All posts by Mate

31 Oct 2020

Crodiaspora Summit

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(Foto: Crodiaspora/ snimka zaslona)

U organizaciji udruge Croadiaspora organiziran je prvi Crodiaspora summit koji se unatoč pandemiji koronavirusa ipak održava putem video panela i rasprava. Summit je okupio mnogobrojne poslovne ljude i stručnjake iz domovine i inozemstva.HRVATSKAKlara Špančić31. listopada 2020. 09:39

Udruga Crodiaspora osnovana je s ciljem povezivanja hrvatskih iseljenika s domovinom, poticanja međusobne konkretne suradnje, umrežavanja poslovnih ljudi, ali i promicanja hrvatskih interesa diljem svijeta. Jedna od glavnih želja osnivača udruge je stvarati rješenja za izazove i probleme s kojima se Hrvati suočavaju, bez obzira gdje se nalaze, istaknuo je predsjednik udruge Mate Pavković.

 Mate Pavković pripadnik je mlade generacije povratnika. Nakon završenog studija glazbe u Kanadi, odlučio se za diplomski studij na Zagrebačkoj školi ekonomije i menadžmenta, a trenutačno studira međunarodno pravo u Nizozemskoj. Želja mu je, kaže, privući mlade Hrvate iz cijeloga svijeta.

 – Trentačno smo u krizi, ali ovu krizu možemo iskoristiti za povratak Hrvata iz inozemstva. Moram naglasiti da ima puno mladih koji su se odlučili vratiti u Hrvatsku, i sam sam jedan od njih. Mi želimo doći, samo trebamo otvoriti vrata našim iseljenicima, omogućiti im povratak i poslovanje s domovinom. Hrvati izvan RH snaga su naše zemlje – istaknuo je Pavković. Crodiaspora summit

Crodiaspora summit

7:31

Poslovanje, ulaganje i pravni sustav u Hrvatskoj, tržište nekretnina i energija, mogućnosti povratka kroz obrazovanje, globalne perspektive Hrvatske i budućnost hrvatskog sporta, samo su neke od tema Crodiaspora summita čija je važnost, smatra arhitektica i poduzetnica Martina Marinčić Kustra, u konkretnim prijedlozima i savjetima koji će pomoći hrvatskom iseljeništvu, ali i Hrvatskoj.

Hrvatska je zanimljiva stranim investitorima koji nemaju hrvatsko podrijetlo zbog geostrateškog položaja, mnogih prilika koje domaće tržište još nije iskoristilo, ali najviše zbog – kvalitete života.

– Ja surađujem s mnogim strancima koji su prvenstveno istaknuli da im u Hrvatskoj odgovara kvaliteta života. U Hrvatskoj nije sve savršeno riješeno, ali ovdje ima prilika. Ima puno problema koje treba riješiti, ali ako donesete rješenje za te probleme, Hrvatska je poželjna zemlja za život. Ovdje je moguće u sat vremena biti u bilo kojem gradu diljem Europe, možete otići na tržnicu i jesti zdravu hranu. U sat vremena biti na plaži ili otići na skijanje, i to je ono što Hrvatsku čini posebnom – zaključila je Marinčić Kustra. 

Crodiaspora summit jedan je od primjera na koji način Hrvatska može i treba svojim iseljenicima još više otvoriti vrata i pružiti priliku za povratak i poslovanje.

izvor: glashrvatske.hrt.hr

16 Oct 2020

Exclusive Chamber Membership Offer in Co-operation with Crodiaspora

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The Chamber is committed to our Croatian-Canadian community and we are working hard to create new and innovative member benefits that will provide opportunities to connect and network with Croatians in Canada and abroad.

In co-operation with Crodiaspora, all current members who renew their memberships during the remainder of 2020, renew early for 2021 OR join the Chamber (ON/BC/AB Chapters) as a new member will receive access to the Crodiaspora Web Summit 2020.

This is a value of 30€ ($46 CAD) and expires January 31, 2021.The Crodiaspora Web Summit consists of a series of videos which will be released on October 30, 2020.  You will receive digital access to all videos via your email.

The purpose of the Crodiaspora Summit is to discuss solutions to issues facing Croats around the world and to showcase feasible economic paths in which Croats can return or do business with the Homeland.

The Summit will feature high profile, successful representatives from the corporate, legal, political, sports, and tourism sectors of Croatia and its diaspora.

Croatian-Canadian speakers include Victor Dodig (CEO, CIBC), George Kovacic (Upstream Oil and Gas Expert/Energy Advisor), Joe Basic (Managing Director of MPG Southeastern Europe and Partner at SSI Europe), Dennis Rukavina (Partner, Maverick Partners; Founder Metronet),  Adrian Beljo (Head of Center for International Cooperation, Edward Bernays University College), Tihomir Oreskovic (CEO, Xantis Pharma AG; Former Prime Minister of Croatia), John Gasparac (Country Managing Partner, Territory Assurance Leader at PwC), Lucijana Jerkovic (Head of Global PR, Croatian National Tourism Board) and Eugen Susak (Deputy CEO/COO TT Cables).

A full list of speakers can be found here.

Videos to be released include:

Global Croatian Perspectives
The Comparative Advantages of Living in Croatia
Opportunities to Return Through Education
The Croatian Dream
Croatia in the Fourth Industrial Revolution
The Possibilities in Croatian Real Estate
The Legal System in Croatia
The West Hercegovina County
Energy
The Croatian Diaspora and the Future of Croatian Sport
Plans for the National Stadium in Zagreb

Renew your membership or join the Chamber and INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITY’S FUTURE GROWTH AND PROSPERITY.

Email membership forms to Wanita Kelava at contactus@croat.ca or call 416-641-2829 to renew or join and take advantage of this unique opportunity.

If you are a member and would like to update your personal, professional or business profile on our new website please use the Profile Form.

Membership Application Form
(confidential for Chamber records only)

Member Profile Form
(public information to be posted to website profile)

Chamber Brochure 2020

Thank you for your support and together, we make success!

source: croat.ca

14 Oct 2020

Crodiaspora: Croatian Football Federation and successful returnees to talk at virtual summit

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Crodiaspora

By Peter Bury, Editor at Crodiaspora and Politicorp

Life with a pandemic has changed the lives of so many in such drastic ways, but in no way has this stopped Crodiaspora’s efforts in connecting the Croatian diaspora communities across the world with our beloved homeland and all it has to offer.

In fact, the last few months have seen Crodiaspora become officially registered as a non-profit organization which has extended its reach throughout Croatia, Canada, the United States, and Australia so far. Having grown its core administration to an impressive and accomplished group of over 20 global representatives, the organization is poised to make waves in Croatian domestic and diaspora communities through business initiatives and networking opportunities for all.

On the 30th of October, Crodiaspora will be releasing the videos for its online summit, which will feature a wide array of representatives from the corporate, political, sports, tourism, and legal spheres of Croatia and its diaspora communities represented across the world.

This year, Crodiaspora is proudly welcoming national icons, Davor Šuker, Zlatko Dalić, Aljoša Asanović along with Josip Šimunić. Also Global business leaders such as Davor Lukšić will speak about the economic and political situation in the country. this year’s summit will feature expert panels on technology and industry in Croatia and its coordination with the wider global sphere of business at large. With top Croatian executives from influential North American corporations, Crodiaspora has lined up some of the most knowledgeable professionals capable of ushering in a new era for Croatian business, industry, and innovation.

To gain access to this year’s online summit click here.

Both the Center for the Renewal of Culture in Croatia as well as PwC Croatia have been exemplary partners for Crodiaspora and have been fantastic supporters of our joint initiatives of success, prosperity, and renewal of economic hope and growth in Croatia. As such, both will be represented at this year’s summit, stressing the willingness of American and Croatian firms and organizations to collaborate on the things that matter most to Croatians and Croatian diaspora.

Because of the global pandemic which still hampers the way we live, Crodiaspora recognizes that domestic infrastructure in healthcare and education is something that must be highlighted in the foreground of building communities and retaining strength of society. We will be hearing from representatives from some of Croatia’s most highly regarded institutes of higher education like RIT Croatia and Croaticum, which have over the last few years had many come through their programs from the Croatian diaspora communities around the world.

As so many Croatians from the diaspora, in increasing numbers, are seeking to grow their connection to their homeland through business or by purchasing property, Crodiaspora finds it necessary and vital to compile the resources to support these honourable endeavors. To reinforce these efforts, the summit will have substantial panels and presentations on the comparative advantages of living in Croatia, keys to a successful return, and the panel on Croatia’s legal system, which has already proven to be extremely helpful to many through Crodiaspora’s webinar with Don Markušić and Monika Maretić, some of the nation’s top lawyers, who will also be presenting at this year’s summit.

For those who are looking to invest in property or industry in Croatia, the summit will also be highlighting the topics of building in Croatia and well as the nation’s energy industry. With so much real estate potential across the beautiful country, we find it as a personal initiative to have this land invested in by the Croatian diaspora as much as possible, connecting them even more directly to their homeland. From an industrial perspective, the summit will also feature a specialized panel on the national energy industry, with insights given by one of the country’s top economists and successful diaspora returnee from Australia, as well as one of the most well-regarded energy advisors in the region.

This year’s Crodiaspora summit will only cost 30€, allowing for a wider range of participation and greater exposure for the exclusive information that will be offered. If you have already purchased tickets to what would have been the in-person summit this year, refund requests can be accommodated by contacting mate@crodiaspora.com.

Despite the uncertain situation we are all in at the moment, Crodiaspora remains committed to putting forth the most experienced and knowledgeable people to support Croatian interests domestic and abroad. With this in mind, this year’s summit is poised to create lasting networks among diaspora, returnees, and domestic professionals alike, kick-starting the era of economic growth and prosperity that Croatia has been waiting for generations.

source: Croatia Week

13 Oct 2020

VIDEO: Australian-Croatian economist discusses Croatia’s economy after EU accession

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Article by: Peter Bury, Editor at Crodiaspora and Politicorp

As is well known among our Croatian diaspora communities, our base is large, vast, and powerful. Croatian diaspora has a clear and distinct presence in many established nations like the United States, Canada, Australia, Chile, Argentina, and of course throughout the rest of Europe. Although the estimates are rough, it has been recorded that there are over 2 million Croatians living outside of Croatia. This amount, considering that Croatia’s internal population is only just over 4 million is simply extraordinary. With such a global reach, the diaspora communities really hold a lot of hidden potential and influence with regards to their homeland.

The positive impacts of Croatian diaspora can be highlighted through some success stories of individuals who have returned to Croatia from the diaspora and have made real change in the domestic spheres of politics, economics, and society. One such example can be shown through Goran Šaravanja’s detailed career in Croatian commerce as a returnee who was born and raised in Australia.

Goran began his career in Australia at the New South Wales Treasury, which is a government department responsible for financial reporting, advising, and policy development. Shifting focus to Croatia, he worked in the Ministry of Finance, on macroeconomic forecasting and public debt management. In the private sector since 2001, Goran first worked as a regional Senior Economist at the Zagreb subsidiary of Austrian bank Creditanstalt Investment Bank, then moved on to work as Chief Economist at Croatia’s largest bank, Zagrebačka Banka as well as serving on UniCredit’s economic analysis team for four years. Next, from 2012-2017, Goran was the first-ever Chief Economist at INA, in the oil and gas industry, and for his final two years there he also served as the head of Strategy Development. Most recently, Goran has founded a private consulting firm, IMELUM, which acts as an independent source for financial and business advising in southeast Europe.

In a public webinar with Crodiaspora’s Mate Paškanović Pavković, Goran shared some of his vast insights on working in Croatia, the process of returning to the homeland from the diaspora, and some of the prospects for Croatia.

In discussing Croatia’s accession to the European Union and their fit and recent adaptations to the European framework, Goran outlines that Croatia is a clear net recipient in the EU, and since joining the union, Croatia’s exports have surged and risk has diminished as a result of access to the European Single Market and the policy anchor EU membership represents. More recently, Croatia has garnered financial attention through hikes in their credit rating, which now stands as an investment-grade rating by multiple reputable rating agencies.

In terms of Croatia’s political atmosphere, Goran highlighted one major event that confirmed the nation’s path to a stable democracy, and that was the short-lived government of Tihomir Orešković; the first not to serve out its full term. Democracies have built-in mechanisms like early elections, which Orešković faced, that prove democratic resiliency and flexibility in times of struggle, disagreement, and political deadlock. In this specific case, early elections did the work and maneuvered the nation to another government where agreements could be made to facilitate policy introduction.

Now, one of the things that so many people in our diaspora wonder about is the business environment and potential in Croatia. Having substantial experience in that field, Goran talks about his interactions and conversations with foreign investors he met with mostly during his time with Zagrebačka Banka. He explains that their concerns with the Croatian business atmosphere are that there is an evident lack of ambition and lack of real expansionary effort amongst too many domestic businesses. He goes on to say that generally, the tax burden is too high; put another way, for the level of taxation the public sector offers too little in the way of consistent policy formulation and implementation. The legal system remains too cumbersome.

Having said that, Goran has noted marked improvements in his more than 20 years of living and working in Croatia. There is still not enough awareness that the public and private sectors are partners in securing faster, more sustainable growth, not enemies. This would allow tax rates to be lowered, supporting the business environment further and generating even higher tax revenues from which public servants could credibly expect to receive justified pay rises. He believes the focus in the future must be on improving the efficiency of public service provision in order to unlock the public spending cuts many entrepreneurs continue to call for.

This is where the diaspora can really play a transformative role in Croatia’s domestic growth and development. The simple fact is that we have grown up in nations with a different mindset when it comes to business; we have been exposed to more opportunities, and with them, we get a greater degree of natural ambition. With these externally sourced assets, the Croatian diaspora has the potential to come back and act as an economic, political, and social driver for Croatian prosperity now and in the future.

Tasked with a diminishing population, as seen through our diaspora, attracting young people to come and live and work in Croatia must be one of the nation’s top priorities. Goran mentions that the issue with this is that emigration is not a Croatia-specific problem but rather one for all of Eastern Europe, and in any case, the major factor for attracting new professionals is all around stability, and that is something that must simply be fostered over several years. In the context of adverse demographic trends, the pension reform enacted over 20 years ago which introduced mandatory private pension savings is a long-term guarantor of fiscal policy sustainability. Croatia is one of few EU member states in this position, which the European Commission also acknowledged in its most recent Debt Sustainability analysis.

One thing though that has been a central topic regarding Croatia in the European Union is its anticipated entrance to the Eurozone and adopting the euro as their main currency. The euro has the potential to be very good for Croatian commerce and trade as it will reduce transaction costs which are brought upon through currency exchange, reduce economic uncertainty, and provide an increased degree of financial transparency. With these economic stabilizers in place, Croatia will undoubtedly have an enhanced platform with which to advertise their eagerness to welcome new professionals and their ideas into our increasingly stable and reliable nation.

Further, with increased Croatian participation in the European Union by way of joining the Eurozone, our accession to the Schengen Area nears. The Schengen Area is another facet of European connectedness of free movement by way of abolished border stops and customs checks. When Croatia joins the area, it will experience substantial boosts in the overall movement of goods and labour as well as an influx in an already thriving tourism industry.

However helpful these additional EU mechanisms may be, Croatia still has outlying gaps in its own domestic economy. Apart from achieving already mentioned synergies between the public and private sectors, there is a need to broaden perspectives, to drive home that opening up the economy to the world is an opportunity to learn best practice business techniques, access human and financial capital rather than a threat to what has already been achieved. Too often in Croatia, people think they can do everything on their own, that it is almost shameful to cooperate with others including foreign investors. There is so much opportunity for ambitious professionals to build new industries and diversify the national economy into one where no one industry must prop up the entire nation.

The fact still stands that there is such an abundant Croatian population outside of Croatia with such driving passion and ambition for growth and innovation and it would be a shame not to bring back some of that passion to the homeland to support growth and industrial advancements. From agriculture to computer technology, Croatia is a niche market with expanding economic potential by way of the European Union, and it can be a fantastic platform for small businesses to expand and thrive as opposed to being shut out of more established and rigid markets elsewhere.

Goran definitely has some excellent insights on the inner workings of Croatia’s economic system and financial sphere and his expertise is always recommended for anyone looking to invest or get involved in Croatian business, or any business operations in southeast Europe for that matter.

12 Oct 2020

St. Mark’s Square shooting: Man suspected of wounding police officer commits suicide

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Police cordon off St. Mark’s Square after the shooting (Photo: Crodiaspora)

ZAGREB, Oct 12 (Hina) – Following a shooting in Zagreb’s St. Mark’s Square on Monday morning, in which a police officer working as a personal protection officer for the government was wounded, police have said that they have found the man matching the description of the perpetrator and that he has committed suicide.

“The police have found the person who matches the description of the perpetrator in Jabukovac Street. The person has committed suicide. Police are working on establishing the circumstances of the event,” police said.

Police spokeswoman Marina Mandic confirmed to Hina earlier in the day that the police officer was wounded around 8 a.m. and that he was being given medical help.

The head of the city’s Sisters of Charity Hospital, Mario Zovak, where the police officer was taken, said the officer had been shot in the left arm and both sides of his torso but that for the time being, his condition was stable.

Sources in the government have said that the police officer works as a personal protection officer for government members and that at the time of the incident the prime minister was not in the government offices.

St. Mark’s Square is where the parliament and government buildings as well as the Constitutional Court are located.

08 Sep 2020

Land titles reform – Sisyphean task for how much longer?

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September 8, 2020/in Croatia, Investment, Land Titles, Local Government, Policy, Slovenia, Taxation /by Goran Šaravanja

Image by jalandas0 from Pixabay

As someone who grew up in Australia, the concept of incomplete land titles records in Croatia and elsewhere in the region was something that cried out for reform and still does, despite evident progress in recent decades.

Many cultural factors complicate matters

There are many reasons land titles remain unresolved in Croatia and the region. The first is that the process is complex and therefore slow and expensive. Many times, especially in rural areas, the cost of land title registration can exceed the value of the property. As possession is nine tenths of the law, all registering a land title would do is leave you out of pocket. And what if I want to move? Although Croatia has only been independent for 30-odd years, especially in non-urban areas, families have lived in continuity for generations, changing up to six of seven countries (political entities) without moving. Static populations consider these issue differently to mobile ones. Croatia being relatively poorly urbanised, that is a factor any informed policy maker or talented politician will respect. Also, people here rarely borrow off the value of real estate to finance spending.

When time is not a factor and people don’t borrow money to build

If you need to borrow to build or buy real estate, it is important to note that for decades, a clean land title has been a condition for getting a loan. With legislation enabling the legalisation of illegally constructed buildings, a legalised building is another condition borrowers (or hopefuls for receiving EU structural funds) need to fulfil. There are now relatively few unlegalized buildings, contributing to land titles clarity. 

However, many people do not take out loans to construct houses, especially outside the major cities. Often, they have inherited the land they are building on, which can make this a financially rewarding enterprise. Time for them is not a factor. They use family and neighbours to help out and return the favour in turn. Travelling through Croatia you will see many such houses with incomplete facades, or a new storey being put up. If you were wondering why, that is the major factor.

Reasons to define land titles

Defined property rights reduce uncertainty and increase the scope for successful business initiatives. As such, they reduce the perception of, and scope for, corruption and inconsistent implementation of procedures. They are a basis for allowing people to put assets to their best use, thus improving economic opportunities for the country. Yet, land titles reform remains a difficult issue.

So, are we approaching the issue of land titles reform the wrong way? Given how complex the process of land titles registration is, should we perhaps levy a land/property tax first? A property tax would do away with most of the complexities of the current registration system. There are other benefits too. As the cost of holding a property is low in Croatia many apartments and houses are not well maintained. This means the stock of available properties is lower than would otherwise be the case, pushing up the cost of housing. If we are interested in making the place more attractive for young families and to arrest adverse demographic trends, levying property taxes would be one aspect of that approach.

Significant political and structural challenges to a land tax

The cultural factors outlined above are significant barriers to introducing such a tax. In addition, we have a Constitutional Court ruling from 2007. That ruling declared the taxation of unused agricultural land, unimproved land zoned for building and unused company properties unconstitutional. This I find counterintuitive as the state provides infrastructure, defence and many other goods and services on all land. Yet, the ruling limits the ability of the state to motivate productive use that land and generate a return for society.

There is also the case of neighbouring Slovenia, which spent the better part of a decade preparing to introduce a new property tax, only to have it struck down by the Constitutional Court in 2014. Undefined property rights and valuation issues were the reasons. Authorities continue to work on introducing a new property tax (to replace a building land use levy, property tax and forest road fee). Yet, they have been unable to avoid delays .

It also bears keeping in mind that in the 1980s Croatia had a land tax which failed. There were three reasons according to a study by professor Jure Šimović in 1989[1] behind this failure. The first was an inability to realistically value the tax base, the second was incomplete land titles and the third was an under capacitated tax administration. I would argue the tax administration is today much better, but the remaining issues are still relevant, especially valuation.

Any land tax should be net neutral and shift some of the burden onto non-resident owners

Clearly, the government would have to fully fund or provide a grant to people to register their properties. In particular, this applies to rural areas where the cost often exceeds the value of the property in question. Politically, some if not most of the tax burden would have to be transferred from residents to non-resident owners. That happens all over the world – residents, through other taxes, ultimately pay for some of the benefits non-resident owners enjoy. The Constitutional Court ruling of 2007 does allow taxation of holiday homes, of which non-residents own many. And the national government would ideally lower some taxes to ensure the overall tax burden falls, as land taxes would logically be local government taxes. Each of these conditions, as a minimum, would have to be fulfilled for a land tax to survive politically.

I also think that working with Slovenia on the issues of land titles reform and land taxation would be beneficial. We both have many common issues to iron out on these policy areas.

A fair, well thought out process combined with political will is necessary

As unpopular as the concept of a land/property tax has been for the cultural and structural factors outlined in this text, we do need to ask ourselves a couple of questions. Can we realistically simplify land titles registration procedures without a land tax? And perhaps more importantly, even if we had a defined land titles register, would we be able to keep it that way without the burden of a land tax? Also, most EU member states have land taxes as do most OECD members, which is to say the most successful economies on earth. Deep down (on this and many other issues), do we really want to be more like them?

The challenges of implementing land titles reform are significant. This text only scratches the surface of many issues which would need to be thought through. Done correctly, clearing up land titles would support regional development, increase the quality and quantity of the housing stock and motivate better use of assets in the economy.

[1] Šimović, J., 1989. Porezni sistem i porezna politika općina u Jugoslaviji. Zagreb: Institut za javne financije.

source: imelum.com

20 Aug 2020

Unofficial Statute of the Crodiaspora Association

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According to article 13 in the law on associations (“narodne novine” broj 74/14, 70/17, 98/19), the assembly of CRODIJASPORA/CRODIASPORA on the 9th of July 2020, has enacted:

THE STATUTE

AND FUNDAMENTAL PROVISIONS OF THE

CRODIJASPORA/ CRODIASPORA ASSOCIATION

Article 1

This statute regulated the provisions about:

  • The name and Headquarters of the Association- CRODIJASPORA/CRODIASPORA (stated in the further text as association)
  • Who represents the association
  • The stamp specifications of the association
  • The association’s activities according to the association’s goals
  • Goals of the association
  • The activities that will achieve the association’s goals
  • The ways of assuring and notifying the public of the activities of the association
  • Outlining the conditions to become a member, terminate membership, and the rights, obligations, and responsibilities of members. This statute also outlines the disciplinary liabilities of members and the way of handling the membership registry.
  • The administrative bodies of the association, their structure, ways of calling an assembly, elections, revocation, powers, the decision-making process, length of mandates and the procedure of calling assemblies when at the end of mandates of the executive board and liquidator.
  • Ways of solving a dispute and conflicts of interest inside of the association
  • The elections and regulations pertaining to summoning the liquidator of the association
  • The acquisition, use and disposal of assets of the association
  • The procedure pertaining to disposing and liquidating assets if the association ceases to exist
  • The management of a possible profit
  • And the process in which the association ceases to exist and the process pertaining to assets after the association ceases to exist

Article 2

The name of the association is: CRODIJASPORA/CRODIASPORA

The shortened name of the association is: CRODIA.

The headquarters of the association is:  Tituša Brezovačkog 2, 10000 Zagreb. The decision to change the headquarters location is decided by the assembly.

Article 3

The association is registered at the general administrative office (ured za opcu upravu) in the City of Zagreb.

CRODIJASPORA/CRODIASPORA is a non-profit legal entity

Article 4

The association has a stamp

The stamp of the association: is circular in shape with a diameter of 4cm with the wirtten text along the edges of the stamp: CRODIASPORA and the text CRODIASPORA in the middle.

Article 5

The President, First and Second Vice Presidents independently represents the association.

A person with the authority to represent the members of the association:

  • Answers to the legality of the work of the association
  • Leads work of the association according to the decisions of the assembly, if the statute does not describe otherwise.
  • Is responsible for submitting suggestions to the assembly for the financial report
  • Delivers the records of an assembly meeting to the association office in which the register of association is located.
  • Enters contracts and undertakes other legal work in the name of the association
  • Performs other work in accordance with the law, statute, and acts of the association

The assembly can also grant other people the right to represent the association

SECTION II

THE GOALS AND ACTIVITIES OF THE ASSOCIATION

Article 6

The goal of the association is to establish a forum which enables the exchange of ideas and experiences between émigré Croatians and Croatians who live within the republic of Croatia. Crodiaspora promotes co-operation between business entities who operate within and outside of the republic of Croatia.

Article 7

According to the goals in Article 6, the correlating activities of the association are:

  • promoting meetings between émigré Croatians and Croatians who live within the republic of Croatia.
  • encouraging cooperation between émigré Croatians and Croatians who live within the republic of Croatia.
  • connecting émigré Croatians and Croatians who live within the republic of Croatia economically, culturally and in other fields of interest.
  • Starting initiatives intended for business entities in the republic of Croatia with the goal of advancing business activity within and outside the republic of Croatia.
  • The promotion of measures that will contribute to protecting the interest of members by organizing round table discussions, lectures, seminars, panel discussions, and other activities.
  • Maintaining partner relationships with domestic and international business entities within and outside of the Republic of Croatia.
  • Advocating for the rights and interests of Croatians in Croatia and in the Croatian diaspora.

Article 8

The work of the association is public. The publication of the association’s work is in line with the provisions of this statute, and namely:

  • Timely membership reporting about the work of the association and significant events, written reports at important gatherings or in another appropriate manner.
  • Public notification

SECTION III

AREAS OF WORK ACCORDING TO THE GOALS OF THE ASSOCIATION

Article 9

The association according to the goals of the association works to promote and encourage economic and international cooperation

SECTION IV

MEMBERSHIP

Article 10

The executive board makes decisions about accepting members. All people who submit membership requests will be notified of their acceptance into the association in writing.

After a member is accepted into the association, the accepted member will receive a bill with a monetary amount owed for the membership fee which will be due within 3 months of the time the statement is issued to the prospective member. The beginning of the membership period is from when the person pays the membership fee until the next year on the same date.

After becoming a member, members are expected to “duly fulfill their obligations” to the association all while paying their membership fee on time.

Someone becomes a member when it is written in the membership registry which is run by the executive director.

The membership registry is either electronic or is of another acceptable format and it is necessary that it contains members’ name, personal identification numbers, dates of birth, the dates they were accepted into the association, the dates that the membership will expire/member has ended their membership, and other information that the registry finds pertinent to the association.

The membership registry is always available for inspection by members as well as government entities, at their request.

Article 11

A member of the association can become any member or take up any position in the association.

A member of the association can authorize another person to represent them in front of the governing bodies of the association.

Article 12

The assembly at the request of the executive board decides the yearly amount for membership.

The membership fee is established as a yearly, one-time amount.

Article 13

The rights and obligations of a member are:

  • All members of the association who have duly fulfilled their obligations are authorized to attend and vote at assemblies of the association.
  • All members are expected to participate in the activities of the association.
  • Members of the association can enjoy in the benefits resulting from the activities of the association stated in article 7 of this statute.
  • Protecting and uplifting the public image of the association is expected.
  • Protecting the tangible assets and executing their commitments as a member of the association.
  • Members of the association are responsible to work in accordance with the statute and all written rules, ethical principles of the association, as well as day to day business procedures of the association.

Article 14

Membership is terminated when:

  • When a member voluntarily terminates membership
  • A member does not pay their membership fee
  • Exclusion and expulsion of the member

A member is erased from the membership registry without any special decision if the member does not pay the yearly membership fees within 3 months of the issuance of a bill.

The decision to exclude and expel a member from the group is decided by the executive board.  It takes 3 (or 4) of the executive board members to vote for exclusion and expulsion of the member.

The procedure to exclude and expel a member is based on the request of at least 3 members of the association. The expelled member has the right within 15 days, accounting from the day the decision was delivered, to submit a complaint to the assembly of the association.

The assembly is responsible to resolve the complaint within 30 days, accounting for the day that the complaint was delivered. The decision taken by the assembly of the association about the complaint, is final.

Article 15

The association can join an alliance of associations and other international NGOs.

The decision to join is made by the assembly.

SECTION V

DISCIPLINARY LIABILITIES OF THE MEMBERS

Article 16

Members of the association accept the obligations and responsibilities which are outlined in the laws, rules and regulations of this statute and other formal acts of the association.

The members of the association are responsible and liable if violating member obligations and responsibilities occur such as the following:

  • Breaching the legal and other obligations in terms of the activities of the association
  • Disrespecting the provisions of the statute
  • Disrespecting the decisions of the governing bodies of the association
  • Failing to execute commitments
  • Unconscionable execution of obligations which caused material damage to the association
  • Unconscionable or unlawful disposal of assets of the association
  • Defaming and damaging the reputation of the association

Article 17

Disciplinary liability of the members of the association is established by disciplinary procedure.

The disciplinary procedure can be initiated by any member of the association.

The disciplinary procedure is run and imposed by the assembly of the association.

In the disciplinary procedure, the circumstances are established describing why there is a violation of the member’s obligations and responsibilities, the severity of the violation and the damage occurred by the association.

Article 18

For an established violation of a member’s obligations and responsibilities, the following disciplinary actions can be imposed:

  • A written warning
  • Exclusion and expulsion from the association

The decision about disciplinary measures will be explained to the member in question and others liable parties.

Article 19

A member of the association who has been imposed by disciplinary measures of expulsion from the association also has the right within 15 days, accounting for the day when the decision was delivered, to submit a complaint to the assembly of the association.

The assembly of the association is responsible to settle the complaint within 30 days accounting for the day that the complaint was submitted.

The decision of the assembly of the association is final.

Article 20

Every member of the association has the right to send a written warning to the president about them disrespecting the provisions of the statute or the irregularity in the implementation of a decision of the governing bodies of the association.

Every member has the right to send a written complaint about the work of an individual or governing body of the association.

The president of the association is responsible to respond to the warnings and complaints within 30 days of receiving them.

SECTION VI

WAYS OF SOLVING DISPUTES AND CONFLICTS OF INTEREST WITHIN THE ASSOCIATION

Article 21

If there is a conflict between members of the association which convolutes or inhibits the work of the association and the conflict cannot be solved in an amicable way, the members of the association are responsible to attempt to solve the conflict in accordance with the law on reconciliation.

If the reconciliation procedure fails, members of the association can settle the conflict in front of a local court.

The members of the association in all activities relating to the interest and representation of the association need to act honorably, respectfully, conscientiously, responsibly, and unbiased in protecting their own credibility and the credibility of the association.

In executing the activities of the association, members cannot put their own private interest above the interest of the association.

In the instance that the private interests of a member of the association opposes the interest of the association or when a private interest influences or can influence the impartial work of the member of the association in doing their work for the association, the member of the association who finds themselves in the conflict of interest is responsible without delay to notify the president of the association and if it is possible, exclude themselves from further work on specific activities.

In the case that there are doubts about a possible conflict of interest, any member of the association can ask the opinion of the assembly.

In the instance that a conflict of interest arises, the assembly is responsible to mitigate the conflict to protect the interest of the association.

SECTION VII

THE GOVERNING BODIES OF THE ASSOCIATION

Article 22

The entities of the association are

  • Assembly
  • Executive board
  • President
  • First Vice president
  • Second Vice president
  • Secretary
  • Treasurer
  • Executive director

ASSEMBLY

Article 23

The assembly is the highest managing body in the association. The assembly is composed of all the members in the association and is considered one legal body of the association.

Article 24

The assembly of the association:

  • Composes the statute and is responsible for amendments
  • Elects and dismisses people for representing the association
  • Elects and dismisses other bodies of the association
  • Decides on joining alliances, communities, networks, and other forms of connecting associations
  • Implements a working and financial plan for the following calendar year and a yearend report about the previous year’s work
  • Implements the yearly financial report
  • Decides on changing the goals and activities, economic activities, discontinuation of work, and delegate the assets of the association
  • Decides the membership fee
  • Decides on the outcomes of formal complaints of those who were expelled from the association

Article 25

The assembly can be elected, meet regularly, and can meet in extraordinary circumstances.

The assembly regularly sits for a meeting once a year, and if needed a special sitting of the assembly can be called.

The sitting of the assembly for elections is held once a year.

The sitting for the assembly is called by the president of the association.

In the decision for calling the assembly the president establishes the agenda for the meeting, the day and place where the sitting will take place.

The president, and in the case of the absence of the president the First and Second Vice Presidents, are responsible to call the sitting of the assembly when 1/3 of the assembly looks to have a sitting of the assembly.

In their request for a sitting of the assembly, the members submitting the request are required to suggest an agenda for the meeting.

If the President of the association does not call a sitting of the assembly within 15 days from the day the request is delivered according to lines 6 and 7 of this article, the people requesting the sitting will call the sitting of the assembly. The request needs to contain the request of the agenda, place and the date of the sitting of the assembly.

In the case that the governing bodies are at the end of their mandates, the assembly can call the last person that is authorized to represent the association in the association registry, or, 1/3 of the members of the association, that is written in the membership registry right before the mandates are about to end for the governing bodies of the association.

Article 26

The assembly presides over the president of the association or in his absence the First or Second Vice president can preside in the president’s place.

In the absence of the president, the First and Second Vice President of the association will at the beginning of the assembly publicly ask to vote and specify a person who will preside the sitting.

Absentee voting is possible, through electronic communication.

The recorder will keep track of the work at the sitting, and the notes taken will be permanently kept in the association’s archives.

Article 27

The assembly’s decision is considered valid if the majority vote includes over half of all members of the assembly if they are present, and a decision is made, and if half of the present members vote for the resolution and if the statute does not outline a special majority.

Article 28

The executive board is made up of 5 members.

The executive board is the main strategic and supervisory body, and it is made up of the President, First and Second Vice president, secretary, and treasurer, of which one member of the executive board acts as the executive director.

Article 29

A member can have, at most, 2 consecutive terms on the board.

Article 30

The board monitors and is responsible for the work of the association between the two sittings of the assembly.

The board will

  • Determine the strategies, goals, and policies of the association
  • Name the executive director
  • Monitor the work of the executive director and will monitor that the director is working according to the relevant laws, rules, the provisions in the statute and policies of the association
  • Handle the disciplinary procedure
  • Do all other work that is not the prescribed work in this statute intended for other governing bodies

Article 31

The board will have regular meetings at least 4 times a year.

Meetings call upon the executive director to be present.

The board makes decisions with voting, and the decisions are made by the majority of votes of the attending members.

Distance voting is also permissible by using electronic means of communication.

PRESIDENT

Article 32

The President has the executive function and other tasks outlined in this statute.

The president is elected by the assembly of the association and has a mandate of 10 years.

Article 33

The president:

  • Represents the nonprofit
  • Calls for meetings of the assembly
  • Manages the work of the assembly of the association
  • Determines new proposals for the operating plan and statute which is submitted after the assembly has considered and accepted the proposals
  • Determines proposals for the association’s activities and working plans
  • Takes care of executing adopted work plans and provisions from the assembly of the association
  • Names a commission and other similar governing bodies when needed, and delegates the commission’s and/or governing body’s tasks
  • Works to promote and educate the public about the work of the association
  • Does other activities that are not outlined by the statutes and other general acts of the association

Article 34

The president of the association is also the president of the executive board and can call for and manage meetings of the executive board, call for the yearly sitting of the assembly and manage the yearly and any other additional meetings of the assembly and executive board. The president submits reports about the work of the association to the assembly.

Article 35

For their work, the president is liable to the assembly of the association.

The president sends a yearly report about the assemblies’ work.

FIRST VICE PRESIDENT

Article 36

In the case that the president is absent or unable to attend, the First Vice President can replace the president.

The First Vice President is elected by the assembly for a 10-year term.

SECOND VICE PRESIDENT

Article 37

In the case that the President and the First Vice President are absent or are unable to attend, the Second Vice President can replace the President and First Vice President.

The Second Vice President is elected by the assembly for a 10-year term.

SECRETARY

Article 38

The secretary of the association is elected and named by the assembly for a mandate of one year for the task of professional and administrative work in the association.

TREASURER

Article 39

Treasurer is responsible to:

  • Manage the assets of the association
  • Monitor the material and financial business of the association

Article 40

The treasurer of the association is elected for a 10-year term.         

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Article 41

The executive director is responsible for taking care of everyday business of the association, deciding the internal organization, the hiring of employees and other questions relating to the management of the association.

The executive director gives a report to the executive board about the activities of the association.

The executive director oversees the member directory of the association’s commissions and other working bodies.

Article 42

For work in specific fields of interest of the association, the assembly or the president can establish a temporary or permanent commission or other working body.

The decision to establish a commission or other working body needs to include the group of people involved, their tasks, the time of when they will establish this group and the responsibilities for doing their work.

VIII

ASSETS AND WAYS OF ACQUIRING ASSETS

Article 42

Assets of the association include:

  • money which the association acquires through membership fees, voluntary contributions, and gifts
  • money which the association acquires through activities that has accomplished the association’s goals
  • doing activities according to article 31 in the law on associations
  • financing programs and projects of the association from a government fund or from the finances of an individual, local or regional governmental office and funds or other international sources, such as other monetary means acquired in accordance with the law
  • the association’s immovable and moveable property
  • other rights associated with or on their assets

Article 44

The association disposes its assets only in achieving their goals and doing their activities according to the statute, and according to the law.

The spending and disposal of assets is decided by the assembly.

The association manages assets in accordance with the regulations about material and financial business of non-profit organizations.

The association is responsible for the financial records and creates a financial report based on the regulations which is defined by the regulation about financial business and accounting of an association organizations.

All revenues and expenses are described in the financial plan which is decided for the calendar year and it is valid throughout the year that it is prescribe for.

Towards the end of the fiscal cycle of the financial plan, there will be a final financial report of the year’s revenues and expenses.

Article 45

The financial report about the revenues, expenses and other material assets will be submitted by the president to the assembly for consideration and acceptance by the assembly.

Article 46

As their obligation, the association is liable for all their assets. The members of the association and the members of the association’s governing bodies are not liable for this obligation.

Article 47

The association and people with the authority to represent the association, are liable for the damage done in the association or from the association to a third party according to the general regulations about liabilities for damage.

IX

LIQUIDATOR

Article 48

The liquidator represents the association in the liquidation procedure and from the initiation of the liquidation procedure the liquidator registers as the authorized person for representing the association until the procedure is complete and the association is removed from the association registry.

Article 49

The liquidator is elected by the assembly without a length of time for a mandate, meaning unless the liquidator is dismissed, or the assembly elects another liquidator.

Article 50

The liquidator is chosen amongst the members of the association, they need to have the professional experience and knowledge with how to dispose of and liquidate property and assets.

The liquidator has the right to ask for financial compensation for their work from the association to the amount the assembly deems at their first sitting after the liquidator is named.

Section X

CESSATION OF EXISTENCE

Article 51

The association ceases to exist in the cases of the aforementioned law.

In the case of the cessation of existence on the grounds of the assembly’s decision, the cessation of existence needs to have 2/3 of attending members of the assembly voting against the continuation of the association to exist.

In the case that the association ceases to exist, the assets, after settling everything with the creditor and the cost of the liquidator, legal and other procedures, is given to the association “Centar za obnovu culture-COK”, OIB: 12879317978, in Zagreb, on the bases of the decision by the assembly of the association.

The association does not have the right to share the assets of the association with the founders of the association, the members of the association, people authorized to represent the association, employees and any other people connected with these aforementioned parties.

Section XI

TRANSITIONAL AND FINAL PROVISIONS

Article 52

The statute of the association is decided by the assembly with a 2/3 vote of the present members after the conducted discussion.

This statute was enacted at the sitting of the assembly on the 9th of July 2020. This statute enters into force on the day it was enacted and will be applied on the day the association is registered in the association registry of the republic of Croatia.

This registry can be changed and amended with the decision of the assembly with a majority of members who attended the assembly voting for the changes under the condition that the amendments are sent to the members of the association at the latest when the invitation for calling the assembly is sent out.

Article 53

Interpretation of the provisions in this statute are given by the assembly of the association.

Other acts are interpreted by the president of the association.

In Zagreb, July 9th, 2020.

Matija Mathew Pavkovic

President of the Crodiaspora Association

20 Aug 2020

Neslužbeni statut Crodiaspora udruge

by /
in
  /

For the Statute in English Click here.

Na temelju članka 13. Zakona o udrugama („Narodne novine“ broj 74/14, 70/17, 98/19), skupština CRODIJASPORE / CRODIASPORE održana 9. srpnja 2020, donijela je

S T A T U T

CRODIJASPORA / CRODIASPORA

I

O S N O V N E    O D R E D B E

Članak 1.

Ovim Statutom reguliraju se odredbe o:

  • nazivu i sjedištu Udruge –  CRODIJASPORA / CRODIASPORA (u daljnjem tekstu: Udruga);
  • zastupanju Udruge;  
  • izgledu pečata Udruge;
  • području djelovanja sukladno ciljevima;
  • ciljevi;
  • djelatnostima kojima se ostvaruju ciljevi;
  • načinu osiguranja javnosti djelovanja Udruge;
  • uvjetima i načinu učlanjivanja i prestanka članstva, pravima, obvezama i odgovornosti, te stegovnoj odgovornosti članova i načinu vođenja popisa članova;
  • tijelima Udruge, njihovom sastavu, načinu sazivanja sjednica, izboru, opozivu, ovlastima, načinu odlučivanja i trajanju mandata te načinu sazivanja skupštine u slučaju isteka mandata;
  • načinu rješavanja sporova i sukoba interesa unutar udruge;
  • izboru i opozivu likvidatora Udruge;
  • načinu stjecanja i raspolaganja imovinom Udruge;
  • postupku s imovinom u slučaju prestanka Udruge;
  • raspolaganju s mogućom dobiti; te
  • prestanku Udruge i postupku s imovinom u slučaju prestanka Udruge.

Članak 2.

Naziv udruge je: CRODIJASPORA / CRODIASPORA.

Skraćeni naziv udruge je: CRODIA.

Sjedište Udruge je: Tituša Brezovačkog 2, 10000 Zagreb. Odluku o promjeni adrese sjedišta donosi Skupština.

Članak 3.

Udruga je registrirana pri Gradskom uredu za opću upravu Grada Zagreba.

Udrugaje neprofitna pravna osoba.

Članak 4.

Udruga ima pečat.

Pečat Udruge je: okruglog oblika promjera 4 cm s upisanim tekstom uz rub koji glasi: CRODIASPORA te tekstom CRODIASPORA u sredini.

Članak 5.

Udrugu zastupa Predsjednik, Prvi i Drugi potpredsjednik, pojedinačno i samostalno.

Osoba ovlaštena za zastupanje društva:

  • odgovara za zakonitost rada udruge;
  • vodi poslove udruge sukladno odlukama skupštine, ako statutom nije drukčije propisano;
  • odgovorna je za podnošenje skupštini prijedloga godišnjeg financijskog izvješća;
  • dostavlja  zapisnik s redovne sjednice skupštine nadležnom uredu koji vodi registar udruga;
  • sklapa ugovore i poduzima druge pravne radnje u ime i za račun udruge; te
  • obavlja i druge poslove u skladu sa zakonom, statutom i aktima udruge.

Skupština može ovlastiti i druge osobe za zastupanje Udruge.

II

C I LJ E V I   I   D J E L Ahe T N O S T I   U D R U G E

Članak 6.

Cilj Udruge je osnivanje foruma za razmjenu ideja i iskustva između iseljenih Hrvata i Hrvata koji žive u Republici Hrvatskoj, te promicanje suradnje između poslovnih subjekata koji djeluju izvan i u Republici Hrvatskoj.

Članak 7.

Radi ostvarivanja ciljeva navedenih u članku 6., djelatnosti Udruge su:

  • promicanje susreta iseljenih Hrvata i Hrvata koji žive u Republici Hrvatskoj;
  • poticanje međusobne suradnje iseljenih Hrvata i Hrvata koji žive u Republici Hrvatskoj;
  • povezivanje iseljenih Hrvata i Hrvata koji žive u Republici Hrvatskoj na gospodarskim, kulturnim i drugim poljima;
  • pokretanje inicijativa prema poslovnim subjektima u Republici Hrvatskoj sa ciljem unaprjeđenja poslovanja poslovnih subjekata u Republici Hrvatskoj i izvan Republike Hrvatske;
  • promicanje mjera koje pridonose i štite interes članova organiziranjem okruglih stolova, predavanja, seminara, panel diskusija te drugim aktivnostima;
  • održavanje partnerskih odnosa sa domaćim i međunarodnim poslovnim subjektima u Republici Hrvatskoj i izvan Republike Hrvatske; te
  • zalaganje za prava i interese Hrvata u Republici Hrvatskoj i u iseljeništvu.

Članak 8.

Rad udruge je javan. Javnost rada Udruge ostvaruje se na načine utvrđene Statutom, poimence:

       –   pravodobnim izvješćivanjem članstva o radu Udruge i značajnim događajima, pisanim           izvješćima, na posebnim skupovima ili na drugi prikladan način; te

       –   javnim priopćavanjem.

III

PODRUČJE DJELOVANJA SUKLADNO CILJEVIMA

Članak 9.

Udruga sukladno ciljevima Udruge djeluje u području gospodarstva i međunarodne suradnje.

IV

Č L A N S T V O   U   U D R U Z I

Članak 10.

Upravno vijeće donosi odluku o prijemu u članstvo. Svi podnositelji zahtjeva koji budu primljeni u Udrugu biti će pisano obaviješteni o prijemu.

Nakon prijema u članstvo, svaki će član primiti račun za godišnju članarinu te je dužan isti podmiriti u roku od tri mjeseca od dana dospijeća na izdanom računu. Smatrati će se da članstvo teče od dana prijema u članstvo nakon što član podmiri članarinu.

Nakon prijema u članstvo, smatrat će se da članovi “uredno ispunjavaju obveze” prema

Udruzi sve dok plaćaju članarinu na vrijeme.

Članom Udruge se postaje upisom u registar članova koji vodi Izvršni direktor Udruge.

Registar članova vodi se elektronički ili na drugi prikladan način i obvezno sadrži podatke o osobnom  imenu (nazivu), osobnom identifikacijskom broju (OIB), datumu rođenja, datumu prijema u Udrugu, te datumu prestanka članstva u Udruzi, a može sadržavati i druge podatke.

Registar članova uvijek je dostupan na uvid svim članovima i nadležnim tijelima, na njihov zahtjev.

Članak 11.

Članom Udruge može postati svaka fizička osoba i pravna osoba.

Član Udruge može opunomoćiti drugu osobu da ga zastupa u njegovo ime i za njegov račun pred tijelima Udruge. 

Članak 12.

Skupština na prijedlog Upravnog vijeća Udruge određuje godišnji iznos članarine.

Članarina je utvrđena u godišnjem, jednokratnom iznosu.

Članak 13.

Prava i obveze članova su:

  • svi članovi Udruge koji uredno ispunjavaju obveze ovlašteni su prisustvovati i glasovati na Skupštini Udruge;
  • sudjelovanje u aktivnostima Udruge;
  • članovi Udruge mogu uživati sve koristi koje proizlaze iz djelatnosti Udruge navedenih u članku 7. ovog Statuta;
  • čuvanje i podizanje ugleda Udruge;
  • čuvanje materijalnih dobara i izvršenje preuzetih obveza; te
  • članovi Udruge su dužni djelovati u skladu s ovim Statutom i svim objavljenim pravilnicima i procedurama Udruge i etičkim principima u svim svojim poslovnim transakcijama i poslovima s Udrugom.

Članak 14.

Članstvo u Udruzi prestaje:

        –   dragovoljnim istupom;

        –   neplaćanjem članarine; te

        –   isključenjem.

Član se briše iz Registra članova bez posebne odluke ukoliko ne plati članarinu za tekuću godinu u roku od tri mjeseca od dana dospijeća na izdanom računu.

Odluku o isključenju člana iz Udruge donosi Upravno vijeće ukoliko barem trojica članova Upravnog vijeća glasuju za isključenje.

Postupak isključenja se pokreće na osnovu prijedloga najmanje tri člana Udruge. Isključeni član ima pravo u roku od 15 dana, računajući od dana dostave odluke, podnijeti žalbu Skupštini Udruge.

Skupština je dužna riješiti žalbu u roku od 30 dana, računajući od dana dostave žalbe. Odluka Skupštine Udruge o žalbi je konačna.

Članak 15.

Udruga se može udružiti u saveze udruga i u međunarodne udruge.

Odluku o udruživanju donosi Skupština.

V

STEGOVNA ODGOVORNOST ČLANOVA

Članak 16.

Članovi Udruge preuzimaju obveze i odgovornosti koje proizlaze iz zakona i drugih pravnih propisa, ovog Statuta i drugih akata Udruge.

Članovi Udruge stegovno odgovaraju za povredu članskih obveza i odgovornosti:

  • kršenje zakonskih i drugih obveza u svezi djelovanja Udruge;
  • nepoštivanje odredaba Statuta;
  • nepoštivanje odluka tijela upravljanja Udruge;
  • neizvršavanje preuzetih obveza;
  • nesavjesno izvršavanje obveza zbog čega je nastala materijalna šteta Udruzi;
  • nesavjesno ili nezakonito raspolaganje imovinom Udruge; te
  • narušavanje ugleda Udruge.

Članak 17.

Stegovna odgovornost članova Udruge utvrđuje se u stegovnom postupku.

Stegovni postupak može pokrenuti bilo koji član Udruge.

Stegovni postupak vodi i stegovne mjere izriče Skupština Udruge.

U stegovnom postupku utvrđuju se okolnosti uslijed kojih je došlo do povrede članskih obveza i odgovornosti, težina povrede i šteta nastala za Udrugu.

Članak 18.

Za utvrđenu povredu članskih obveza i odgovornosti mogu se izreći sljedeće stegovne mjere:

  • pisana opomena; te
  • isključenje iz Udruge.

Odluka o stegovnoj mjeri mora biti obrazložena.

Članak 19.

Član Udruge kojem je izrečena stegovna mjera isključenja iz Udruge i ima pravo u roku od 15 dana, računajući od dana dostave odluke, podnijeti žalbu Skupštini Udruge.

Skupština Udruge je dužna riješiti žalbu u roku 30 dana računajući od dana dostave žalbe.

Odluka Skupštine Udruge o žalbi je konačna.

Članak 20.

Svaki član Udruge ima pravo pisanim putem upozoriti Predsjednika na nepoštivanje odredbi Statuta ili nepravilnosti u provedbi odluka tijela Udruge.

Svaki član Udruge ima pravo pisane pritužbe na rad pojedinih članova ili tijela Udruge.

Na upozorenja i pritužbe člana, Predsjednik je dužan odgovoriti pisano u roku 30 dana od njihova primitka.

VI

NAČIN RJEŠAVANJA SPOROVA I SUKOBA INTERESA UNUTAR UDRUGE

Članak 21.

Ako postoji spor između članova Udruge koji otežava ili onemogućava rad Udruge te se ne može riješiti na sporazumni način, članovi Udruge dužni su pokušati taj spor riješiti u skladu sa tada važećim Zakonom o mirenju. 

Ako postupak mirenja ne uspije, članovi Udruge spor rješavaju pred mjesno nadležnim općinskim sudom.

Članovi Udruge u svim poslovima od interesa i značaja za Udrugu moraju postupati časno, pošteno, savjesno, odgovorno i nepristrano čuvajući vlastitu vjerodostojnost i vjerodostojnost Udruge. 

U obavljanju djelatnosti Udruge članovi ne smiju svoj privatni interes stavljati iznad interesa Udruge.

U slučaju da su privatni interesi člana Udruge u suprotnosti s interesom Udruge ili kad privatni interes utječe ili može utjecati na nepristran rad člana Udruge u obavljanju djelatnosti Udruge, član Udruge koji se zatekne u sukobu interesa dužan je o tome bez odlaganja izvijestiti Predsjednika Udruge i ako je moguće, izuzeti se od daljnjeg rada na konkretnoj djelatnosti.

U slučaju dvojbe o mogućem sukobu interesa, bilo koji član Udruge može zatražiti mišljenje Skupštine.

U slučaju pojavljivanja mogućeg sukoba interesa Skupština je dužna razriješiti ga tako da zaštiti interes Udruge.

VII

T I J E L A   U D R U G E

Članak 22.

Tijela Udruge su:

  • Skupština;
  • Upravno vijeće;
  • Predsjednik;
  • Prvi potpredsjednik;
  • Drugi potpredsjednik;
  • Tajnik;
  • Blagajnik; te
  • Izvršni direktor

SKUPŠTINA

Članak 23.

Skupština je najviše tijelo upravljanja Udrugom. Skupštinu sačinjavaju svi članovi Udruge, te po jedan predstavnik pravne osobe članice Udruge.

Članak 24.

Skupština Udruge:

  • donosi Statut i njegove izmjene i dopune;
  • bira i razrješava osobe ovlaštene za zastupanje;
  • bira i razrješava druga tijela udruge;
  • odlučuje o udruživanju u saveze, zajednice, mreže i druge oblike povezivanja udruga;
  • usvaja plan  rada i financijski plan za sljedeću kalendarsku godinu i izvješće o radu za prethodnu kalendarsku godinu;
  • usvaja godišnje financijsko izvješće;
  • odlučuje o promjeni ciljeva i djelatnosti, gospodarskih djelatnosti, prestanku rada i raspodjeli preostale imovine udruge;
  • donosi odluku o statusnim promjenama;
  • odlučuje i o drugim pitanjima za koja statutom nije utvrđena nadležnost drugih tijela udruge;
  • odlučuje o visini članarine; te
  • odlučuje o žalbama članova na odluke o isključenju iz Udruge.

Članak 25.

Skupština može biti redovita, izborna i izvanredna.

Skupština redovito zasjeda jednom u tijeku godine, a po potrebi je moguće sazvati izvanrednu sjednicu Skupštine.

Izborna sjednica Skupštine se održava jednom godišnje.

Sjednice Skupštine saziva Predsjednik Udruge na vlastitu inicijativu.

U odluci o sazivanju Skupštine Predsjednik utvrđuje dnevni red sjednice, te dan i mjesto održavanja sjednice.

Predsjednik, a u slučaju njegove spriječenosti Prvi ili Drugi Potpredsjednik, dužan je sazvati sjednicu Skupštine kada to zatraži najmanje 1/3 članova Udruge.

U svom zahtjevu za sazivanje Skupštine predlagatelji su obavezni predložiti dnevni red sjednice.

Ako Predsjednik ne sazove sjednicu Skupštine u roku od 15 dana od dana dostave zahtjeva iz stavka 6. i 7. ovoga članka, sazvati će je predlagatelji. Odluka treba sadržavati prijedlog dnevnog reda, te mjesto i dan održavanja sjednice.

U slučaju isteka mandata tijelima, Skupštinu može sazvati i zadnja osoba za zastupanje upisana u registar udruga ili 1/3 članova Udruge, koji su upisani u popis članova neposredno prije isteka mandata tijelima Udruge.

Članak 26.

Skupštini predsjedava Predsjednik Udruge ili u njegovoj odsutnosti Prvi ili Drugi Potpredsjednik.

U odsustvu Predsjednika, Prvog i Drugog Potpredsjednika Udruge Skupština će na početku sjednice javnim glasovanjem odrediti osobu koja će predsjedavati sjednicom.

Glasovati se može i na daljinu, putem sredstava elektroničke komunikacije.

O radu sjednice vodi se zapisnik, koji se trajno čuva u arhivi Udruge.

Članak 27.

Skupština odlučuje pravovaljano ako je prisutna natpolovična većina svih članova Skupštine, a odluke donosi većinom glasova prisutnih članova, ako Statutom nije određena posebna većina.

 UPRAVNO VIJEĆE

Članak 28.

Upravno Vijeće sastoji se od 5 članova.

Upravno vijeće je glavno strateško i nadzorno tijelo, a sastoji se od Predsjednika, Prvog i Drugog Potpredsjednika, Tajnika i Blagajnika, od kojih jedan ujedno obavlja funkciju Izvršnog direktora.

Članak 29.

Pojedinac može imati najviše dva uzastopna mandata u Vijeću.

Članak 30.

Vijeće nadzire i odgovorno je za rad Udruge između dvije sjednice Skupštine.

Vijeće će:

–          određivati strategije, ciljeve i politiku Udruge;

            –          imenovati Izvršnog direktora;

–          nadzirati rad Izvršnog direktora i brinuti se da Izvršni direktor djeluje u skladu s relevantnim zakonima, pravilima, statutom i politikom Udruge;

–          provoditi stegovni postupak; te

–          obavljati sve poslove koji nisu u nadležnosti drugih tijela kao što je predviđeno ovim Statutom.

Članak 31.

Vijeće će imati redovite sastanke najmanje 4 puta godišnje.

Sastanke saziva Izvršni direktor.

Vijeće donosi sve odluke javnim glasovanjem, većinom glasova prisutnih članova.

Glasovati se može i na daljinu, putem sredstava elektroničke komunikacije.

PREDSJEDNIK

Članak 32.

Izvršne funkcije i druge poslove određene ovim Statutom obavlja Predsjednik Udruge.

Predsjednika bira Skupština Udruge na mandat od 10 godina.

Članak 33.

Predsjednik:

        –   zastupa Udrugu;

        –   saziva Skupštinu Udruge;

        –   rukovodi radom Skupštine Udruge;

        –   utvrđuje prijedlog programa rada i Statuta koji se podnose Skupštini na razmatranje i  

            prihvaćanje;

        –   utvrđuje prijedloge programa djelatnosti i planove rada;

        –   brine o izvršenju usvojenog programa rada i provedbi odluka Skupštine Udruge;

        –   podnosi izvješća o radu Udruge Skupštini Udruge;

        –   imenuje komisije i slična tijela prema potrebi, te im određuje zadatke;

        –   brine se o upoznavanju javnosti s radom Skupštine Udruge; te

        –   obavlja i druge poslove predviđene Statutom i drugim općim aktima Udruge.

Članak 34.

Predsjednik Udruge je ujedno Predsjednik Upravnog vijeća i saziva te rukovodi sastancima Upravnog vijeća, saziva godišnju sjednicu Skupštine i rukovodi godišnjim i izvanrednim sjednicama Skupštine i sastancima Upravnog vijeća te podnosi izvješće o radu Udruge Skupštini.

Članak 35.

Za svoj rad Predsjednik je odgovoran Skupštini Udruge.

Predsjednik podnosi Skupštini Udruge godišnje izvješće o svom radu.

PRVI POTPREDSJEDNIK

Članak 36.

U slučaju odsutnosti ili spriječenosti, Predsjednika u svim poslovima zamjenjuje Prvi Potpredsjednik.

Prvog Potpredsjednika Udruge bira Skupština Udruge na mandat od deset godina.

DRUGI POTPREDSJEDNIK

Članak 37.

U slučaju odsutnosti ili spriječenosti, Predsjednika u svim poslovima zamjenjuje Drugi Potpredsjednik.

Drugog Potpredsjednika Udruge bira Skupština Udruge na mandat od deset godina.

T A J N I K

Članak 38.

Tajnika Udruge bira i imenuje Skupština na mandat od jedne godine za obavljanje stručno-administrativnih poslova u Udruzi.

BLAGAJNIK

Članak 39.

Blagajnik:

  • upravlja imovinom Udruge; te
  • nadzire materijalno i financijsko poslovanje Udruge.

Članak 40.

Blagajnika Udruge bira Skupština Udruge na mandat od deset godina.

IZVRŠNI DIREKTOR

Članak 41.

Izvršni direktor je odgovoran za svakodnevno vođenje poslova Udruge, odlučuje o unutarnjoj organizaciji i zapošljavanju i ostalim pitanjima vezanim na upravljanje Udruge.

Izvršni direktor daje izvješća Upravnom vijeću o aktivnostima Udruge.

Izvršni direktor vodi registar članova Udruge.

KOMISIJE I DRUGA RADNA TIJELA

Članak 42.

Za rad u pojedinim područjima djelovanja Udruge Skupština ili Predsjednik mogu osnovati stalne i povremene komisije ili druga radna tijela.

Odlukom o osnivanju komisije ili radnih tijela utvrđuje se njihov sastav, zadaća, vrijeme za koje se osnivanju i odgovornost za obavljanje poslova.

VIII

IMOVINA I NAČIN STJECANJA IMOVINE

Članak 43.

Imovinu Udruge čine:

  • novčana sredstva koja je Udruga stekla uplatom članarina, dobrovoljnim prilozima i darovima;
  • novčana sredstva koja Udruga stekne obavljanjem djelatnosti kojima se ostvaruju ciljevi;
  • obavljanjem djelatnosti sukladno članku 31. Zakona o udrugama;
  • financiranjem programa i projekata Udruge iz državnog proračuna i proračuna jedinica lokalne i područne (regionalne) samouprave te fondova i/ili inozemnih izvora, kao i druga novčana sredstva stečena u skladu sa zakonom;
  • njezine nepokretne i pokretne stvari; te
  • druga imovinska prava.

Članak 44.

Udruga raspolaže svojom imovinom samo za ostvarivanje ciljeva i obavljanje djelatnosti određenih statutom, u skladu sa zakonom.

O raspolaganju imovinom odlučuje Skupština.

Udruga upravlja imovinom  u skladu  s propisima o materijalnom i financijskom poslovanju neprofitnih organizacija.

Udruga vodi poslovne knjige i sastavlja financijska izvješća prema propisima kojima se uređuje način financijskog poslovanja i vođenja računovodstva neprofitnih organizacija.

Svi prihodi i rashodi određuju se financijskim planom koji se donosi za jednu kalendarsku godinu i vrijedi za godinu za koju je donesen.

Po završetku godine za koju je donesen financijski plan sastavlja se završni račun.

Članak 45.

Izvješće o materijalno-financijskom poslovanju Predsjednik Udruge podnosi Skupštini na razmatranje i prihvaćanje.

Članak 46.

Za svoje obveze udruga odgovara svojom cjelokupnom imovinom. Članovi udruge i članovi njezinih tijela ne odgovaraju za obveze udruge.

Nad udrugom se može provesti stečaj, sukladno zakonu.

Članak 47.

Udruga i osobe ovlaštene za zastupanje udruge za štetu učinjenu u udruzi ili udruge prema trećim osobama odgovaraju sukladno općim propisima o odgovornosti za štetu.

IX

LIKVIDATOR

Članak 48.

Likvidator zastupa Udrugu u postupku likvidacije te se otvaranjem likvidacijskog postupka upisuje u registar udruga kao osoba ovlaštena za zastupanje Udruge do okončanja postupka likvidacije i brisanja Udruge iz registra udruga.

Članak 49.

Likvidatora Udruge bira i opoziva Skupština bez određenog vremenskog mandata odnosno do opoziva ili izbora novog likvidatora.

Članak 50.

Likvidator se bira između članova Udruge, a mora raspolagati odgovarajućim stručnim znanjem kako bi mogao voditi brigu o raspodjeli imovine Udruge.

Likvidator ima pravo na naknadu troškova za svoj rad iz sredstava Udruge u visini koju određuje Skupština na prvoj sjednici nakon njegovog imenovanja.

X

P R E S T A N A K   P O S T O J A NJ A   U D R U G E

Članak 51.

Udruga prestaje postojati u slučajevima predviđenim zakonom.

U slučaju prestanka postojanja temeljem odluke Skupštine, ista donosi odluku o prestanku postojanja Udruge dvotrećinskom većinom glasova prisutnih članova Skupštine.

U slučaju prestanka postojanja Udruge, imovina se, nakon namirenja vjerovnika i troškova likvidacijskog, sudskog i drugih postupaka, predaje udruzi „Centar za obnovu kulture-COK“, OIB: 12879317978, u Zagrebu, na osnovi odluke Skupštine Udruge.

Udruga nema pravo imovinu Udruge dijeliti svojim osnivačima, članovima udruge, osobama ovlaštenima za zastupanje, zaposlenima ili s njima povezanim osobama.

XI

P R I J E L A Z N E   I   Z A V R Š N E   O D R E D B E

Članak 52.

Statut Udruge donosi Skupština dvotrećinskom većinom glasova prisutnih članova Skupštine Udruge nakon provedene rasprave.

Ovaj Statut donesen je na sjednici Skupštine Udruge  održanoj 9. srpnja 2020. Ovaj Statut stupa na snagu danom donošenja, a primjenjuje se danom upisa Udruge u Registar udruga Republike Hrvatske.

Ovaj Statut može se mijenjati i dopunjavati odlukom Skupštine Udruge većinom glasova prisutnih članova Skupštine pod uvjetom da je članovima Skupštine prijedlog izmjena i dopuna dostavljen najkasnije zajedno s pozivom na Skupštinu.

Članak 53.

Tumačenje odredaba ovog Statuta daje Skupština Udruge.

Tumačenje drugih akata Udruge daje Predsjednik Udruge.

U Zagrebu, 9. srpnja 2020.

                                                                                    _______________________________

                                                                                              Matija Mathew Pavković

        Predsjednik Udruge                                                                   

09 Aug 2020

VIDEO: Lawyers for Generals Gotovina and Markač give overview of Operation Storm and the ICTY trials that followed [Croatiaweek]

by /
in
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Knin (Photo credit: Roberta F./Creative Commons 3.0 license) 

By Peter Bury, Editor at Crodiaspora and Politicorp

On August 4th, Crodiaspora held an exclusive webinar with people on the legal team involved in the trials of Generals Ante Gotovina and Mladen Markač. Ana Katalinić served as Defence Case Manager for Gotovina, and Tom Kuzmanović served as Defence Attorney for Markač.

Twenty-five years ago, the decisive battle of the Croatian War of Independence, known as Operation Storm, was fought in Knin. The operation liberated the self-proclaimed ‘Krajina’ region and its main city, Knin, which was held by Serbian rebels.

In 1995, Croatia took massive steps toward regaining full control of its land that had been occupied by Serb rebels. At that time, various UN peacekeeping stations had been set up in Croatia, as are shown below. UN Sector West was largely freed from Serb control in May 1995 by Operation Flash, while UN Sectors North and South were the focal point of the decisive Operation Storm in August 1995. UN Sector East, centering around Vukovar, was not liberated militarily but was handed over in 1998 after a three-year transitional period facilitated by the Erdut Agreement signed in November 1995.

Operation Storm, being the fulcrum, which shifted the war decisively into a Croatian success, was largely dictated by General Ante Gotovina and the Croatian Defence Council and other Croatian defence groups. Gotovina was able to maximize cooperative efforts with the military of Bosnia and Herzegovina by having his men take surrounding positions to Knin like Bosansko Grahovo, Gračac, and Glamoč in order to secure the liberation of Knin, which was the headquarters for local Serb rebels.

As well as these positioning maneuvers leading up to the liberation of Knin, Gotovina also took initiative in instructing a split between Sectors North and South. Another one of General Gotovina’s strategic highlights is his commandeering of his men in the Dinara mountain range – instructing that they hold the position and block any and all efforts by the Serb rebels to replenish or refigure themselves across the two sectors. Blocking these reinforcements ultimately proved to drain Serb support in both regions, allowing the window to retake the territories.

(Crodiaspora)

Mr. Kuzmanović outlines a report by Canadian Commander, General Forand of Sector South, where the General often criticized the Croatian forces and was skeptical of their military organization. Though Forand did at some points applaud the effectiveness of Croatian military operations, his lack of faith in them implies a clear partiality on his part in opposition to Croatian efforts.

In contrast, Kuzmanović shows the praise and support that Croatia has been awarded since independence by respected military leaders. In July 2017, then-Defence Minister of Croatia, and Major General during Operation Storm, Damir Krstičević visited the United States and met with then-Secretary of Defense and General, Jim Mattis, who served in the Gulf War, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Secretary Mattis said of Operation Storm, “Twenty-two years ago next month marks the anniversary of an Operation named Storm, an operation that is studied in the U.S. military to show what a well-led force, well trained, well equipped, and with good political guidance, how it can change the course of history. And we are honored to have you here today for your role in that operation.”

Despite regional controversies regarding Operation Storm, it is well recognized among some of the most respected military officials and institutions in the world – and that is something for Croats to celebrate and remember.

Looking at the trials of Gotovina and Markač, the ICTY prosecution took a broadly framed approach, essentially alleging a wide range of crimes from forced deportations to wanton destruction and murder, with the intention of dragging out the trial to see which of the allegations can be upheld on a factual basis, and the others would simply be dismissed.

The chief prosecutor of the ICTY at the time was Carla Del Ponte. Kuzmanović and Katalinić explain in the webinar that there have been many internal conversations among the parties involved in her trials that her personal views had interfered at least in part in the cases that she tried during her tenure. When General Gotovina had refused to voluntarily turn himself in, Del Ponte went so far as to accuse the Vatican of hiding him from capture. Top Croatian Catholic Associations have dismissed this claim consistently.

Especially of interest to those not too informed on the factual logistics of Operation Storm, Ana Katalinić clearly differentiates in the webinar between what did and did not happen during the operation. Some of the major issues to clarify are that Operation Storm did not include any blatant attacks on civilian population centers, there were no executions of assembled civilians, Croatians did not attempt ethnic cleansing in any way, and Croatian forces did not try to conquer the territories of any other nation. Lastly and most unequivocally, the Croatian forces did not by any means deport or force Serb civilians out of the ‘Krajina’ region – the mass exodus was out of free will.

Aside from liberating significant portions of Croatian territories, Operation Storm’s significance linked directly to the liberation of the Bihać enclave from Serb forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina. As shown below, Operation Storm pushed back to the true border between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, which then allowed Croatian forces the military pathways to flank the Bosnian town of Bihać and save it’s Muslim Bosniak population from a fate similar to the genocide in Srebrenica which took place just weeks before.

As the trials at the ICTY unravelled, it became relatively clear that the Trial Chamber’s prosecution factors were largely unfounded. The Appeals Chamber specifically took issue with a baseless claim by the Trial Chamber of a 200-metre rule with regards to the intentions of projectile warfare. The Trial Chamber claimed that projectiles that landed within a 200m radius of a valid artillery target were acceptable, but if they landed outside of that radius they were to be considered as an unlawful attack on civilians. With contradictory military perspectives to that rule, the Appeals Chamber deemed it baseless, which then largely collapsed the rest of the prosecution’s evidence.

Similarly, another basis for the prosecution’s claim of a Joint Criminal Enterprise did not hold up in the appeal. A foundational piece of evidence used to back this claim was a meeting that took place before Operation Storm on the Brijuni Islands between President Franjo Tuđman and his top military officials, including Gotovina. The meeting was manipulated in court to seem like proof of an organization framework of a suspected JCE, the product of which was to be the alleged unlawful shelling which had not abided by the 200-meter rule. Because both the 200-meter rule and the Brijuni meeting did not hold up on appeal, the result shifted in favor of the Croatian Generals.

Additionally, the ICTY could not find evidence of a single civilian that died due to the artillery shelling in question during Operation Storm, and there was not even a single Serbian civilian to testify that they were aware of any Serb civilians who fled due to fear of shelling during or in the aftermath of the operation. Instead, the Serb exodus was in large part organized on their own through Serbian officials advising local Serbs to leave the areas due to fear of further violence and conflict, and general fears of Croatian forces and distrust of Croatian authorities.

In the end, the Appeals Chamber ruled in favour of Generals Gotovina and Markač in a 3-2 decision, acquitting them of all charges.

The video is below. 

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