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Overview
Following a positive assessment on 3 October 2005 from the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) Chief Prosecutor that full cooperation with the ICTY had been achieved, the European Council concluded on the same day that Croatia had met the outstanding condition for the start of accession negotiations and an Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) opening the negotiations was held.
The Commission started the screening process on 20 October 2005, through which the EU acquis is explained and the legal and administrative implications in Croatia are examined. Croatian legislation is compared in detail with EU legislation. The screening enables the EU to decide upon the opening of individual chapters for EU membership negotiations.
On 09 November 2005, the Commission published its Croatia 2005 Progress Report. The report takes into consideration progress since the Commission Opinion of April 2004 on Croatia’s application for EU membership and covers the period to 30 September 2005.
In February 2006, a revised Accession Partnership for Croatia was adopted by the Council. The purpose of the Partnership is to assist the Croatian authorities in their efforts to meet the accession criteria. It covers in detail the priorities for accession preparations, in particular implementation of the acquis. These priorities are the main guidance for the programming of pre-accession assistance, while the principle means for assessing the achievements of Croatia in addressing the partnership priorities and related pre-accession assistance will be the annual Progress Reports.
Lessons Learned
Croatia currently participates in cross-border cooperation programmes with EU Member States Italy, Slovenia and Hungary as well as in the trans-national CADSES programme. Funds for Cross-border cooperation activities and capacity building for participation in CBC programmes have been made available both from the national and regional CARDS programmes and under the Phare 2005 and 2006 programmes.
IPA assistance will build on assistance provided to Croatia under the CARDS programme (2001-2004) and the pre-accession instruments Phare, ISPA (2005-2006) and Sapard (2006). Croatia also participates in and benefits from Phare-funded multi-country and horizontal programmes such as TAIEX, the Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Financing Facility, and the Nuclear Safety Programme. Croatia also remained a beneficiary of the CARDS Regional Programme in 2005 and 2006.
In the framework of the CARDS National Programmes, the total financial allocation for the period 2001 to 2004 amounted to €262 million for the following five main priorities:
CARDS allocations 2001 – 2004 in the Republic of Croatia in million €
| Sector | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | Total | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic Stabilisation | 24.2 | 16 | 16 | 17.5 | 73.7 | 28.13% |
| Economic & social development | 15.6 | 18 | 16.9 | 17.75 | 68.25 | 26.05% |
| Justice and home affairs | 14.1 | 10 | 10.9 | 26.85 | 61.85 | 23.61% |
| Administrative Capacity Building | 2.1 | 12 | 11.65 | 15.1 | 40.85 | 15.59% |
| Environment and natural resources | 2 | 3 | 6.55 | 3.8 | 35.3 | 5.86% |
| Total allocation | 60 | 59 | 62 | 81 | 262 | 100% |
The pre-accession financial instruments Phare, Phare CBC, ISPA and Sapard replaced the CARDS instrument for the period 2005 and 2006 with a total financial allocation of €229.6 million. Phare essentially continued the institution building efforts begun under CARDS with the additional element of Phare Economic and Social Cohesion allowing for limited investments. Cross-border cooperation had previously been financed under the regional CARDS budget, with Phare CBC taking over and continuing to finance Croatian participation in neighbourhood programmes. Both ISPA, with its focus on transport and environmental infrastructure and Sapard for rural development introduced new elements of pre-accession assistance to Croatia by financing actions and investments that could previously not be addressed under CARDS.
Phare, ISPA and Sapard allocations 2005 – 2006 in the Republic of Croatia in million €
| Sector | 2005 | 2006 | Total | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phare | 71.5 | 61.1 | 132.6 | 57.75% |
| Phare CBC | 6 | 6 | 12 | 5.23% |
| ISPA | 25 | 35 | 60 | 26.13% |
| Sapard | ~ | 25 | 25 | 10.89% |
| Total allocation | 102.5 | 127.1 | 229.6 | 100% |
The way of future - IPA CBC 2007-2009
Starting as of January 1st 2007 Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) will be introduced. IPA will replace previously existing Pre-Accession instruments and united them under a single legal basis for all Pre- Accession assistance.
While CBC with EU Member States is well advanced, cooperation programmes with potential candidate countries still need to be developed. Assistance for the necessary programming, planning and institution building for CBC with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro is currently being provided from CARDS national and regional funds.
Major areas of intervention:
- CBC with EU Member States
- CBC with potential candidate countries
- Participation in ERDF trans-national and interregional programmes
Main priorities:
IPA Component II will provide assistance for implementing cross-border cooperation programmes at the borders of Croatia with EU Member States and potential candidate countries as well as Croatia participation in ERDF trans-national and interregional programmes.
The CBIB project will support establishment of the operating structures (including Joint Technical Secretariat and Joint Monitoring Committee), preparation of the cross-border programme for each border and establishing of the project pipeline.
