Croatia – Regional policy

Candidate countries conduct negotiations with the European Union (EU) in order to prepare themselves for accession. The accession negotiations cover the adoption and implementation of European legislation (acquis) and, more specifically, the priorities identified jointly by the Commission and the candidate countries in the analytical assessment (or ‘screening’) of the EU’s political and legislative acquis. Each year, the Commission reviews the progress made by candidates and evaluates the efforts required before their accession. This monitoring is the subject of annual reports presented to the Council and the European Parliament.

REFERENCES

Commission Report [COM(2010) 660 final - SEC(2010) 1326 - Not published in the Official Journal].

SUMMARY

The 2010 Report emphasises Croatia’s satisfactory level of alignment in the area of regional policy. Preparations for establishing cohesion policy must continue, particularly in order to strengthen the absorption capacity of the European funds at the time of accession.

EUROPEAN UNION ACQUIS (according to the Commission’s words)

The acquis in the the area of regional policy consists essentially of framework regulations and implementing regulations which do not require transposition into national law. They define the rules applying to the preparation, approval and implementation of programmes under the Structural Funds and Cohesion Funds, each of which reflects the territorial organisation of the country. These programmes are negotiated and agreed with the Commission, but their deployment is the responsibility of Member States. In selecting and implementing projects, Member States must comply with Community legislation in general, for example in the areas of public procurement, competition and the environment. They must have an institutional framework and appropriate administrative capacity to ensure that the programming, introduction, monitoring and evaluation of projects take place in a rational and economically viable manner from the perspective of management and financial control.

EVALUATION (according to the Commission’s words)

Good progress was made under regional policy and coordination of structural instruments, notably on preparing strategic documents and designating the institutions and mechanisms to implement EU cohesion policy, recruit and train further staff.

Croatia's preparations for applying EU cohesion policy are relatively advanced. Croatia needs to complete its preparations by focusing on establishment of a mature project pipeline and absorption of funds.

RELATED ACTS

Commission Report [COM(2009) 533 final - SEC(2009) 1333 final – Not published in the Official Journal].

Commission Report [COM(2008) 674 final - SEC(2008) 2694 final – Not published in the Official Journal].

Commission Report [COM(2007) 663 final - SEC(2007) 1431 - Not published in the Official Journal].

Commission Report [COM(2006) 649 final - SEC(2006) 1385 final – Not published in the Official Journal].

Commission Report [COM(2005) 561 final - SEC(2005) 1424 final – Not published in the Official Journal].

Commission Opinion [COM(2004) 257 final - Not published in the Official Journal].

See also

• The website of the Directorate-General for Enlargement, Enlargement Strategy and Progress Reports 2010

Last updated: 03.12.2010