Stabilisation And Association Agreement Croatia

Croatia will also have to meet the basic criteria set out in all association agreements for candidate countries in Central and Eastern Europe, in particular respect for democracy, the rule of law, human rights and minorities. The initialisation of this agreement means that both parties accept the text obtained during the negotiations. The agreement is expected to be formally signed under the Belgian Presidency in the second half of 2001 and will enter into force when it is ratified by the parliaments of the 15 EU Member States, Croatia and the European Parliament. Croatia will also sign an interim trade agreement, which will be in force pending ratification of the Association and Stabilization Agreement. Croatia intends to apply for EU membership after the signing and hopes to conclude accession negotiations by 2006. In May 1999, the European Commission has proposed that countries in the region that have not participated in another mechanism for institutionalising relations with the EU (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia and FRY) should adopt the EU`s long-term policy, the Stabilisation and Association Agreement for South-Eastern Europe (ASA), which aimed to improve the existing policy on this part of Europe. This new policy, which is the culmination of the institutional rapprochement with the EU, provides for the conclusion of the ASA, which gives these countries the status of associate member of the EU, a status identical to that obtained by the current candidate countries through the conclusion of their stabilisation and association agreements. This new type of contractual relationship with the EU must contribute to the stabilisation of the countries of South-Eastern Europe: individual approach – The speed at which different countries go through different phases of the stabilisation and association process depends on their ability to assume and fulfil the obligations arising from the association with the EU. Each country is moving closer to the EU on the basis of its own success in implementing these commitments. If one country does not meet these conditions, it will not have an impact on other countries.

A clear prospect of EU membership – According to the EU, the only way to maintain stability in the region is to offer these countries closer cooperation and association, including a clear prospect of EU membership. As part of the stabilisation and association process, the EU encourages countries in the region, as potential candidate countries, to strengthen their relations in all possible areas, from trade and investment to the fight against organised crime, infrastructure and the return of refugees.