19 European Partnership with Croatia
| (25619)
8941/1/04
COM(04) 275
| Draft Council Decision on the principles, priorities and conditions contained in the European Partnership with Croatia
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| Legal base | Article 181a(2) EC; QMV
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| Document originated | 28 April 2004
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| Deposited in Parliament | 6 May 2004
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| Department | Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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| Basis of consideration | EM of 7 May 2004
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| Previous Committee Report | None; but see (25523) —; HC 42-xvii (2003-04), para 12 (21 April 2004)
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| To be discussed in Council | 18 May 2004 GAERC
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| Committee's assessment | Politically important
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| Committee's decision | Cleared
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Background
19.1 The June 2003 Thessaloniki European Council aimed to support
the Western Balkans countries' integration into the EU
when they meet the established
criteria — set out in the Stabilisation and Association
Process (SAP) — by building on the practices used in the
enlargement process, among other things through the introduction
of European Partnerships. The Commission launched the first set
of European Partnerships — for Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
the Republic of Macedonia and Serbia and Montenegro including
Kosovo — in conjunction with its third Annual Report on
progress made by the Western Balkan states through the SAP.
19.2 Based on the assessments in the Annual Reports,
the European Partnerships identify short and medium-term priorities
that the countries need to address in order to speed up their
progress towards EU membership. Fulfilment of the Partnership
priorities will equip them with the institutional and legislative
framework and administrative capacity required to govern a modern
democratic society with a functioning market economy. The countries
of the Western Balkans are strongly encouraged to adopt plans
for implementing the Partnership priorities, including a timetable
for doing so and appropriate budgetary decisions. Accordingly,
the Partnership priorities will also be the basis for programming
EU assistance. We cleared these partnerships and the Annual Report
on 21 April.
The document
19.3 Croatia's European Partnership and progress
report were delayed to coincide with the Commission's opinion
on Croatia's membership application, which was issued on 20 April.
The political priorities in the Partnership include co-operating
fully with the International Criminal Tribunal for (Former) Yugoslavia
(ICTY), strengthening the judicial system, improving the fight
against corruption, speeding up the return of refugees, enhancing
regional co-operation and improving respect for minority rights.
The economic priorities include sustaining prudent, stability-oriented
macro-economic policies, accelerating privatization and land reform,
facilitating the free movement of goods and capital, and ensuring
the alignment of competition and taxation legislation with EU
standards. The fulfilment of the priorities identified in the
Partnership should thereby equip Croatia with the institutional
and legislative framework and administrative capacity required
to govern a modern democratic society with a functioning market
economy. Given the Commission's positive opinion, the Partnership
will increasingly be geared towards the adoption of the EU's acquis.
19.4 As with the other countries of the Western Balkans,
Croatia is strongly encouraged to adopt an action plan for implementing
the priorities identified in the European Partnership, including
a timetable and appropriate budgetary decisions. The Partnership
priorities will also be the basis for EU assistance. Further funding
for reform is likely to become available as and when Croatia becomes
eligible for pre-accession funding, rather than external funding
as at present.
The Government's view
19.5 The Government supports the SAP as both a stimulus
to European integration and a lever for reform. The Government
also strongly supports the launching of European Partnerships:
the UK played a leading role in ensuring that this initiative
was adopted at the Thessaloniki European Council, and was instrumental
in shaping its development.
19.6 The Minister for Europe (Mr Denis MacShane)
notes the quality of the Commission's analysis and welcomes the
fact that despite the direct and frank criticisms, explicit in
the report and implicit in the Partnership, the Commission "has
stayed true to the spirit of Thessaloniki". He says that
the Government will be seeking strong language in the May GAERC
Conclusions encouraging Croatia to maintain the momentum of reform,
to draw up an action plan and to implement the Commission's recommendations.
In the meantime, he notes that the Council working group will
conduct a thorough evaluation of the substance of this as well
the other European Partnerships, and undertakes that Parliament
will be informed of any significant changes to the Partnership.
Conclusion
19.7 We report this further development to draw
attention to an additional step in the EU's support for the future
integration of the countries of the Western Balkans into the EU.
Recent developments in Croatia are encouraging, as reflected
in the Commission's positive opinion. As with Croatia's Balkan
partners, the proposed Partnership is an appropriate response,
as a framework within which Croatia — with the right responses
on its part — can move towards meeting the established criteria
for membership.
19.8 We accordingly welcome the proposed Partnership,
and clear this document.
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