Pursuant to Article 120 of the Rules of Procedure of the Croatian Parliament,
In line with the Resolution of the Croatian Parliament on the Accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union of 18 December 2002,
Considering the progress made by the Republic of Croatia in the process of integration into the European Union, reflected in the so far successful implementation of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement and the Interim Agreement on Trade and Trade-Related Matters, the positive Opinion of the European Commission on the application of the Republic of Croatia for membership of the European Union and the acquired status of a candidate country for membership of the European Union,
Welcoming the decisions of the European Council of June and December 2004 on the opening of the accession negotiations with the Republic of Croatia,
Proceeding from the fact that the Republic of Croatia is awaiting an early beginning of negotiations on full membership of the European Union, aimed at ensuring a perspective of equal participation in key decision-making processes within the European Union, continued development of a competitive economy within the framework of European economic development, as well as promotion of the culture and identity of the Republic of Croatia and of the European society as a whole,
Responding to and appreciating the will of the citizens of the Republic of Croatia expressed through its representatives elected to the Croatian Parliament, and aware of the need that the process of the country's accession to the European Union is perceived and accepted in public and political life as a comprehensive project involving the whole of society,
Reaffirming the strategic goal of the Republic of Croatia, as a country with highly developed democracy, the rule of law, achieved stability and peace, full respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms and minority rights, as well as civic values, which are also the fundamental values on which the European Union has been founded, to achieve full membership of the European Union and thus itself contribute to European unity and the common European future,
Being committed to the values and goals upon which the European Union is founded, respecting the principles embodied in the European Constitution and appreciating the culture of respect for diversity, tolerance, solidarity and equality, and preservation of identity, language, tradition and partnership among States,
Having a strong sense of responsibility in regard to meeting all criteria for full membership of the European Union set forth in Article 49 of the Treaty on the European Union and the conclusions of the European Council meetings in Copenhagen and Madrid,
Developing good-neighbourly relations and remaining firmly committed to a peaceful resolution of all outstanding issues on the basis of mutual understanding and respect underlying the values of the community of Europe,
Desirous of promoting relations with other candidate countries and countries involved in the Stabilisation and Association Process through an exchange of experience and knowledge gained in the European integration process and thus contributing to co-operation, stability and prosperity in Southeast Europe,
Desirous of asserting the importance of a continuous dialogue and concerted action between the Parliament and Government of Croatia in the process of further integration into the European Union and during the accession negotiations,
Desirous of ensuring the Croatian Parliament's participation in the discussion on all essential topics related to Croatia's full membership of the European Union,
Underlining the fact that all political parties and independent representatives are unanimous in their position that the full membership of the Republic of Croatia in the European Union is of national importance,
Wishing to help reach a national consensus on the desirability of EU membership with a view to strengthening Croatia's negotiating positions and creating the required conditions for the successful conduct of negotiations and the well-prepared functioning of the Republic of Croatia as a EU Member State,
Wishing membership of the European Union to be an expression of the informed will of the citizens of Croatia and the outcome of transparently conducted negotiations, which will be debated regularly and publicly through the National Forum on the Accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union, together with other initiatives, and an open dialogue with all parties concerned,
Aware of the historic importance and the mission of the forthcoming negotiations on full membership of the Republic of Croatia in the European Union,
At its session held on 19 January 2005 the Croatian Parliament adopted this
Declaration
on the fundamental principles of negotiations on full membership
of the Republic of Croatia in the European Union
1. It is in the national interest to ensure through negotiations the best possible outcome for Croatia and the earliest possible accession to the European Union. Proceeding from the expressed intention to make the Republic of Croatia ready for full membership by 2007, the Croatian Parliament will strive with its activities to help conclude the negotiations under the best possible conditions and within the shortest period of time, aware of the obligations arising from full membership of the European Union.
2. The political goal of the Republic of Croatia is to preserve the indivisibility, integrity and unity of the state territory of the Republic of Croatia as a member state of the European Union, and the continuity and protection of its tradition, culture, language and social values as foundations of the Croatian national identity, thus strengthening the contribution of the Republic of Croatia to common European values and social and cultural processes, enriching them and contributing to a better understanding among States, peoples and citizens.
The imperative need is emphasised that the political, economic and financial position of the Republic of Croatia as a full member of the European Union corresponds to its proportional importance in relation to other Member States, and that the position of the Republic of Croatia and its contribution to the attainment of the objectives, the functioning of institutions and the implementation of common policies of the European Union should be a result of Croatia's capacities and achievements,
The Croatian Parliament is equally determined to address and honour all obligations arising from the political criteria for accession to the European Union, especially full co-operation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, completion of the process of refugee return, further strengthening of regional co-operation and promotion of good-neighbourly relations, further strengthening and promotion of the protection of fundamental human rights and freedoms and minority rights.
The rule of law, the legal security of citizens and a functioning market economy cannot be accomplished without an efficient and independent judiciary. An efficient judiciary is also of strategic importance in terms of Croatia's interests and goals to be realised in the process of accession to the European Union; consequently achieving its efficiency in conformity with European standards is the main goal which requires to be reached through judicial reforms.
3. The economic goal of the Republic of Croatia is to ensure prosperity, full social security and well-being for all its citizens. In line with the goals thus defined, negotiations must be conducted with a view to ensuring a faster and stable growth. What needs to be kept in mind in this respect is the need to protect the sensitive branches of the economy, those of vital interest to the Republic of Croatia and all its regions, and to make them capable of functioning in the conditions of an advanced market economy.
By assuming the obligations arising from the legal and economic criteria for membership of the European Union, as well as from the thoroughgoing reforms leading to the completion of economic transition, it is clear that negotiations should ensure the creation of conditions required for a stable financial and macroeconomic environment, a competitive market economy, a powerful Croatian industry and agriculture, a well-trained and flexible workforce and an efficient legal system.
The pre-accession period should therefore be used to the maximum possible extent for achieving sustainable development and raising the competitiveness of the Croatian economy, attracting more investment, especially in export-oriented and agricultural production, raising permissible subsidies to domestic agricultural and industrial production and restructuring production, in order to make the Republic of Croatia ready to a maximum degree to cope with the highly competitive and advanced single market of the European Union. In that process, education, occupational training, science and research represent significant prerequisites for economic development and successful integration into the economic trends and the labour market of the European Union.
In addition to ensuring the economic growth and development of the Republic of Croatia, the accession negotiations must be conducted with a view to maintaining and promoting a suitable and balanced developmental policy in the Republic of Croatia, one which is sensitive to regional differences.
In line with its constitutional commitment to being a state of social justice, during the negotiations the Republic of Croatia will strive to uphold and enhance the attained level of protection of social rights and social policy mechanisms.
4. The Croatian Parliament has an important role to play in the process of harmonisation of the national legislation with the acquis communautaire. Aware of the progress made to date in legislative harmonisation, the Croatian Parliament will continue its co-operation with the Government in order to ensure the success and speed of legislative harmonisation.
The Croatian Parliament will support all efforts during the negotiations aimed at obtaining exemptions and transitional periods for those segments of the acquis where, at the moment of accession to the European Union, there will not be a sufficient level of preparedness for their full harmonisation and application, in cases where an assessment exists that sufficient preparedness cannot be achieved in those areas prior to the accession or that this may have a negative short-term or mid-term impact on the economy, national interests or the natural resources of the Republic of Croatia.
In order to ensure Croatia's participation in the functioning of the European Union and its institutions on an equal footing and to forestall adverse effects of initial difficulties in the adoption and application of certain parts of the acquis communautaire, efforts will be made to obtain the most favourable exemptions and transitional periods and possible variations, with the definition of priorities being taken into consideration. This may be laid down initially, even before an analysis and assessment of the degree of the achieved legislative harmonisation with the acquis, for specific sectors such as: agriculture, fisheries, the acquisition of property rights, state subsidies and environmental protection.
5. The Croatian Parliament underscores the importance of developing an efficient state administration system based on the principle of good governance which is citizen-oriented, decentralised and transparent, including the development of modern electronic operations (e-government) for the successful functioning of the Republic of Croatia in the conditions of full membership of the European Union. These standards also need to be observed by local government.
The Croatian Parliament stresses the need for timely strengthening of the capacities of local and regional government units for the successful functioning of the Republic of Croatia in the conditions of full membership of the European Union, since accession to the European Union is likewise reflected in local and regional government, primarily through the application of the principle of subsidiarity and regional policy.
6. The Croatian Parliament stresses the need to ensure a transparent conduct of accession negotiations and its own role in discussing all relevant issues raised during the negotiations.
A National Committee will be set up as a working body of the Croatian Parliament which in dialogue with the Government will analyse the positions taken on certain negotiation chapters.
7. The Croatian Parliament stresses the need to intensify activities in the dissemination of information on all aspects of the European Union, the progress of the accession negotiations and the effects of full membership of the European Union through the National Forum on the Accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union and other initiatives, and in an open dialogue with all sections of the community.
8. The Croatian Parliament underlines the importance of an active role of citizens of the Republic of Croatia in the process of integration into the European Union. The people of Croatia will decide on the accession to the European Union through a referendum, which must be held before the signing of the Treaty on the Accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union, or upon the conclusion of the negotiations.
In its activities, the Croatian Parliament will lend its full support to timely amendments to the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia, vital for Croatia's full membership of the European Union, which will create conditions for the exercise of a part of the sovereignty of the Republic of Croatia within EU institutions and for an efficient application of the acquis communautaire in the territory of the Republic of Croatia.
Class: 018-05/05-01/06
Zagreb, 19 January 2005
THE CROATIAN PARLIAMENT SPEAKER
Vladimir Šeks, m.p.