Political relations

Links in Croatia: - Croatia – EU - Croatia – NATO - Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Croatia - Ministry of European Integration - Croatian Government - Croatian President in the UK: - UK online government site - 10 Downing Street - Cabinet Office - Department for Culture, Media and Sport - Department for Education and Skills - Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs - Department of Health - Department for International Development - Department of Trade and Industry - Department for Transport - Office of the Deputy Prime Minister - Foreign and Commonwealth Office - HM Treasury - Home Office - Lord Chancellor’s Department - Ministry of Defence - Northern Ireland Office - Privy Council Office - Department for Work and Pensions - UK Resilience - Regulatory Impact Unit - The UK Parliament

Bilateral relations between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Croatia The United Kingdom recognised the Republic of Croatia, one of the Yugoslavia's succession states, on 15th February 1992. The diplomatic relations were established on 24th June 1992 and the Croatian Embassy has opened in London. The traditional form of bilateral relations between the United Kingdom and Croatia has been strongly influenced by the process of integration of Croatia into the European structures and NATO. The United Kingdom offers significant and valuable support to Croatia in its efforts to join the European Union and it is one of the biggest contributors to the EU CARDS programme assigned to assist Croatia's institutional reforms and structural adjustments. In addition to this, the United Kingdom has, through its Department for the International Development (DFID), launched in May 2002 the UK/Croatia EU action plan which sets out a programme of bilateral co-operation and funding to help Croatia join the European Union. Croatia and the European Union The Government of the Republic of Croatia submitted on 21st February 2003 an application for the membership of Croatia in the European Union. In the last several years the relations between the Republic of Croatia and the European Union have considerably improved, especially after the signing of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (hereinafter: the SAA). The SAA, and especially the activities undertaken by the Government of the Republic of Croatia to implement the Agreement clearly indicate Croatia's commitment and determination to accomplish its strategic objective – to become an associated, and subsequently a full member of the EU. In June 1999 the Council of Ministers of the EU adopted the Stabilisation and Association Process for the Republic of Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Macedonia, and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, as a modification of the "regional approach" to the EU of April 1997, after it proved to be insufficiently flexible and dynamic for an effective articulation of EU policy and for a longer-term regulation of relations with the countries in the region. The Republic of Croatia commenced a process of more intensive rapprochement with the EU only after the elections conducted in January 2000, and affirmed itself within a very short period of time through accelerated and professionally conducted negotiations with European institutions as a partner able to adequate and in a timely manner address all the phased requirements of European partners. The process included four meetings of the Joint Consultative Task Force EU/Croatia, Commission's positive feasibility report on the start of the negotiations for a Stabilisation and Association Agreement and resulted in the opening of negotiations in November 2000 during the Zagreb Summit. Stabilisation and Association Agreement was initialled on 14th May 2001 and signed on 29th October 2001. On December 18, 2002 Croatian Parliament adopted the national Programme for Accession to the EU, which in broad lines reads as follows: - Apply for EU membership in February 2003 - Gain the candidate status by the middle of 2004 and start membership negotiations - Become ready for EU membership by the end of 2006 and finalise negotiations on accession - Join the EU in the next round of the Union's enlargement, together with Bulgaria, Romania or another candidate country, or through Croatia's individual accession. In its path to join the EU the Croatian government is determined to meet at the shortest possible period of time all required criteria, the political ones, so called Copenhagen criteria, as well as the economic ones. Macroeconomic stability is a long-lasting trend in Croatia's economy. Major macroeconomic indicators set Croatia far at the helm of all PSP countries, but also in mid-range of all countries which will join the EU in 2004. With 5,140 Euro GDP per capita Croatia is significantly above the average (2,026 Euro) of other SAP countries. Croatia's GDP of more than 22 billion represents 44% of the GDP of the whole region. In 2003, economic policy will support further decrease in state budget deficit, steady GDP increase of between 4 and 5%, stable and low inflation rate of around 3%, stable exchange rate of national currency, low interest rates with a stable and secure banking and financial sector, keeping foreign debt at around 60% of GDP, decrease in unemployment rate from 16 to 14% and an overall orientation to export performance to become a main generator of GDP growth, based on increased direct investments. On 9th October 2003 the Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan presented to the European Commission President Romano Prodi Croatia's answers to the EC questionnaire. The answers provide a detailed overview of all aspects of work and life in Croatia, its state structures, basic development policies and the current degree of adjustments to EU standards and criteria. Based on the answers, as well as on other sources, the EC will define its opinion of Croatia's candidature for EU membership, which is expected to happen in April next year.

Press releases