THE Republic of Croatia will, on July 1, become the 28th member of the European Union (EU) in what is the seventh enlargement of the grouping, to date.

In recognition of that accomplishment and to celebrate the occasion of its accession to EU  membership, the head of its delegation in Guyana, Ambassador Robert Kopecky hosted a reception at his Bel Air Springs, Georgetown residence, last Tuesday evening.
Joining the envoy and Mrs. Kopecky, in celebration, was a distinguished gathering, including Guyana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Carolyn Birkett-Rodrigues, other Members of the Diplomatic Corps, senior Government officials and dignitaries.
In her remarks, Minister Rodrigues-Birkett congratulated the Head of the EU Delegation and told him: “I would like to, through you, congratulate the Government and people of Croatia on this significant achievement in the history of their nation. We, in Guyana, appreciate the value of regional integration to our national development efforts and have, therefore, placed significant importance to our membership within the Caribbean Community, the Union of South American Nations, and other regional integration mechanisms.”
Noting their countries’ involvement in both the CARICOM and UNASUR integration mechanisms, she added: “We can, therefore, understand how proud the nation of Croatia must be feeling on having achieved the status of becoming a full member of the European Union.”
Minister Rodrigues-Birkett said, undoubtedly, accession to the EU will bring new found benefits for Croatia and its people, as well as other countries in the region, as advantage is taken of the widening and deepening of relations between and among countries of the European integration mechanism.

Traditional relations
She added: “Excellency, let me use this occasion to reiterate that Guyana recognises the importance of preserving the traditional relations which developed between the Caribbean Community and the European Union, with those relations expanding to include the Dominican Republic.”
Within the framework of African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group, Rodrigues-Birkett noted that CARICOM has benefited in large measure from its involvement with the EU.
She said: “We see this relationship as more than an economic and trade relationship but also as a political one,” adding that Guyana remains committed to working with the ACP Member States and, indeed, the EU to enhance this relationship.
She emphasised that, in a changing world, the interdependence of nations ensures that whatever happens in any major economy in the world affects countries like ours directly.
“It is under these increasing challenges of globalisation that those of us who share common values and convictions are forced together. Integration then becomes less of a choice, but an imperative,” the Foreign Minister affirmed.
She expressed confidence that the EU mechanism has stood the test of time and will continue to find solutions to the many challenges which might confront it, a test from which other integration mechanisms could learn.
Mr. Kopecky said Croatia’s forthcoming accession is the result of 10 years of a rigorous process.
“Looking back to 2005, when accession negotiations with Croatia were launched, it is easy to see how the country has changed, thanks to the process of coming closer to the European Union,” he remarked.

Two examples
The delegate said rule of law and the fight against corruption and organised crime are only two examples of the areas where tangible results have been achieved.
He recalled that, in December 2011, the Accession Treaty was signed, showing beyond any doubt that the EU meets its commitments and that the often painful reform process undertaken by the candidate country bears fruit.
Kopecky attested: “Work in the region is not finished but Croatia’s example shows that the EU’s doors remain open for the countries committed to the EU agenda.”
He said Croatia will be in an excellent position to assist the other countries of the region towards their European future, thus contributing to the consolidation of stability and prosperity in the whole of the Western Balkans.
The envoy credited the success of Croatia’s accession to the Union as due to the hard work of the country’s people and its authorities, to the consistent efforts of the EU and to the valuable support of member States.
He said the procedure of preparing for Croatia’s accession started in February 2003 when the country made its formal application for EU membership. The European Commission (EC) examined it and gave a positive opinion in 2004, recommending the opening of negotiations.
In the same year, the EU granted Croatia the status of a candidate country.
Tracing the history of the accession negotiations, Ambassador Kopecky remembered that, in 2005, the bargaining started with the screening of Croatia’s legislation to identify where modifications were needed to ensure compliance with EU norms and rules.
Administrative capacity was analysed in each sector and an important set of reforms leading to alignment with EU law were kicked off in all the areas of accession negotiations.
Kopecky said the negotiating was based on a new approach, with a stronger focus on the rule of law and strict conditions for both opening and closing the chapters to negotiate and that helped to set the right priorities in all sectors, assisting Croatia to, gradually, comply with the requirements to become a fully prepared member State.
The arrangements were concluded on June 30, 2011 and, on October 12 the same year, the EC adopted a favourable opinion on Croatia’s acceding to the EU.
The relevant treaty was drafted, based on the outcome of the negotiations before being translated into all official EU languages and Croatian and the European Parliament gave its consent on December 1, 2011, prior to the Council taking a decision on Croatia’s application on December 5, enabling the signing to take place on December 9, all in 2011.