Croatia’s EU accession – a year to go

I’ve just returned from my first visit as Minister for Europe to Zagreb. My visit comes just one year before Croatia’s accession to the EU. Everyone I’ve met has that on their minds.  I’ve been looking at three ways I think we can strengthen our friendship:

• We need to look at areas of common interest between the UK and Croatia so that we can identify how best to work with Croatia as a partner. Strengthening our commercial links is one priority and we also have an opportunity, both bilaterally and through the EU, to address global economic and political issues.
• Croatia’s accession demonstrates to me how stability and prosperity can be brought to the Western Balkans through the process of EU and NATO enlargement. I am glad that Croatia is planning ways to share with others in the region its experience of some of the toughest accession negotiations so far.
• We also need to work together over the coming months to ensure that Croatia is completely ready for EU membership on 1 July 2013. All 27 EU Member States need to ratify Croatia’s Accession Treaty. In the UK an Act of Parliament must be passed before the Treaty can be approved. It is also important that Croatia ensures that it fully meets the required EU standards by the date of accession, something which will be closely monitored by the EU Commission.

During my visit I met government Ministers and advisers to discuss progress in implementing Croatia’s programme of democratic, judicial and economic reform. I also discussed the economic situation with the Governor of Croatia’s Central Bank and met representatives of NGOs which play a vital role in championing the rule of law and human rights.  I am impressed by the way that Croatia’s leaders see accession to the EU as a new beginning for their country. They want to seize the opportunity to move on from the conflicts of the past and look to a future that fully embraces European values of democracy and the rule of law.  This momentous change is why the UK has been, and continues to be, a strong supporter of Croatia on its path to EU membership.  By putting in the hard work and effort now, Croatia will ensure it is able to participate effectively from its first day of EU membership.

In just 12 months we will have a new partner on the EU stage, and with this come real benefits for the UK both in our international and European policy. Many British people will already be familiar with Croatia from holidays on its beautiful Adriatic coast; over the coming months I hope that UK companies and investors as well as British tourists will use the opportunity to explore fully this country’s potential so that we are all in a position come 1 July 2013 to welcome Croatia as our new EU partner.