For this purpose Croatia has prepared a lifelong education strategy, which for the first time integrates a tradition which has been good but has had very dispersed effects, Petar Turcinovic, the head of the task force for education and culture, said in Brussels.
The second stage of the screening of education and culture, a deep analysis of the adjustment of Croatian legislation in these areas to European standards, ended in Brussels today. The screening of science and research ended on Tuesday and now the European Commission has to draw up a report with recommendations on when to open negotiations for these two chapters.
The negotiator for the two chapters, Pero Lucin, said the Croatian delegation over the past two days identified its positions and future steps.
Over the next 10 years Croatia could make huge progress in the education system, earmarking considerably more funds. Turcinovic said Croatia decided to increase money for education from 4.4 to 4.9 per cent of GDP, plus loans obtained from international institutions and money it might draw from European lifelong learning programmes.
Education and training, as well as culture, are within the jurisdiction of each state. The EU does not have a common education policy and its role consists in providing a system of cooperation among member-states. Under the principle of subsidiarity, each member-state remains fully responsible for the contents and organisation of its education system.
The EU's acquis communautaire contains a provision on the education of children of migrant workers from member-states which Croatia will have to incorporate in its legislation before joining the Union. It also contains action programmes and recommendations.
Member-states and those aspiring to join the EU have to ensure the required capacities to be able to participate in the SOCRATES education programme and the LEONARDO DA VINCI training programme.
The European commissioner for science and research, Janez Potocnik, is scheduled to visit Zagreb on Friday.