ZAGREB, Dec 30 (Hina) - In 2000, Croatia made the first, but very important, step on the long path to the membership in the European Union, which is, together with plans about accession into NATO, a major strategic objective in the
foreign policy of Zagreb.
ZAGREB, Dec 30 (Hina) - In 2000, Croatia made the first, but very
important, step on the long path to the membership in the European
Union, which is, together with plans about accession into NATO, a
major strategic objective in the foreign policy of Zagreb.#L#
The recent start of negotiations on a Stabilisation and Association
Agreement (SAA) has paved the way for the establishment of the
contractual relations between Croatia and the Union.
Negotiations on the SAA were formally opened on 24 November during
the Zagreb Summit of heads of state or government of 15 EU member-
states and five southeastern European countries.
On 18 December, Croatian and EU negotiating teams held the first
round of talks in Brussels, and another two rounds are to be
conducted next year.
Croatians expect the negotiations on the SAA may be completed in the
first half of 2001 during the Swedish presidency over the EU.
The completion of the negotiations and the signing of the SAA are
regarded as an easier part of the entire job, while more difficult
tasks ensue with the implementation of the agreement, as it
requires from Croatia to open its market for EU products and goods
and to adjust its legislation to European laws (acquise
communautaire).
During the 23-24 March EU Summit in Lisbon, the Union decided that
the asymmetric liberalisation of the trade should go before the
SAA, and in this way the Union completely opened its market for
products from countries covered by the SAA process.
Following the proposal the European Commission gave in June, the EU
Council of Ministers adopted a decree in September to
operationalise the Lisbon decision. The decree, which took effect
on November 1, will be in force for two years until 31 December 2002.
Under the decree, 95 percent of products from the western Balkans
will be imported duty-free into EU member-states, or by 15 percent
more compared to the previous regime of autonomous tariff
concessions. This measure will have little impact of the EU market,
but will be very useful for economies in the five countries covered
by the SAA process.
During the implementation of the SAA, Croatia will have to
gradually lessen the asymmetric relation in the commerce with the
EU within time terms which should be defined at the rounds of the
said negotiations. It will also gradually open its market for the
import of EU goods without tariffs. This presents a great challenge
for the Croatian economy that will be forced to enhance its
competitiveness to respond to it.
Zagreb and Brussels have intensified their relations since the
parliamentary and presidential elections in Croatia at the
beginning of this year. Before that, Zagreb had usually received
warnings and criticism from the EU headquarters about its
unsatisfactory cooperation with the International Criminal
Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), insufficient legal
safety, treatment of the media, slow refugee returns and its
relations with Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Immediately after the elections and prior to the constitution of
the new coalition Government in Croatia, European Commission
President Romano Prodi came in Zagreb on 14 January to announce the
resumption of the political dialogue which discontinued in 1995
after Croatian police and armed troops liberated a large part of the
then occupied areas during the "Flash" and "Storm" operations.
After Prodi, the EU High Representative for foreign and security
polices, Javier Solana, visited Croatia on 28 March and 9 June, and
EC Commissioner for foreign affairs, Chris Patten, was also twice
in Zagreb - on March 9 and September 22.
Croatian Premier Ivica Racan paid visit to Brussels on 14 February,
while President Mesic toured the EU headquarters on 17 and 18 July.
One of the signs of the improvement of the EU-Croatian relations was
the upgrading the diplomatic level of the European Commission
Office in Zagreb to the EC delegation in the Croatian capital on
March 9.
The EU gave Zagreb credit for democratic changes by allowing Zagreb
to be the host of the summit of the EU and southeastern European
statesmen on 24 November. This was the biggest ever political
summit to take place in Croatia and the first summit of EU heads of
state or government to be held outside 15 member-countries.
The Zagreb declaration, which was adopted on that occasion,
underlined the individual treatment of the performance of each of
five countries covered by the SAA process (Croatia, Albania,
Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia and the Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia) as well as the necessity to develop regional
cooperation. The document emphasised their status as potential
members in the EU.
Judging from the current developments, Croatia is likely to
conclude the SAA next year and thus become an EU associate member.
However, there is a long road toward the full membership. Croatian
government officials believe their country can meet all criteria
for this objective by 2006 and be fully admitted into the EU then.
(hina) ms