Transcript Slide 1
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 reintegration Liberation 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 EU Joining EuroAtlantic structures NEW OBJECTIVES AND PRIORITIES Transitional Period in Croatia AUTHORITARIAN RULE DEMOCRACY CENTRAL-PLANNING SYSTEM MARKET ECONOMY MULTINATIONAL FEDERATION CONCEPT OF NATIONAL STATE AGGRESSION AND WAR REINTEGRATION, RECONSTRUCTION AND PEACE Croatia's Road to EU Membership 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. Economic and every other progress Sharing common EU values Guarantee of security and peace More freedom – for citizens, entrepreneurs, students, media, our entire political system and society Why did we join the EU? 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 European Security Environment of Croatia • 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 … - Foreign Policy Objectives and Orientation Following EU Accession Continuation and improvement of cooperation with other countries (outside EU) Maintain or increase influence in the region Regional policy UNFOUNDED PREJUDICES AS FORM OF POLITICAL DILETTANTISM GEOGRAPHIC POSITION FOREIGN AND SECURITY POLICY AS TOOL OF POSITIONING IN INTERNTIONAL RELATIONS STRATEGIC INTEREST OF EU, USA, NATO DIRECT CORRELATION WITH REGIONAL POLICY Primary Objectives of Regional Policy ENSURING LASTING PEACE AND STABILITY IN THE REGION RESOLVING OUTSTANDING ISSUES AMONG STATES FIGHT AGAINST TRANSNATIONAL CRIME AND PROSECUTION OF WAR CRIMES COOPERATION IN CULTURE, EDUCATION, SPORTS AND OTHER FIELDS STRENGTHENING BILATERAL TRADE AND JOINT APPEARANCE ON THIRD MARKETS STRENGTHENING RIGHTS OF NATIONAL MINORITIES, HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS SOLVING CITIZENS’ PERSONAL AND FAMILY PROBLEMS Reconciliation Policy in the Region Return of refugees Creating prerequisites for firm and lasting peace Establishing the truth about missing persons Prosecuting war crimes Mourning and compassion with all victims Croatia’s Export/Import Partners Serbia Russia 7% USA 4% 5% Italy 22% Austria 9% Slovenia 16% Holland China 5% 5% Hungary 9% Italy 18% Russia 8% Germany 17% B-H 20% EXPORT in 2013 Austria 13% Germany 20% Slovenia 17% IMPORT in 2013 B-H 5% Croatia Export and Import in 2013 Neighbouring Countries (in 000 €) EXPORT IMPORT 2500000 2000000 1500000 1000000 500000 0 Italy BiH Slovenia Hungary Montenegro Serbia Policy Towards the Region Through Croatia's EU accession, the region „shrinks“ and changes to a certain degree: „Reduced Western Balkans“ • Croatia supports EU enlargement to all countries of the region • This is in our economic, political, security, cultural and other interest. For some time, though, we shall be a EU border country • We do not want a „hard border“ We need a strategy: how to increase rather than decrease influence in the region? • We shall not act unilaterally, but within the framework of the EU SERBIA BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA Accession negotiations have started. An active approach The most complexed to resolving the dispute with porblem in the region. How Kosovo. The new to achieve equality of government is struggling citizens and constituent of with a poor economic people and the functionality situation. Negotiations with of government? The the EU regarding the KOSOVO Stabilisation and Association economic crisis is extremely FYR MACEDONIA Agreement signed 2008th has complex Negotiations with which is a big A candidate for not yet entered into force! challenge for Serbia. Serbia internal membership in theand EU and MONTENEGRO ALBANIA NATO, butreforms. the process is rule The 2012 started In NATO since blocked by Greece over law, fight negotiations withof the 2009. Expects the name. The solution is EU, hopes to be against corruption, not in sight despite the candidate invite for status NATO crime, further involvement formembership the EU. this of the EU and the UN. consolidation ... autumn. 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 NEGOTIATIONS LEAD TOWARDS THE FINAL COMPLETION OF THE DEMOCRATIC AND TRANSITIONAL STATE MEMBERSHIP WILL MARK THE END OF THAT PROCESS AND THE FINAL ESTABLISHMENT OF PEACE AND STABILITY IN THE REGION. MEMBERSHIP WILL CREATE CONDITIONS FOR DEVELOPMENT BUT WITHOUT PEACE AND STABILITY ALL EFFORST ARE WASTED THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!