Review article

THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF LOBBYING

Mirko Smoljić orcid.org/0000-0002-2858-4656 ; North University *

* Corresponding author.

Abstract

This paper analyzes the legal environment of lobbying with particular attention to the 2024 Act on lobbying adopted in the Republic of Croatia. The study places Croatia’s legislation in a comparative context with the laws of Serbia and Hungary, and emphasizes the regulatory mechanisms established at the level of the European
Parliament. The paper defines lobbying as a legitimate democratic activity of interest representation and focuses on institutional frameworks, transparency mechanisms, the registration of lobbyists, and the roles of supervisory bodies. It critically addresses the main implementation challenges, including insufficient control capacity and informal lobbying practices, and offers recommendations to improve regulatory effectiveness and align national practices with EU standards. The analysis affirms the need for a comprehensive and enforceable lobbying framework to enhance transparency, accountability, and public trust in decision-making processes.

Keywords

lobbying; regulation; transparency; public interest; European Parliament

Hrčak ID:

343987

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/343987

Publication date:

15.5.2025.

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