Workshop was held by professor Lauc who informed the participants about the legal norms in creating acts and election procedures with numerous examples and constructive exchange of views. He explained that elections for councils and representatives of national minorities are being held because the Constitutional Law guarantees to national minorities the right to choose  representatives and councils, which promotes and protects their interests at the local level. Founding the Council is not an obligation, but a right that members of all national minorities can use.

When it comes to minority's organization, the problem of insufficient legislation was perceived. The current Association Act, which also applies to minority associations, does not include the specifics of organizing which is characteristic of organizations whose purpose is to protect and improve the identity of national minorities. As a result, there is unnecessary duplication of such associations, and thus to the fragmentation and irrational spending of funds for the needs of national minorities.

Legal personality of representatives of national minorities remains vague, which in practice limits their effectiveness, and which is particularly important for those national minorities that do not qualify for the election of their councils.

The biggest problem lies in the regulations which can be changed (Constitutional Law, the need of 2/3 majority), but that is unrealistic to expect in the future.

The workshop participants agreed that there should be a person who would coordinate cooperation, inform and educate Councils at the county level.

The workshop was organized by ILC in collaboration with partners in the project - HILS from Osijek, Brod – Posavina County and the Network of Croatian Roma CSOs through the "Legal inclusion and sustainable integration of Roma in Croatia" project funded by the European Union under the program IPA 2012 and co-financed by the Government Office for Cooperation with NGOs.