The Implementation and Internalisation of EU Consumer Protection Policy in the Republic of Croatia. An Analysis of Institutions and Consumers

Abstract

The aim of this thesis is to investigate the real life application of multilayer-implementation theory with respect to European secondary law within the Republic of Croatia by the example of EU Consumer Protection Policy. It intends to point out the degree of fit/misfit between European requirements and the Croatian national institutional framework and assess the effectiveness of the Croatian system. Additionally, it attempts to analyse the Croatian consumers’ attitudes towards EU Consumer Protection Policy. For the analyses qualitative (interviews) and quantitative (survey) data collection has been used. The thesis eventually shows that while the Croatian institutional framework seems to have properly adapted to the European requirements, the attitude of consumers towards the European Union’s system of consumer protection shows a significant lack of interest and knowledge. It concludes that this lack of consumer knowledge may form a potential flaw within the multilayer-implementation system of EU Consumer Protection Policy in the Republic of Croatia.