Lobbyists: We Can Help Croatia’s Economic Recovery

The lobbying seminar “The Use of Lobbying to Achieve Business Strategy” organized by the Croatian Lobbyists Association (HDL) gathered representatives from the business sector, regional and local government, diplomatic missions in Croatia, and non-governmental organizations.

The speakers were leading Croatian lobbyists accredited in Brussels and experts with international experience in the field of lobbying and public affairs.

Prof. Dr. Mate Granić, president of HDL, emphasized that during a crisis, foreign investors are very cautious about making any investments; therefore, lobbyists can play a crucial role in attracting foreign direct investments (FDI), which are a prerequisite for Croatia’s economic recovery.

Through three presentations, seminar participants were introduced to the basics of lobbying, the methodology of lobbying work, the organization of lobbying campaigns, and lobbying in Brussels through practical examples.

Natko Vlahović, a long-time Brussels lobbyist, stated that Croatian business interests are not directly represented and sufficiently included in decision-making processes, either at the domestic or international level, although this is expected of them.

“By taking a proactive approach, companies can ensure better information and strategic positioning in the market,” Vlahović pointed out, while Dubravko Miholić from the Croatian Exporters illustrated the importance of timely initiating lobbying activities using the example of EU lobbying for sugar quotas, as it often happens in Croatia that lobbying begins when it is already too late, making it difficult or almost impossible to change a proposed or already adopted decision.

Seminar participants agreed that regulating lobbying would lead to greater transparency in the work of state institutions, and the law would eliminate so-called gray lobbying or mediation. Therefore, they called on the Ministry of Justice to initiate a legislative initiative to regulate this profession based on the best European practices.