Draft Regulation on the criteria and procedure for certifying out-of-court dispute settlement bodies open for public consultation
ZAGREB, 18 September 2026 - The Croatian Regulatory Authority for Network Industries (HAKOM) has published the Draft Regulation on the criteria and procedure for certifying out-of-court dispute settlement bodies for public consultation. The consultation is open from 18 September to 19 October 2026.
Certified out-of-court dispute settlement bodies provide users with an additional means of resolving disputes concerning decisions by online platforms on content moderation. To obtain certification, a body must meet the requirements laid down in the Digital Services Act (DSA), including requirements concerning independence and impartiality, as well as appropriate expertise in dispute resolution.
The Regulation is adopted pursuant to Article 5(2) of the Act on the Implementation of Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 and lays down the criteria and procedure for the certification of out-of-court dispute settlement bodies and the withdrawal of certification, in accordance with Article 21 of the DSA. It also lays down the procedures to be followed by HAKOM, as the Digital Services Coordinator for the Republic of Croatia, in certification and withdrawal-of-certification procedures.
The Draft Regulation also contains Annex I - Application Form for the Certification of an Out-of-Court Dispute Settlement Body, which is to be used when submitting an application to HAKOM.
Legal entities established in the Republic of Croatia wishing to obtain certification as out-of-court dispute settlement bodies will be able to submit an application for certification to HAKOM in accordance with the requirements laid down in the DSA and the Regulation.
Interested parties may participate in the public consultation via the e-Savjetovanja portal at the following link.
For additional information please contact:
Croatian Regulatory Authority for Network Industries (HAKOM)
- Roberta Frangeša-Mihanovića 9 Street
- 10110 Zagreb, Croatia
- Tel. + 385 (0) 1 700 70 07
- Fax + 385 (0)1 700 70 70
Media inquiries can be submitted online using HAKOM’s official website: www.hakom.hr
About Hakom
HAKOM - Croatian Regulatory Authority for Network Industries – ensures preconditions for a fair market competition, stable growth and environment for innovations in the electronic communications and postal services market. HAKOM protects users’ interests and the possibility of choice among various communications and postal services at affordable prices, defines sustainable competitive conditions for operators and service providers under fair conditions for return on investment, and provides support to economic growth, public services and the quality of life in the Republic of Croatia by using modern technologies. HAKOM’ strategic goals are: to promote regulation of the electronic communications and postal services market, to support growth of investments and innovations in the electronic communications and postal services market, to provide efficient use of limited resources, to accelerate the growth of broadband products and services, to provide affordable offers of communications and postal services, to provide protection and informing of users, to build an efficient and comprehensive information system, to define and implement efficient processes, and to acquire multi-disciplinary expertise in market regulation.