"On the basis of the political agreement reached by the Council on 12 December 2005, the Council adopted a Decision on the principles, priorities and conditions contained in the accession partnership with Croatia," the statement said.
The said Decision was proposed by the European Commission on 9 November 2005 and adopted by the European Parliament on 16 January 2006.
By adopting the latest decision the Council has only updated its regulation of 13 September 2004 on the European Partnership with Croatia. The amendment provides for a change in the name of the "European Partnership" for Croatia to "Accession Partnership" as Croatia started accession talks on 3 October last year and adds new elements on the basis of the EC's 2005 Progress Report on Croatia.
The Accession Partnership is the main instrument of the pre-accession strategy of a candidate country and the EU and it envisages definition of priorities and financial assistance and preparations for accession talks through screening. The Accession Partnership enables the candidate country and the EU define short and medium-term priorities on the path to full membership, determine the EU's financial assistance in the accomplishment of priority goals and conditions related to the financial assistance.
Progress in the implementation of those priorities is regularly monitored by the EC through progress reports and structures based on the Stabilisation and Association Agreement.
The Accession Partnership cites measures which need to be taken in the short and medium term regarding political criteria (including democracy and the rule of law; human rights and minority protection, and regional issues and international obligations), economic criteria, and the ability to adopt and implement the acquis communautaire.
Short-term priorities are expected to be accomplished within one to two years, while medium-term priorities are expected to be accomplished within three to four years.
Key short-term priorities include the implementation of a strategy and action plan for judicial reform, including the adoption of the necessary legislation; adoption and implementation of a national strategy for the prevention and fight against corruption and coordination among relevant government bodies involved in its implementation; more efficient implementation of the Constitutional Law on National Minorities; completion of the process of refugee return, reconstruction, property restitution and provision of accommodation to former holders of tenancy rights, and further strengthening of regional cooperation with the aim of speeding up the return of refugees and local integration; maintaining of full cooperation with the Hague war crimes tribunal; finding final solutions to outstanding bilateral issues, particularly the issue of Croatia's border with Slovenia, Serbia and Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina.