This state holiday is always celebrated on 8 October. In Croatian, it is known as 'Dan neovisnosti' and marks the day in 1991 when the Croatian parliament decided to terminate the constitutional links between Croatia and Yugoslavia.

Historically part of the Austria-Hungarian Empire until its collapse at the end of World War I, Croatia was one of the six republics that formed Yugoslavia.

Croatia had declared independence from Yugoslavia on 25 June 1991. This date is commemorated as Croatian Statehood Day.

A week later, Croatia and Slovenia signed the Brioni Declaration in which both countries agreed to a three month moratorium on all secession declarations and acts of parliament while European negotiators attempted to broker an agreement on the future of Yugoslavia.

The talks failed and on 8 October 1991, Croatia moved ahead with its plan for independence.

Independence Day was implemented by the Croatian government in 2001 and was first celebrated on 8 October 2002.

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Delayed independence