BRUSSELS, April 22 (Hina) - The opinion of the European Commission on Croatia's European Union membership application is an extensive document which describes in detail the current situation in the country, forecasts possible progress
in the next few years, and recommends the start of accession talks.
BRUSSELS, April 22 (Hina) - The opinion of the European Commission on
Croatia's European Union membership application is an extensive
document which describes in detail the current situation in the
country, forecasts possible progress in the next few years, and
recommends the start of accession talks.#L#
The document, which was published in Strasbourg on Tuesday, consists
of three main chapters: an introduction, membership criteria, and a
summary and conclusions.
The introduction cites the Copenhagen criteria on EU membership which
apply to all accessing countries as well as conditions arising from
the Stabilisation and Association process (SAp), such as cooperation
with the UN war crimes tribunal and regional cooperation. This section
gives an overview of relations between Croatia and the EU.
The document analyses the situation concerning political criteria
(democracy, the rule of law, human rights and the protection of
minorities), including the conditions from the SAp.
It also gives an assessment of the situation in Croatia and its
prospects with regard to economic criteria (existence of a functioning
market economy, as well as the ability to cope with competitive
pressures and market forces within the EU).
The Commission also reports about the country's ability to take on the
obligations of membership, including adherence to the aims of
political, economic and monetary union.
In assessing progress in these areas, the Commission has taken into
account the capacity of Croatia?s administrative and legal systems to
apply and enforce the acquis in practice.
The criteria for EU membership are divided into three groups:
political, economic, and Croatia's ability to fulfil membership
obligations.
POLITICAL CRITERIA
This part of the document analyses the organisation and functioning of
the authorities and mechanisms for the protection of fundamental
rights. The assessment was made on the basis of the situation in the
country in late February this year.
"Croatia has stable democratic institutions which function properly
respecting the limits of their competences and co-operating with each
other." The opposition plays a normal part in the operation of the
institutions, the document says.
"There are no major problems over assuring the rule of law and respect
for fundamental rights. However, Croatia needs to take measures to
ensure that the rights of minorities, in particular of the Serb
minority, are fully respected. Croatia should speed up the
implementation of the constitutional Law on National Minorities and
accelerate efforts to facilitate the return of Serb refugees from
Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Croatia needs to make substantial
improvements in the functioning of the judicial system. The
effectiveness of the fight against corruption needs further
strengthening," the document reads.
"Croatia?s cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for
the Former Yugoslavia has improved significantly in the past months.
In April 2004, the Prosecutor (Carla del Ponte) stated that Croatia is
now cooperating fully with ICTY. Croatia needs to maintain full
cooperation and take all necessary steps to ensure that the remaining
indictee is located and transferred to the ICTY in The Hague," reads
the 'avis' which does not explicitly mention the name of the fugitive
General Ante Gotovina.
"Croatia remains committed to regional co-operation; sustained efforts
are needed in this area. In particular to resolve border issues with
neighbouring countries in line with international standards for
dispute settlement, and issues arising from the unilateral declaration
of the protected ?Ecological and Fishing Zone? in the Adriatic," the
document reads.
ECONOMIC CRITERIA
The EC gives an overview and projections of progress in years before
Croatia's admission to the European Union. The assessment covers a
medium term of five years, but it is stressed that this does not
prejudge the exact date of the country's entry into the Union.
"Croatia can be regarded as a functioning market economy. It should be
able to cope with competitive pressure and market forces within the
Union in the medium term, provided that it continues implementing its
reform programme to remove remaining weaknesses," it is said.
"The Croatian economy has achieved a considerable degree of
macroeconomic stability with low inflation. Enhanced economic
stability and structural reforms undertaken so far permit the working
of market mechanisms," says the avis in which it is also stated that
"Croatia?s economy is already well integrated with that of the EU".
"Enterprise restructuring and privatisation has been slower than
expected and some large state and formerly socially-owned enterprises
still play an important role in the economy."
CAPACITY TO TAKE ON OTHER OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERSHIP
Croatia can meet all necessary criteria from the acquis in the medium
term, except in environment protection where great investments are
needed, the Commission says.
Croatia is to invest three different levels of efforts to implement
the 29 chapters of the acquis.
"Croatia has made significant efforts to align its legislation with
the acquis, particularly in areas related to Internal Market and
trade. These efforts need to be continued vigorously. Administrative
capacity is uneven and enforcement of legislation needs to be
improved," the document reads.
"If it continues its efforts, Croatia should not have major
difficulties in applying the acquis in the medium term in the
following fields: Economic and Monetary Union; Statistics; Industrial
policy; Small and medium-sized enterprises; Science and research;
Education and training; Culture and audio-visual policy; External
relations; Common foreign and security policy; Financial and budgetary
provisions.
"Croatia will have to make further efforts to align its legislation
with the acquis and to effectively implement and enforce it in the
medium term in the following fields: Free movement of capital; Company
law; Fisheries; Transport; Energy; Consumer and health protection;
Customs union; Financial control," the document reads.
"Croatia will have to make considerable and sustained efforts to align
its legislation with the acquis and to effectively implement and
enforce it in the medium term in the following fields: Free movement
of goods; Free movement of persons; Freedom to provide services;
Competition; Agriculture; Taxation; Social policy and employment;
Telecommunications and information technologies; Regional policy;
Justice and home affairs."
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
At the end of the document the Commission reiterates assessments from
the avis and recommends that the European Council begin accession
talks with Croatia. The Council will hold its next summit on 17 and 18
June in Brussels.
Besides the avis, the Commission also announced a draft of the
European Partnership with Croatia in which it identifies priorities
for preparations for full EU membership.
The commission will regularly monitor Croatia's progress in the
implementation of priorities and give its assessments in annual
reports on the Stabilisation and Association process.
(hina) ms