This paper describes the development of environmental policy in Croatia. It covers the beginnings of environmental protection efforts, the transition period when Croatia applied for membership in the European Union (EU), and the period after Croatia's accession to the EU. A brief overview of environmental protection policy in the EU itself is also provided. The aim of the paper was to describe the development of environmental policy in Croatia. The analysis includes documents that have regulated environmental protection in Croatia throughout history, such as the National Environmental Protection Strategy (NN 46/2002), the Environmental Protection Act (NN 110/07), the Environmental Protection Acts (NN 80/13, 153/13, 78/15, 12/18, 118/18) and the Operational Program for the Environment (2007 - 2009).The paper also mentions political initiatives and international commitments related to environmental protection. By comparing the different periods, it is clear that environmental protection policy in Croatia gained importance after 2000. The submission of the Croatian application for EU membership led to a change in the environmental policy approach, which resulted in the adoption of the first Environmental Protection Act (NN 110/07). Comparing the three observed periods, EU membership enabled Croatia to access funding and programs for environmental protection, which contributed significantly to raising environmental awareness and improving environmental protection.