Conference ‘Strengthening Integrity, Competitiveness and Responsible Business Conduct through OECD Standards’ held in Zagreb

Organised by the Croatian Employers’ Association (HUP), in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice, Public Administration and Digital Transformation, the conference was held in Zagreb on 20 May 2026

The conference was dedicated to the role of OECD standards in strengthening anti-corruption policies, compliance systems and responsible business conduct in the private and public sectors.

The participants were welcomed at the beginning of the conference by Ivan Crnčec, State Secretary at the Ministry of Justice, Public Administration and Digital Transformation. ‘Prevention of bribery in international business is a joint task of the government and the business sector. Corruption has a direct impact on competition, business decisions and the predictability of the business environment, making transparency, integrity and responsible governance important not only to prevent irregularities but also to strengthen competitiveness and confidence in the market’, he said.

‘By acceding to the OECD Convention against Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions and by actively participating in the work of the OECD Anti-Bribery Working Group, Croatia has confirmed its commitment to the highest international standards in this field. In this framework, the Ministry of Justice, Public Administration and Digital Transformation carries out awareness-raising and educational activities, prepares educational materials and guidelines, encourages dialogue with the business community and coordinates the implementation of anti-corruption measures and OECD recommendations’, highlighted State Secretary Crnčec.

The participants were also addressed by Nataša Novaković, ESG Director of the Croatian Employers' Association (HUP), who emphasized that the Croatian Employers' Association wants to encourage discussion on how to turn OECD standards into practical tools for companies, with the aim of strengthening transparency, trust and competitiveness of the Croatian economy.

A publication by the Ministry of Justice, Public Administration and Digital Transformation on the OECD Convention against Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions and Related Legal Instruments was presented, which provides an overview of key OECD instruments and practical guidance on establishing effective internal control, ethics and compliance systems.

Special presentations were given by Nicola Allocca, Chair of Business at OECD’s Integrity and Anti-Corruption Committee (BIAC), and Drago Kos, Acting Dean of the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA) and former Chair of the OECD Anti-Bribery Working Group, who spoke about the role of the OECD in developing international anti-corruption standards and the importance of effective corruption prevention and detection systems.

Director General for European Affairs, International and Judicial Cooperation and Anti-Corruption Mladen Bručić-Matic spoke about the efforts made by Croatia in the process of accession to the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention and the further steps resulting from membership in the OECD Working Group that monitors the implementation of the Convention and related instruments.

The first panel, entitled ‘The role of compliance programmes and ESG standards in the implementation of the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention’, focused on the importance of internal controls, ethics policies and ESG standards in managing corruption risks and enhancing business transparency.

The panellists pointed out that effective compliance programs represented one of the key elements of competitive and sustainable business, especially in the context of international business relations and increasingly stringent regulatory requirements.

The panellists included Nicola Allocca, Chair of BIAC, Leon Žulj, Director General for state-owned companies, concessions and state aid at the Ministry of Finance, Ružica Rožman, ESG expert at Wiener osiguranje Vienna Insurance Group d.d., and Iva Krušelj Posavec, Associate for Sustainable Development and Reporting at AKD d.o.o.

The second panel, ‘Reporting irregularities as a key tool for implementing the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention’, opened a discussion on the importance of effective mechanisms for reporting irregularities and protecting reporting persons in preventing corruption. Participants discussed the challenges of implementing the Act on Protection of Persons Who Report Irregularities, the role of internal and external reporting channels and the importance of creating an organsational culture that encourages integrity and responsible business.

The panel was attended by Drago Kos, Acting Dean of IACA and international expert on anti-corruption and integrity, Dijana Kesonja, Deputy Ombudswoman, and Vinko Berković, Compliance Officer for HT Group

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