Croatia’s EU Membership and its Role in South East Europe: Perceptions, Actualities, Projections

Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is an honor and a pleasure to be here today in this distinguished institute whose long and impressive tradition has given a new dimension to discussing various topics of international relevance.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Chatham House on its 90th anniversary and to wish you many more successful years to come.

I am aware of a wide array of issues which dominate today’s debates and policies on the international stage.

On a broader scale – the focus of attention lies on how to overcome the current global economic crisis, how to work towards a secure energy environment, and how to deal with old and new security threats ranging from climate change to terrorism.

The major changes and challenges that the new Millennium has brought have impacted the way the countries set their priorities, and Croatia is no exception.

There is no doubt that, as a consequence, here in Europe we are witnessing a shift of attention towards other countries, regions and continents due to reasons ranging from security, economy or mere geopolitics.

In the case of Croatia, this new emerging reality has further strengthened our commitment to be a reliable NATO ally, to achieve EU membership in the nearest possible future, and to share our part of the responsibility in South East Europe.

The shift of the international community’s focus away from this region can be viewed as an acknowledgment of the progress achieved over the past years.

However, a lot of work remains to be done, which is why the region still needs and deserves our attention.

Before explaining in detail this aspect of Croatia’s foreign policy, I would like to draw a picture of where Croatia stands today on the broader international scene.

I am curious to hear what your view is of the Croatia of today.

Therefore I will try to limit my speech to some 25 minutes and leave enough time to take your questions.

While going through three transition processes in the past twenty years, Croatia has indeed come a long way.

From a country within the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Croatia has become a free, independent, sovereign state.

It has released itself from the communist legacy by building a pluralistic, democratic state and society and by establishing a free market economy.

Unlike the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, Croatia was simultaneously faced with a war inflicted on its own territory, which made the third transition – building peace and prosperity – the most demanding of all.

Our ability to overcome all these difficulties strengthened the foundations of our democracy, as well as our European aspirations and Trans-Atlantic commitment.

Strict adherence to fundamental democratic values has put Croatia on the track of development, reconciliation and progress.

A clear proof that Croatia has undergone an incredible transformation in the last two decades is its accession to NATO on 1st April 2009.

In NATO Croatia recognises a proven, uniquely efficient and credible collective defence system, an alliance that links strategic partners from Europe and North America, who are able to operate jointly in highly demanding and ever changing security environments.

We are now an integral part of NATO’s transformation and the renewed transatlantic solidarity, thus assuming our part of the political responsibility of membership in promoting and protecting a system of shared values.

We have actively supported the efforts of adopting a New Strategic Concept of NATO by making valuable contributions to the discussion on how to improve the Alliance's ability to face the global challenges of the 21st century.

Even before its membership in NATO, Croatia had been assuming an increasingly active role in peace-keeping efforts.

And this is all the more significant since in a very short period of time Croatia ceased to be “an issue” and became a contributor to the international peace and security.

Over the past 11 years and on four continents, our soldiers and civilians have served the purpose of peace.

Croatia is currently contributing to a total of 14 peacekeeping missions of the UN, NATO and the EU, with the NATO led ISAF operation in Afghanistan being at the core of our international peacekeeping engagement.

In the course of next year we will deploy 30 more troops in ISAF and assume command over the Military Police School in Mazar-e-Sharif.

Be it in Afghanistan or any other part of the world, Croatia advocates a comprehensive approach, entailing a larger participation of civilians in peace efforts as well as taking additional measures leading to a self-sustainable state and society.

Speaking from Croatia’s own experience, this is possible only if the solutions sought are mindful of the culture and traditions of the country in question.

I am proud of the work of the Croatian contingent in Afghanistan which is increasingly engaged in training the Afghan troops so that they can take over the responsibility for their own security as soon as possible.

The sensitivity to the local population, to their religion, customs and laws, is crucial to garnering respect in any mission and it has most certainly contributed to a very positive image of Croatian troops in Afghanistan and beyond.

We owe this to the fact that lessons learned from the period when Croatia itself was host to peace-keeping missions, positive as well as negative, are today built into our training programs.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As we are proud of our achievements as a NATO Member State, we are also proud of what we have accomplished with regard to our impending membership in the European Union.

Here I intentionally use the wording “what we have accomplished” rather than “where we stand today”.

Because meeting the membership criteria has not been the major difficulty in the Croatian negotiating process, whereas overcoming the political hurdles certainly was.

Croatia opened its accession negotiations five years ago during the UK presidency.

Even though the last month’s otherwise very positive Progress Report on Croatia did not specify the expected date of accession, the scenario of concluding the negotiations and signing the Accession Treaty in the course of next year is more than realistic.

It is certainly one we intend to follow.

We are aware that this scenario, however realistic when it comes to Croatia’s dedication, also very much depends on the support of our European partners.

Therefore, we highly value their encouraging signals, such as the incoming Hungarian EU presidency making the conclusion of Croatia’s negotiations one of its priorities.

In order to successfully cross the finishing line, such signals from our partners, including the United Kingdom, are more than welcome.

As we appreciate the pre-accession assistance of the United Kingdom government to Croatia, we would highly value its support in ensuring a smooth and unhindered process of Croatia becoming an EU member state.

The fact that all the chapters in Croatia’s accession negotiations have been opened and 25 of them provisionally closed prove that our work is almost done.

In order to complete it, we are not losing sight of what remains to be achieved, mostly in Chapters 8 - Competition Policy and 23 - Judiciary and Fundamental Rights.

Therefore, in the following period we will continue to put emphasis on areas such as the restructuring of the shipbuilding sector and the reform of the judiciary.

I would like to point out that, as a result of the lessons learned in the previous enlargement round, Chapter 23 was introduced for the first time into the Croatian negotiation process as a separate chapter.

It represents much more than the mere alignment with the acquis and the implementation of legal acts.

Fulfilling the benchmarks in Chapter 23 inevitably leads to a change in the mindset of the society as a whole.

Being aware of the importance of this Chapter for Croatia’s credibility as a future EU Member State, we attach particular importance to meeting all the requirements, however difficult they might be.

The reason why we are dedicated to this task is the awareness that it is first and foremost to our own benefit to complete the reforms.

With that in mind, it is the resolute and effective fight against corruption that continues to be the main priority of the Croatian Government.

We want to send a clear and explicit message – we will vigorously promote zero tolerance towards corruption and nobody can be above the law.

Since the issues of full cooperation with the ICTY, refugee return and minority protection are still being frequently raised in the context of Croatia, allow me to get straight to the point.

Croatia fully cooperates with the ICTY.

And we are glad that this is reflected in the latest Report of Chief Prosecutor Brammertz to the UN Security Council.

Our responsible approach leaves no doubt about our credibility and consistency in future cooperation as well.

For Croatia, this cooperation ceased to be a matter of political will a long time ago.

And we hope that this will become a reality for others in the region as well.

Another reality is that despite fiscal austerity and budgetary constraints, Croatia has so far invested more than 5.3 billion EUR into refugee return, and that only 5% of this amount has been borne by the international community.

We have enabled the return of a total of 347,000 refugees, out of which more than a third of Serbian nationality.

During the recent visit of President Tadić it has been confirmed that all parties involved are determined to finally transfer this issue from a political into a technical sphere.

The reality is that Croatia is demonstrating its commitment not only to the implementation of its national and international obligations, but also to setting new standards.

And this applies not only to refugee return but also to the protection of minority rights.

Because of that and because of our determination to complete all the necessary reforms, it is unquestionable that Croatia will on merit sign the Accession Treaty and become the 28th Member State of the European Union.

When I say on merit, I do not imply only all that we will achieve up to that point, but also our readiness to assume full responsibility stemming from the membership in the European family of states and nations.

That is why we are thinking ahead and undertaking the necessary preparations for the post-accession period.

It is our aim to achieve full integration as soon as possible, be it in the Schengen area or the monetary union.

And it is our aim not only to participate in all the policies of the EU, but also to actively contribute to forming them.

Ladies and gentlemen,

We are all very much aware that these are very interesting and very challenging times we live in. 

What we are witnessing is the new emerging reality of today’s globalized world.

As the EU is adapting accordingly, so is Croatia.

The recognition of what the 21st century has brought along has been embedded into our foreign policy.

Looking beyond our shores for new partners and exploring the manifold opportunities of our time is not simply an option.

I would rather say that there is no alternative.

We need to focus our diplomatic efforts on strengthening partnerships, both on the political and economic levels, with all the relevant actors on the world stage.

And that is why since my first day in office I have highlighted the need to intensify relations with the existing partners, and forge closer ties with new ones.

In the course of only this year I have visited the Middle East, China, Japan and South Korea.

In the year to come I will spare no effort to improve Croatia’s ties with South America, especially given the natural bond formed by a significant number of Croats by descent living in a number of Latin American states.

In spreading the network of bonds with partners across the globe, the underlying idea is not only to raise our international stature, but also to brand Croatia as a desirable investment and tourist destination.

Since Croatia is often found at the very top of various lists of must-see countries, it is fair to say that it already occupies a prominent place on the world tourist map.

Besides to natural beauties, this we certainly owe to our rich cultural heritage which interweaves the Mediterranean and Central European aspects of our identity.

In our projections it is our intention to also put Croatia in a prominent place on the world investment map.

That is why we are dedicated to further fortify the very backbone of economic development.

And by this I mean creating a better and more supportive business environment.

This entails not only putting additional emphasis on economic diplomacy but also the continuation of necessary structural reforms, as well as undertaking relevant programs aimed at further strengthening of Croatia’s overall competitiveness.

We will continue to strive to remove the barriers to foreign investment and to make it as easy as possible for companies to do business in Croatia.   

What makes a Government outstanding is its readiness to conduct painful, but necessary measures in the pursuit of a broader vision of the future to the benefit of its citizens.

It is clear that such a broader vision stands behind the recent decisions of the UK Government, as it does behind ours.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Croatia’s support in shaping a better future for South East Europe has been and will remain unequivocal.

This is not only a statement of principle.

We have invested true efforts into providing substantial assistance to our neighbours.

As a NATO Member State and an EU member-to-be, the particularity of Croatia’s position in South East Europe becomes even more evident.

Our achievements have to be viewed also through the lens of our responsibility for the region.

And this responsibility is reflected in our role in advocating a clear membership perspective for the countries of SEE, in promoting the spirit of cooperation and mutual understanding, as well as the principles and values which the European Union has been built upon.

This long-term commitment of ours has taken on many different shapes, delivering tangible results.

They include fostering economic cooperation within CEFTA, establishing the Regional Cooperation Council, putting the Croatian translation of the acquis communautaire at the disposal of all our neighbours and signing a number of bilateral agreements on defence, police and judiciary cooperation.

By initiating the Brdo process, Croatia and Slovenia have created an additional framework in which to foster regional cooperation as well as to facilitate the integration process of each respective country.

In doing so, we are inevitably increasing the credibility of the region as a whole.

We do hope that this will also help create an environment conducive to resolving the remaining open issues and challenges.

All this proves that the approach of Croatia towards its neighbours has been consistent and straightforward.

What we wish to see is a domino effect of such an approach.

There are already clear signs of that, such as the recent visit and apology of the Serbian President Boris Tadić in Vukovar, as well as his first state visit to Croatia two weeks ago.

It is a proof that a different policy, a policy of peace, good-neighborliness and friendship is possible.

It is a proof that the region can leave the old patterns behind.

And I can claim with confidence that we are moving towards closing the full circle of reconciliation, thus embracing our common European future.

Progress has been made, but our job has not been finished yet.

There are certainly other positive trends we are eager to see in the region.

Following the elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina, we hope that the new government will create a political atmosphere conducive to constitutional changes.

Here I would like to reiterate that Croatia has and will continue to support the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In achieving a viable state and society it is imperative to guarantee the equality and equal representation of all three constitutive peoples.

Croatia is prepared to cooperate with the international community in ensuring that Bosnia and Herzegovina gains new momentum necessary for undertaking reforms and making much needed progress on its European path.

We also wish to see is that Belgrade and Priština as well as Skopje and Athens engage in a constructive dialogue.

These are important prerequisites for the countries of the region to move forward on the path of integration.

There is no doubt; the forces that are to move this process forward are first and foremost the countries themselves.

However, in order to give this process a decisive push, the valuable support of our European and other international partners remains to be indispensable.

This is the reason why I said at the beginning of my speech that the focus on the region should not diminish.

I am saying this while being aware of the still present perception of South East Europe as being insufficiently able to move forward on the integration path and taking its rightful place in Europe.

This calls for renewed political attention on the region, which would ensure that we can build on the joint efforts and achievements of the international community and countries of the region.

By postponing the accession perspective into an indefinite future, we could put at risk the significant progress achieved over the past years.

This is why we find it necessary to keep repeating that the open door policy of both the EU and NATO has no alternative for the region, which we know that the United Kingdom firmly supports.

We understand the value of such a support and share the conviction of the positive impact of championing the enlargement in the region of South East Europe.

It is necessary to emphasize that various incentives, such as visa liberalization with the EU, MAP granted to B-H, as well as the recent decision to refer Serbia’s application for EU membership to the European Commission, are more than welcome.

Nevertheless, there is still a need for the region to be in stronger focus of the international community.

That is precisely why we have to keep raising the awareness that South East Europe deserves a more profound consideration, attention and interest of all the relevant actors.

I would even say this is imperative if we want to ensure that the region opts for the right choices in the times to come; that it endures the painful reforms and finally leaves the waiting room it has found itself in.

Turning this scenario into reality requires cooperation from us all.

In this regard, Croatia can be of assistance for more than one reason.

It is a neighbouring country, it serves as an example, it has valuable expertise on the region and it has a unique experience in the integration process of both the EU and NATO.

Rest assured that we will spare no effort to support the countries of the region towards the future of being partners in the European and Euro-Atlantic community of nations.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In my address today it was my intention to present to you Croatia from various perspectives, in a way similar to building a mosaic.

I would like to express my hope that by putting the various pieces of this mosaic together, the well-deserved final picture of the Croatia of today is unveiling.

In the case that there might be some missing pieces, we can try to search for them together.

Which is why I stand ready to hear your questions.

Thank you!