Does The European Union Want Croatia At All?

After Slovenia vetoed Croatia`s EU accession chapters, The Lisbon Treaty was no longer the sole problem in joining the union.

Slovenia has blocked the closure of another chapter, “Company Law” just a few hours after the meeting of Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader and his Slovene counterpart Borut Pahor. Furthermore, five more EU members refused to give a green light to the “Justice and Fundamental Rights” chapter, due to dissatisfaction over Croatia`s collaboration with The Hague.

The border issue is a problem in Croatia`s European Union accession talks, Olli Rehn, commissioner for EU expansion, admitted recently. The European Commission has offered to mediate in the dispute. Experts, headed by Martti Ahtisaari, should find a solution, while Slovenia agrees with their intervention, which is trying to elude the international court by all means.

Debates of Croatian EU entry occurred in June last year when Ireland rejected to ratify the Lisbon Treaty. According to the 2001 Nice Treaty, the number of European Union members was limited to 27. The Lisbon Treaty is essentially an agreement on updates and alterations of the EU and the European Economic Community Creation Treaty. It should replace the EU Constitution and takes effect once and if all 27 present EU members ratify it.

Message to Croatia: You cannot access the EU without the Lisbon Treaty

At the start of 2007, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that Croatia cannot become an EU member without the new European Constitution being adopted.

Johannes Laitenberger, the spokesperson of the European Commission, said in June 2008 that there were no obstacles for the expansion of the EU in the Treaty of Nice.

However, Merkel maintained her position, telling Croatia that it cannot enter the union without the new Constitution.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy agreed with her, saying that no country can access the EU until the Lisbon Treaty is ratified. He especially emphasised it refers to Croatia.

Merkel and Sarkozy`s statements do not directly refer to Croatia

Neven Mimica, president of the Committee for European Integrations of the Croatian Parliament, believes that Sarkozy and Merkel`s statements did not directly refer to Croatia.

- Their views were more directed at countries which have not ratified the Lisbon Treaty. They were pressured into ratifying the agreement as soon as possible – Neven Mimica told Javno news site.

At the same time, Croatian politicians, diplomats, the people, President Stjepan Mesic even, never stopped believing that the path towards the EU was free and included no obstacles.

- The Lisbon Treaty should not be a condition for Croatia accessing the European Union – Mesic said in June last year.

- The European Union has already emphasised that there are no expansions, apart from Croatia. The European Union will offer Croatia the option of accession, and it is up to Croatia to use it – Gvozden Flego of the Committee for European Integrations of the Croatian Parliament said last year. Croatian Foreign Affairs and European Integration Ministry shares his view.

Lisbon Treaty is not the sole option for expansion

Neven Mimica explains that the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty is not the only option for the expansion of the European Union.

- The Treaty of Nice can be replaced by annexes. The Treaty of Lisbon essentially includes amendments of previous treaties - Mimica explained.

However, interestingly enough, former Slovene prime minister Janez Jansa said last summer that Ireland saying “no” to the Lisbon Treaty should not have negative affects on Croatia joining the European Union, as he expressed his support.

Just six months later, in December 2008, to be precise, Slovenia officially blocked 11 chapters in Croatia`s European Union accession talks. Divided opinions of EU heads followed, they started condemning Slovenia for their rash moves and the veto, while nobody mentioned the Lisbon Treaty anymore.

Slovenia abuses its EU membership

- Everything Slovenia does is abuse of EU membership and the entire system. As long as a consensus is the decision-making manner, EU members have greater responsibility in accepting new countries. Clearly, there is no responsibility in Slovenia`s case - Mimica concluded. He pointed out that Slovenia is loosing touch between the veto and the objectives it wants to accomplish.

- They are deviating form their positions as well, and their goal is to avoid court solutions. The Slovene bloc will last as long as they believe we will cave in - Mimica said. He mentioned that Croatia has already caved in twice, therefore Slovenia hopes of a third strike.

- The first time Croatia caved in was with the Drnovsek-Racan Agreement; the second time Prime Minister Sanader caved in when he gave up on the Protected Ecological Fishery Zone (ZERP) - Mimica said.

He believes that the interests of Slovenia, which are inacceptable for Croatia, as well as the EU, should not be backed down before.

- What Slovenia is doing has nothing to do with the foundations of Europe - Mimica concluded.

Czech Republic changing its mind

At the end of last year, Czech Foreign Affairs Minister Karel Schwarzenberg said that the integration of the Balkans was important, without especially singling out Croatia. Following this, doubts arose that it will have to wait a while to join the EU.

Several days ago, Schwarzenberg said the European Union would be more careful while accepting new members due to the economic crisis. On this occasion, he refused to give Montenegro the green light for the start of accession talks.

Mimica believes that only Slovenia is blocking Croatia`s EU entry, because there is no great conspiracy against Croatia. Ireland has another shot at deciding about the ratification on the Lisbon Treaty, but one question remains: will Croatia and Slovenia manage to solve their dispute as soon as possible and deblock the accession chapters. On the contrary, not even the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty would help Croatia.

Croatia And Slovenia - Development Of Events