Croatia is one of the youngest countries in the world and, in 2013, it became the EU’s newest member. While Croatia is still in a time of transition and in the process of building its democracy, change is approaching rapidly, resulting in the continued evolution of its dispute resolution mechanisms. 

In Croatia, mediation has been increasingly implemented in recent years and community awareness continues to grow. Mediation was first regulated by the Mediation Act of 2003. The Act was amended in 2009, and at the beginning of 2011, a new Mediation Act was passed which was fully enforced when Croatia joined the European Union (2013). 

The Ministry of Justice in Croatia has established an Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission which is mandated to oversee the development of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) in Croatia, monitor existing programs, and propose new ADR measures.  

Mediators in Croatia undergo continual professional training, often organized and conducted by the Judicial Academy.