Work carried out within the OBSERVE project is supporting Croatia in developing a more integrated, reliable and accessible building data ecosystem.
Following an initial phase focused on mapping existing initiatives and engaging relevant stakeholders, the Croatian project activities have progressed towards a detailed assessment of the national policy framework and available building data.
The work included a comprehensive analysis of how key European legislation is being implemented in Croatia, including the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, the Energy Efficiency Directive, the Renewable Energy Directive and the Governance Regulation.
This assessment helped identify the strengths of the current national regulatory and reporting framework, as well as areas where further improvement is needed to align Croatian practices with European energy and climate requirements.
Identifying challenges within the building data ecosystem
A gap analysis and SWOT assessment were also conducted to evaluate the Croatian building data ecosystem.
The analysis highlighted several systemic challenges, including fragmented data sources, limited interoperability between databases, inconsistent data definitions and constraints related to institutional capacity and available resources.
These issues can make it more difficult to access, combine and use building information effectively for policymaking, renovation planning and energy performance monitoring.
Defining strategic directions for improvement
Based on these findings, the Croatian partners contributed to identifying several priorities for the future development of the national building data framework.
These include stronger data standardisation, improved coordination between institutions and the gradual integration of existing databases and information systems.
Particular attention has been given to ensuring that national practices remain aligned with EU-level requirements while responding to the specific needs of the Croatian building sector.
Preparing a future Building Stock Observatory
The work is now contributing to the definition of the functional and technical requirements for a future Croatian Building Stock Observatory.
By incorporating the national context and the challenges identified during the assessment, these requirements will help ensure that Croatia’s needs are reflected in the wider OBSERVE framework.
This progress represents an important step towards a more connected building data system capable of supporting evidence-based policies, energy renovation strategies and the transition towards a more efficient and sustainable building stock.
