Consistent application of the principles of good governance (openness, participation, coherence, proportionality and subsidiarity) is necessary in order that civil society might participate and be able to exercise its influence on public policy. By adopting the concepts of good governance, Croatia will discover the opportunity to develop a new, modern method of policy creation in which all interested parties will participate. The principles of good governance are evident in strategies and different documents, and are becoming part of the public discourse on civil society. For the purpose of achieving insight into the scope of this concept in the Republic of Croatia, the paper analyzes the formal possibilities of civil society participation in shaping public policies and the actual participation of civil society, as well as the relationship with the public authorities in the process of drafting laws, other regulations and acts. The normative and institutional framework for public participation in the formulation of public policies in Croatia and e-Consultation as an increasingly popular instrument for involving interested stakeholders will be analyzed. After the analysis of these aspects, the paper will provide an overview of results of earlier research from which will clarify the impact of civil society on public policies, areas where civil society is the most active, areas where civil society has acquired a certain participatory role, and some aspects of civil society's influence on public policy will be analyzed, with emphasis on the process of consultation with the interested public in the process of adopting regulations.