ZAGREB, 27 March 2026 (Hina) – Croatia has taken a significant step towards modernising its rail freight sector after parliament adopted a new law aimed at aligning the country’s transport rules with European Union standards and accelerating digitalisation.
The legislation replaces outdated rules dating back to the 1990s, when the railway market operated under a closed and largely monopolistic system. Lawmakers say the reform reflects major changes in the sector, including market liberalisation, the growth of multimodal transport and increasing digitalisation across European logistics networks.
Shift towards digital freight documentation
At the heart of the reform is the introduction of the electronic freight consignment note and digital procedures for handling transport documentation. The move marks a departure from the current system, which still relies heavily on paper documents.
The new framework enables electronic exchange of freight transport data, which is expected to speed up the flow of information, reduce administrative costs and improve transparency within supply chains.
The law regulates contractual relations in both domestic and international freight transport, defining the rights and obligations of contracting parties, carrier liability and conditions for electronic data exchange.
National digital system planned
To support these changes, Croatia plans to establish a National System for Electronic Storage and Exchange of Freight Transport Data. The system will enable businesses and public authorities to exchange regulatory transport information digitally and monitor freight flows more efficiently.
Responsibility for implementing the system will lie with the Agency for Commercial Activity, which will perform the task under public authority.
Clearer rules for multimodal transport
The law also introduces clearer rules in situations where several carriers or different modes of transport are involved in a single shipment. This reflects the growing importance of multimodal logistics, where goods are transported through combinations of rail, road, sea or air.
In addition, the legislation formally separates the roles of infrastructure managers and railway operators, aligning Croatia’s framework with the liberalised railway market model used across the European Union.
Legal certainty for businesses is also strengthened through closer alignment with national legislation governing contractual relations.
While lawmakers broadly welcomed the digitalisation measures, parliamentary debate also highlighted wider concerns about the condition of Croatia’s railway network and its relatively weak transport connectivity.
Žarko Tušek, State Secretary responsible for railway infrastructure and transport, said the government is already investing heavily in the sector.
According to Tušek, around €1.7 billion worth of railway investment projects are currently active across Croatia.
“Such figures and projects are unprecedented for the Croatian railway system,” he said, adding that rail transport had been neglected in previous decades but is now becoming a strategic priority.
However, opposition MP Dalibor Domitrović pointed to the still limited role of rail freight despite its environmental advantages. Rail transport produces between five and seven times less CO₂ emissions than road transport, yet accounts for only around 17% of total freight transport in the EU.
Part of wider European push for rail
Croatia’s new legislation forms part of a broader European effort to strengthen the competitiveness and sustainability of the rail sector.
Discussions in the European Parliament in recent years have highlighted the need to improve rail connectivity and integrate transport services across different operators and modes of transport.
EU policymakers have also stressed the importance of digitalisation in freight logistics. Despite technological advances, much cross-border freight transport within the EU still relies on paper documentation at some stage of the process.
The shift towards electronic freight information systems is therefore seen as a key step in simplifying logistics operations, improving transparency and enabling faster cross-border freight flows.
By introducing electronic freight documentation and a national digital information system, Croatia aims to create the conditions for a more efficient and competitive rail freight sector.
The law focuses exclusively on freight transport, as passenger rail rules have already been fully harmonised with EU legislation.
Officials say the reform will help integrate Croatia into the wider European transport network while supporting the EU’s long-term goal of shifting more freight from road to rail in order to reduce emissions and build more sustainable logistics systems.
