The Republic of Croatia in the EU

and in Southeastern Europe

Ivo JosipovićPresident of the Republic of Croatia

NATO Member States

EU

CROATIA

 Croatia's Foreign Policy since 1991

• 15 January 1992• 1992 –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

• 1995. Operations “Flash”, “Storm”

• 1995. Dayton – B-H• 1996. Erdut Peace

Agreement - UNTAES• Until 1998 - peaceful

reintegrationLiberation and reintegration of the whole of Croatia

• NATO• 2000 Partnership for

Peace• 2009 accession to

membership • EU

• 2001 Stabilisation and Association Agreement

• 1 July 2013 - accession to the EUJoining 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

2000 Parliamentary and Presidential elections. A EU-Balkan summit in Zagreb.

2001 Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA).

2003 Formal application for membership submitted.

2004 Croatia receives official candidate status.

2005 Full cooperation with ICTY declared – SAA comes into force, negotiations started.

2008-09

Slovenian blockade of negotiations due to the territorial dispute on sea. International arbitrage agreement.

2011 End of accession negotiations. Accession treaty signed.

2012 Referendum (66% in favour).

2012-13

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 PREJUDICESAS 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

ENSURINGLASTING 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 prerequisi

tes for firm and lasting peace

Return of refugeesEstablishing

the truth about missing persons

Prosecuting war crimes

Mourning and compassion with all victims

Croatia’s Export/Import Partners

Italy18%

Germany20%

B-H5%Slovenia

16%

Austria13%

Russia7%

China5%

Holland5%

Hungary9%

IMPORT in 2013

Italy22%

Germany17%B-H

20%

Slovenia16%

Austria10%

Russia5%

Serbia7% USA

4%

EXPORT in 2013

Croatia Export and Import in 2013

Ital

yBiH

Slov

enia

Hun

gary

Mon

tene

gro

Serb

ia0

500000

1000000

1500000

2000000

2500000

Neighbouring Countries (in 000 €)

EXPORT IMPORT

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!

SERBIAAccession 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 2009. 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

THANK YOU FOR YOUR

ATTENTION!