The Croatian Government has submitted to Parliament a draft law aimed at regulating the development of civil nuclear energy, marking the first comprehensive effort to establish a legal framework for potential nuclear power projects in the country.
Presenting the proposal, Economy Minister Ante Šušnjar emphasized that the legislation provides a structured framework for the possible expansion of nuclear capacity. He noted that the initiative comes amid rising electricity demand and increasingly stringent climate targets, positioning nuclear power as a stable, low-carbon, and economically viable long-term energy source.
According to the Government, Croatia faces a threefold challenge: maintaining economic competitiveness, strengthening energy security, and progressing toward climate neutrality. The draft law is designed to lay the necessary institutional and regulatory foundations to address these objectives.
The proposal sets a strategic goal for nuclear energy to account for at least 30% of the national energy mix by 2040. Rather than authorizing immediate construction, the law establishes preparatory steps, including scientific, regulatory, and technical planning mechanisms to guide future decisions. Under the draft, the minister responsible for energy would have six months from adoption to prepare a program of activities for drafting a national nuclear development plan, after which the Government would have twelve months to adopt a formal strategy for the development of civil nuclear energy.
