Courts Act, USKOK (anti-corruption office) Act, Criminal Code, Criminal Procedure Act and Whistleblower Protection Act.
Amendments to the Courts Act implement an EU court ruling in the joined FINA v HANN-INVEST cases, revising provisions on the binding nature of legal opinions adopted by judges' panels and court departments.
The USKOK Act now limits directors to two consecutive terms.
The Criminal Code introduces a new offence, endangering life and property through artificial intelligence, and tightens rules on bribery of MPs. Penalties for human trafficking are increased, including a minimum 10-year sentence when a child victim dies, while minimum jail terms for drug offences rise from one to three years.
Amendments to the Criminal Procedure Act aim to speed up cases, with deadlines of 15 days to respond to lawsuits, 30 days to hold hearings, six months to complete first-instance trials and 30 days for appeal rulings.
The Whistleblower Protection Act extends protection to reports of economic crimes, abuse of office, embezzlement and MP bribery, giving equal protection to those reporting directly to police or prosecutors.
Lawmakers also amended the State Attorney's Office Act so that security vetting applies only to staff handling corruption and organised crime. A new cybercrime unit will be set up, and the State Attorney General may form specialised teams to tackle crimes threatening state assets and public interests.