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Regional aspects of the Croatian Accession Process to the EU

Croatian regional policy is closely tied into the EU accession strategy. A major objective will be to prepare for the introduction of EU cohesion policy and the Structural Funds. The pre-accession funds will contribute to that effort. Approach to the analysis of regional policy in Croatia is to concentrate upon three main fields of. These are: 1. assessment of the overall policy framework for regional development, including the current legal framework in particular policies, legal acts and regulations, 2. assessment of the institutional and administrative capacity in place, 3. appraisal of the types of regional development instruments currently deployed and their effectiveness in dealing with development needs at national, regional and local level. As Croatia actively prepares for accession to the EU, it is crucial that it is well prepared for the introduction of EU Structural Funds and pre-accession funds. This will require a significant effort on the part of the government to strengthen the institutional base for the management of the Funds – from the centre of government to local areas across the country. The national strategy for regional development will be a major part of that effort. The central logic of the new Structural Funds (2007-2013) is that by concentrating much of their resources on the least developed member states and regions, EU regional and cohesion policy can contribute to reducing disparities while raising the competitiveness of the EU as a whole. The outcome of this debate over the next years will have significant repercussions on the direction and management of national (regional) policy in Croatia. In very concrete terms, therefore, the European Union is introducing a raft of changes to the policy orientation and management of EU Structural Funds for the period 2007 to 2013. The proposed changes are set out in a set of draft Regulations for the Structural Funds (European Regional Development Fund, European Social Fund and Cohesion Fund) as well as in the proposal for the new European Agricultural and Rural Development Fund – all of which are currently the subject of intense negotiations among the EU 25. Whatever the outcome of these negotiations, it is likely to have a substantial influence on the nature and shape of regional development in Croatia at least over the medium term 6-7 years.

Sustainable Development; Regional aspects

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