EU Negotiations of the WB EU Negotiations of the WB Countries: Case Study Countries: Case Study

CroatiaCroatia

Marija Pejčinović Burić,Marija Pejčinović Burić,

former State Secretary for European Affairs, Republic of Croatiaformer State Secretary for European Affairs, Republic of Croatia

Regional Academy for Democracy, Subotica, Regional Academy for Democracy, Subotica, 2525thth February 2013 February 2013

marija.pejcinovic.buric@gmail.commarija.pejcinovic.buric@gmail.com

Why to continue EU enlargement?• Overall positive results of the past enlargements:

peace and prosperity – growth and employment (both in existing and new member states)

• Development of new policies: such as regional policy, cohesion policy, agricultural policy, environmental policy etc.

• To complete European project as it was designed at the begining

• “Europe cannot give up enlargement without denying its vocation, or give up deepening without loosing its dynamism”, Ph. De Schouetheete

• Ever bigger Union poses challenges to all of its members – all must want it to be a success story!

EU Enlargement

- Important policy of the EU- Symbolizes the success of the

European project- Marks differencies of the member

states views over final reach of the EU

The Nature of the Enlargement Process- Political from both sides- Yet, there are set criteria to be

fulfilled and immense, real and concrete work to be done - in and by the (potential) candidate

- For a transition country probably the journey is more important than the final goal!

European Integration – what does it really entail?

- Genuine political will- Prepardness to undertake and

implement complex reforms- Public support- Political consensus (if feasible) of

relevant stakeholders

Croatia and EU

• Long and difficult journeyLong and difficult journey

• Preparations for membership vs. Preparations for membership vs. transition processtransition process

• Six years of memebership negotiations Six years of memebership negotiations

• Inclusive process: Government, Inclusive process: Government, Parliament; civil societyParliament; civil society

• Croatia 28Croatia 28thth EU member EU member

Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA)29th Oct.2001Associate Member

Application for Full-fledged EU Membership 21st Feb.2003

Questionaire 10th July2003

Opening of the Negotiations3rd Oct.2005

Answers 9 th Oct.2003

Avis EC 20th April2004

Candidate Status 18th June2004

Full-fleged EU Membership

1st July 2013

Closing Negotiations 30th June 2011

Croatian Path Towards the European Union membership

Criteria for EU MembershipCopenhagen Criteria

POLITICAL

Democracy

Rule of Law

Minority Rights

Regional co-operation

ICTY

ECONOMIC

Market Economy

Capacity to compete on the Internal market

LEGAL

Acquis Communautaire

Madrid Criterion

ADMINISTRATION

Efficient Public Administration

35 Acquis Chapiters • Free Movement of Goods• Free Movement of Persons

(Workers)• Right of Establishment and

Free Movement of Services• Free Movement of Capital• Procurement• Company Law • Intelectual Proprety

Coimpetition• Financial Services• Information Society and Media• Agriculture and Rural

Development• Food Safety, Veterinary and

Fitosanitary Inspection• Fisheries• Transport Policy• Energy• Taxation• Ekonomic and Monetary Union• Statistics• Social Policy and Employment

Trans-European Networks Entreprise and Industrial PolicyRegional Policy and Co-ordination

of Structural InstrumentsJudiciary and Fundamental

FreedomsJustice, Freedom and SecurityScience, Education and CultureEnvironmentConsumer and Health Protection Customs UnionExternal RelationsForeign, Security and Defence

PolicyFinancial ControlFinancial and Budgetary

ProvisonsInstitutionsOther Issues

Some major issues...

I) External:• Postponed Opening of Negotiations• Negotiations opened together with Turkey (coupled

in the beginning)• Initial setting-up of new “tecnology” for

negotiations – benchmarks and monitoring• Slovenian blocade• Ratification of the Lisbon Treaty• Full cooperation with the ICTY

Some major issues...

• II) Internal:• Structural Reforms in subsidised

sectors, such as Shipbuilding, Steelworks and Agriculture

• Judiciary Reform and Fight Against Corruption

• Public Administration Reform

EU Negotiations principlesEU Negotiations principles

• Negotiations principles:Negotiations principles:– Special kind of negotiations (not classical Special kind of negotiations (not classical

negotiations); transitional periods - not negotiations); transitional periods - not negotiating negotiating acquis communautaireacquis communautaire; but ; but conditions and modalities of implementation, conditions and modalities of implementation, provided:provided: it does not it does not disruptdisrupt single market single market

competitioncompetition it is about vital national interestit is about vital national interest it entails limited financial costsit entails limited financial costs

- Individual meritsIndividual merits- Negotiations speed linked with the fulfilment Negotiations speed linked with the fulfilment

of membership criteriaof membership criteria

EU NegotiationsEU Negotiations – complex – complex structurestructure

• Negotiations structure:Negotiations structure:- Government: - Government:

State Delegation for NegotiationsState Delegation for NegotiationsCoordination Committee on AccessionCoordination Committee on AccessionNegotiation Team for the AccessionNegotiation Team for the AccessionWorking Groups Working Groups

- Parliament: - Parliament: National Committee for the Follow-up of National Committee for the Follow-up of

Negotiations Negotiations (European Integration Committee (European Integration Committee and Foreign Affairs Committee) and Foreign Affairs Committee)

Why Complex Structure?

Transparency of the negotiation processEducation – spreading of knowledge and

expertise gained through negotiations

Synergy – between governmental and non-governmental sector

Negotiations Span

Timeline: Timeline: - expectations: 2005 – 2009 - expectations: 2005 – 2009

- finally: 2005 – 2013;- finally: 2005 – 2013; - six years (under: Austrian, German, - six years (under: Austrian, German,

Portugese, Slovenian, French, Czech, Portugese, Slovenian, French, Czech, Swedish, Spanish, Belgium, Hungarian Swedish, Spanish, Belgium, Hungarian and Polish presidencies)and Polish presidencies)

Some Lessons Learnt- The Accession process is very political, especially at the

beginning and at the end of negotiations

- The actual lenght of the process may be longer than expected

- For the adequate speed of internal reforms (and negotiations) it is important to set timeframes

- Crucial to reach the point of no return in implementation of reforms (irreversibility)

- Open bilateral issues may hinder or prolonge the negotiations and accession process

- The positions in negotiations of the three main EU institutions are: EP is an advocate, EC is a broker and Council is an arbitrator

The Lesson Learnt

- The real and the hard negotiations are actually held at home!