Croatia is a Promising Candidate for Membership in the European Union and NATO
by U.S. Rep. George Radanovich (R), Croatian Caucus Co-Chair & U.S. Rep. Mike Visclosky (D), Croatian Caucus Co-Chair
Since gaining independence in 1991 and reclaiming the last of its occupied territory in 1995 that led to the Dayton peace accords, Croatia has made great strides toward gaining recognition and responsibility within the international community.
The Republic of Croatia - a region that presently occupies roughly 56,000 square km of land on the Adriatic Coast of Southeastern Europe - emerged in the 1990s from nearly a century of foreign rule, and has since worked assiduously to forge its economic and political relations globally. I firmly believe that Croatia deserves NATO and EU membership, and am confident that it will prove to serve as an invaluable asset to both organizations and a reliable partner of the United States.
Economically speaking, Croatia has a record of solid growth and low inflation over the past decade: national trends similar to those experienced by many current EU member nations. In recent years, Croatia has worked to implement economic policies aimed at increasing business competitiveness, raising exports, and attracting foreign investment and expertise. Among the most promising aspects of Croatia’s progressive economic policy is the development of a comprehensive nine - point program aimed at improving the national business climate, restructuring and rehabilitating public enterprises, and introducing tax reforms and fiscal discipline-among other measures - to achieve its goals of growth and increased stability.
Croatia’s present-day relations with its neighbor countries are based on the principles that regional and crossborder cooperation are indispensable components of regional security, democratic stability, prosperity, and economic development.
Croatia, as an official candidate for EU membership, stands ready to take on the responsibility of being a model nation within Southeastern Europe. With this distinction, Croatia will be able to actively encourage and assist other Southeastern European nations to broaden their own global roles. Croatia has undertaken painful reforms conducive to EU membership and meeting the political and economic criteria for membership. Having left no stone unturned to demonstrate its unequivocal cooperation with the war crimes tribunal, Croatia should not be held hostage by the actions of one man.
In terms of national security - especially protecting its growing trade and international interests - membership in NATO is Croatia’s main objective. Croatian military personnel are presently active in a number of UN peacekeeping operations around the world, including the NATO-led peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan. Furthermore, Croatia has a track record of cooperation with NATO allies through the Partnership for Peace. Croatia’s membership in NATO is part of America’s vision of Europe “whole, free and at peace.”
Under the U.S.-Adriatic Charter of Partnership, Croatia has worked earnestly with the United States, as well as partner nations Albania and Macedonia, to establish a security network in the southeastern European region. These efforts, in particular, exemplify Croatia’s commitment to regional cooperation, and promote the core values of the Euro-Atlantic partnership: freedom, peace, good neighborly relations, stability, and prosperity.
These considerations reflect why Croatia is such an important partner for the United States.