NATO Member States EU CROATIA

Croatia's Foreign Policy since January –OSCE, UN 1996 Council of Europe Formal recognition is insufficient; it is important to be „actually recognised“ and respected by others… International recognition The role of foreign policy and diplomacy, armed and security forces Operations “Flash”, “Storm” Dayton – B-H Erdut Peace Agreement - UNTAES Until peaceful reintegration Liberation and reintegration of the whole of Croatia NATO 2000 Partnership for Peace 2009 accession to membership EU 2001 Stabilisation and Association Agreement 1 July accession to the EU Joining Euro- Atlantic structures NEW OBJECTIVES AND PRIORITIES

Transitional Period in Croatia AUTHORITARIAN RULE DEMOCRACY CENTRAL-PLANNING SYSTEM MARKET ECONOMY AGGRESSION AND WAR MULTINATIONAL FEDERATION CONCEPT OF NATIONAL STATE REINTEGRATION, RECONSTRUCTION AND PEACE

2000Parliamentary and Presidential elections. A EU-Balkan summit in Zagreb. 2001Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA). 2003Formal application for membership submitted. 2004Croatia receives official candidate status. 2005Full cooperation with ICTY declared – SAA comes into force, negotiations started Slovenian blockade of negotiations due to the territorial dispute on sea. International arbitrage agreement. 2011End of accession negotiations. Accession treaty signed. 2012Referendum (66% in favour) Ratification in national parliaments. Agreement with Slovenia on Ljubljanska Banka dispute. 1 July 2013 Croatia joins the EU. Croatia's Road to EU Membership

Why did we join the EU? More freedom – for citizens, entrepreneurs, students, media, our entire political system and society Guarantee of security and peace Economic and every other progress Sharing common EU values Additional integration of our tradition and culture into European culture

Croatia's Challenges Following EU Acession Long term and arduous negotiation framework - criteria and conditions Better preparation, many things remain to be done Cohesion and Structural Funds as a great opportunity Agriculture, energy, infrastructure, reindustrialization Further enlargement of EU to countries of the region

International position of the Republic of Croatia -Croatia as guardian of stability in the region -NATO membership -Membership in EU / CFSP -Regional policy - stabilization environment and EU perspective of the region -Regional Agreements -Cooperation with great powers Security risks and challenges -Destabilize the region -Impact of global and regional security threats -Outstanding issues with its neighbors -Economic crisis, social insecurity energy security -… European Security Environment of Croatia

Foreign Policy Objectives and Orientation Following EU Accession Maintain or increase influence in the region Continuation and improvement of cooperation with other countries (outside EU) Constructive work within EU

Regional policy UNFOUNDED PREJUDICES AS FORM OF POLITICAL DILETTANTISM GEOGRAPHIC POSITION STRATEGIC INTEREST OF EU, USA, NATO FOREIGN AND SECURITY POLICY AS TOOL OF POSITIONING IN INTERNTIONAL RELATIONS DIRECT CORRELATION WITH REGIONAL POLICY

ENSURING LASTING PEACE AND STABILITY IN THE REGION ENSURING LASTING PEACE AND STABILITY IN THE REGION RESOLVING OUTSTANDING ISSUES AMONG STATES STRENGTHENING BILATERAL TRADE AND JOINT APPEARANCE ON THIRD MARKETS COOPERATION IN CULTURE, EDUCATION, SPORTS AND OTHER FIELDS SOLVING CITIZENS’ PERSONAL AND FAMILY PROBLEMS STRENGTHENING RIGHTS OF NATIONAL MINORITIES, HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS FIGHT AGAINST TRANSNATIONAL CRIME AND PROSECUTION OF WAR CRIMES Primary Objectives of Regional Policy

Reconciliation Policy in the Region Creating prerequisites for firm and lasting peace Return of refugees Establishing the truth about missing persons Prosecuting war crimes Mourning and compassion with all victims

Croatia’s Export/Import Partners

Croatia Export and Import in 2013

Policy Towards the Region Croatia supports EU enlargement to all countries of the region This is in our economic, political, security, cultural and other interest. Through Croatia's EU accession, the region „shrinks“ and changes to a certain degree: „Reduced Western Balkans“ We do not want a „hard border“ For some time, though, we shall be a EU border country We shall not act unilaterally, but within the framework of the EU We need a strategy: how to increase rather than decrease influence in the region?

FYR MACEDONIA A candidate for membership in the EU and NATO, but the process is blocked by Greece over the name. The solution is not in sight despite the involvement of the EU and the UN. BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA The most complexed porblem in the region. How to achieve equality of citizens and constituent of people and the functionality of government? The Stabilisation and Association Agreement signed 2008th has not yet entered into force! SERBIA Accession negotiations have started. An active approach to resolving the dispute with Kosovo. The new government is struggling with a poor economic situation. Negotiations with the EU regarding the economic crisis is extremely complex which is a big challenge for Serbia. MONTENEGRO 2012 started negotiations with the EU, hopes to be invite for NATO membership this autumn. ALBANIA In NATO since Expects candidate status for the EU. KOSOVO Negotiations with Serbia and internal reforms. The rule of law, fight against corruption, crime, further consolidation...

Challenges of EU Enlargement The EU is a process, not a static community –entrance requirements are changing Further expansion determined by the situation in the EU (saturation, Europhobia, self-sufficiency, lack of solidarity) The absence of motivational elements in the accession process hinders reforms Focus on other regions and problems can distract the EU from SE Europe The European perspective and eventual membership of all countries in the region is the only way Southeast Europe would finally turn into a region of real peace and security!

Croatia Suppororts EU Enlargement Believing That: NEGOTIATIONS ARE THE MOST EFFECTIVE MECHANISM FOR REMODELING (TEMPLATE FOR CHANGE) NEGOTIATIONS ON FULL MEMBERSHIP IS EFFICIENT WAY TO DEFINE, DESIGN AND CONSTRUCT A MODERN DEMOCRATIC STATE MEMBERSHIP WILL MARK THE END OF THAT PROCESS AND THE FINAL ESTABLISHMENT OF PEACE AND STABILITY IN THE REGION. NEGOTIATIONS LEAD TOWARDS THE FINAL COMPLETION OF THE DEMOCRATIC AND TRANSITIONAL STATE MEMBERSHIP WILL CREATE CONDITIONS FOR DEVELOPMENT BUT WITHOUT PEACE AND STABILITY ALL EFFORST ARE WASTED

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