The 5th session of the Expert Council of the Croatian Standards Institute (HZN) was held in Zagreb at Hotel International, bringing together numerous representatives of HZN members.
The session was chaired by the Chairman of the Expert Council, Igor Župančić, who emphasized the importance of cooperation among members and active participation in standardization. Today, the Expert Council has 269 members from various sectors.
The new Director General of HZN, Ana Marija Boljanović, Ph.D., presented HZN’s priorities for 2026: digitalization, strengthening membership, education, and the inclusion of young experts, with a strong emphasis on open dialogue with members and their active role in the standardization system.
The draft annual report for 2025 was presented at the meeting, along with activities related to HZN’s membership in the European Standardization Organizations CEN and CENELEC, as well as the work of the European Commission’s Committee on Standards, where the Republic of Croatia is represented by the HZN Director General. In this context, it was emphasized that, in order to meet the requirements for membership in CEN and CENELEC, HZN continuously complies with the six key criteria set out in the CEN and CENELEC rules, which is confirmed in a regular self-assessment procedure conducted every three years. As the implementing body for Regulation 1025/2012 on European standardization, HZN submits annual reports on the fulfilment of its requirements. One of the requirements contributing to the competitiveness of Croatian industry and met by HZN are initiatives that facilitate access to standards for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, including free access to certain harmonized standards.
A part of the event was a panel discussion titled “Communication with HZN”, focusing on strengthening cooperation and increasing the involvement of members in standardization processes. The discussion addressed communication channels, digital tools, and the role of technical committees, with an emphasis on a more active participation of members. The panellists included Igor Župančić, Danijela Novota Krajnović, Dinka Ilić-Roller, Martina Broketa, Mladen Marković, and Mihaela Zamolo, and the panel was moderated by Mirjana Fijolić.
In conclusion, it was highlighted that timely communication and the active engagement of the professional community are essential for a strong and effective standardization system.
For additional information and to get involved in the work of the Expert Council, please contact strucno.vijece@hzn.hr.
