Published: 06.03.2007.

Minister Grabar-Kitarović led Croatian delegation at third meeting of EU-Croatia SA Council

Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović led on 6 March 2007 in Brussels the Croatian delegation at the third meeting of the Stabilisation and Association Council between the European Union and Croatia

Following is the Joint Press Release issued at the meeting.

EU-CROATIA
The Stabilisation and Association Council

Brussels, 6 March 2007

JOINT PRESS RELEASE

The EU-Croatia Stabilisation and Association Council (SA Council) held its third meeting on Tuesday 6 March 2007. The meeting was chaired by Mr Günter GLOSER, Minister of State for Europe of Germany and Head of the European Union delegation (Troïka format). Mr Olli REHN, Commissioner responsible for Enlargement, represented the European Commission. Ms Kolinda GRABAR-KITAROVIĆ, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, led the delegation of the Republic of Croatia.
The SA Council welcomed the advancement of the accession negotiations between the EU and Croatia and confirmed that they continue to be guided by Croatia's progress in preparing for accession, which will be measured in particular against the requirements of the Negotiating Framework, including the fulfilment of Croatia’s obligations under the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, as well as the implementation of the Accession Partnership.
The screening exercise was successfully completed in October 2006. The SA Council noted with satisfaction that accession negotiations have begun well and that first results have been obtained. Two chapters have been provisionally closed during 2006 and three other chapters were opened. The SA Council encouraged Croatia to continue working on the challenges and shortcomings identified during the screening process and developing the necessary administrative capacity. In this context, the SA Council welcomed that in January 2007 Croatia adopted the 2007 National Programme for the Integration of Croatia into the EU, and looked forward to its implementation.
The SA Council noted that in the European Council conclusions of June and December 2006 the European Union reaffirmed its commitments towards the countries that are in the enlargement process. It was also recalled that the pace of enlargement must take into account the capacity of the Union to integrate new members. It was further recalled that the pace of the accession process depends on the results of the reforms in the negotiating country, with each country being judged on its own merits.
Against this background, the SA Council meeting provided a timely opportunity to review Croatia's progress in its preparations for accession and to consider priorities for further work within the framework of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement.
The SA Council reviewed the state of Croatia's preparations for accession, in particular in the light of the Accession Partnership and of the Commission's 2006 Progress Report. In this context, the SA Council noted that Croatia continues to fulfil the Copenhagen political criteria but further sustained efforts as regards the reforms and their implementation are needed in a number of key areas such as the reform of the judicial system, the public administration and the fight against corruption. The SA Council welcomed continued full cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and underlined its importance. At the same time, it noted that despite progress over the past year, further improvements are needed regarding prosecution of war crimes trials in Croatia.
The SA Council welcomed the overall progress achieved as regards refugee return, reconstruction and repossession of housing, while underlining that the implementation of housing care programmes for former tenancy right holders needs to be full and efficient. Furthermore, efforts to create the economic and social conditions necessary for the sustainability of refugee return need to be accelerated. The SA Council also encouraged Croatia to continue to engage in regional discussions on refugee return and to pursue efforts aimed at reconciliation among citizens in the region.

The SA Council noted that while further progress has been made as regards minority rights, in particular with regard to Roma questions, efforts to combat intolerance and to encourage reconciliation should be pursued. The SA Council encouraged Croatia to intensify the implementation of the Constitutional Law on National Minorities and to finalise preparation and begin implementation of a comprehensive anti-discrimination strategy and action plan.

The SA Council welcomed progress made in the area of regional cooperation, including Croatia's chairmanship of the South-East European Cooperation Process. The SA Council also welcomed the inclusive new CEFTA, signed in Bucharest on 19 December 2006, which should boost trade within the region and stimulate foreign investment. The SA Council also encouraged Croatia to continue its efforts towards good neighbourly relations, in particular by enhancing work on finding mutually acceptable definitive solutions to all pending bilateral issues with neighbouring countries.

The SA Council recalled that Croatia can be regarded as a functioning market economy and that Croatia should be able to cope with competitive pressures and market forces within the Union in the medium term, provided that it vigorously implements its reform programme to remove the significant remaining weaknesses. In this context, the SA Council invited Croatia to accelerate the pace of structural reforms, including implementing enterprise restructuring.
The SA Council noted with satisfaction that Croatia has improved its ability to take on the obligations of membership. In most areas there has been some progress, but as regards the overall level of alignment and administrative capacity, further sustained efforts are needed. The SA Council devoted particular attention to issues linked to the functioning of the internal market, agriculture, veterinary, phytosanitary and food policy, social policy and employment, environment and justice and home affairs. Short-term priorities under the Accession Partnership remain to be fulfilled in many areas.

The SA Council reviewed the implementation of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement; it acknowledged that Croatia has contributed to the smooth functioning of the various joint bodies and underlined that the implementation of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement has largely continued without major difficulties. At the same time, the SA Council noted that some areas, such as free movement of goods, state aid, free movement of capital and the right of establishment require close attention and further work.
The SA Council noted that work is under way to conclude an Enlargement Protocol to the SA Agreement in order to take account of the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the EU, and looked forward to the speedy conclusion of this Protocol.
The SA Council noted Croatia's participation in a number of Community programmes. As regards financial cooperation, the SA Council, while welcoming the measures taken by Croatia which enable decentralised management of Community funds, underlined that, as a consequence, the institutions involved in the management of these funds need to have sufficient human resources.
The SA Council welcomed Croatia’s regular alignment with EU positions and declarations in the framework of the Common Foreign and Security Policy, its support for the International Criminal Court and its commitment to preserving the integrity of the Rome statute. The SA Council welcomed in particular the fact that Croatia has not signed a bilateral agreement on non-extradition to the International Criminal Court.

Finally, the SA Council had an exchange of views concerning recent developments in the Western Balkans region.

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