Since Croatia’s independence from Yugoslavia, its foreign policy goal was dominated by gaining EU membership, and Croatia achieved this goal in 2013. Croatia therefore currently still faces challenges defining its contemporary foreign policy goals today. However, Croatia’s has turned its foreign policy direction to align with the European Union’s foreign policy goals. The Croatian Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs adopted the Strategic Plan 2017-2019 which is its latest strategic document focusing on Croatia’s foreign policy goals. The Strategic plan 2017-2019 states that its mission is to promote stability in its country, promote and protect the interests and safety of Croatians abroad, develop strong economic ties with Croatian and other countries abroad, and preserve and develop procedures for unity and stability within the EU. Croatia is also focused on establishing and maintaining bilateral and multilateral relationships and cooperation in the world. Croatia wishes to strengthen its position in Central Europe in order to keep common values and economic trade relations stable. Additionally, Croatia’s foreign policy aims include the preservation and strengthening of peace between countries including establishing stable relationships with neighbors as well as important countries of the world. Although Croatia is committed to these goals, it continues to fall short of it foreign policy expectations and realities due to its late ascension and the internal struggles it continues to face as a result.
Croatia’s foreign policy most resembles that of Spain’s foreign policy goals. Similar to Croatia, Spain, a medium-sized country, easily becomes overlooked and outbalanced from the rising influences in the EU, such as Germany. Spain foreign policy priorities, following the death of dictator in 1975, also focused on removing itself from diplomatic isolation and entering the European community through the European Union. With Spain’s new administration, and it being granted EU membership, it wishes to represent a total break with its past and move towards having stronger ties and with the EU and its partners. Spain has underperformed on the international scale, just as Croatia, but still wishes to embrace numerous plans to deepen European cooperation, especially on security matters. Its main agenda is to regain economic strength, like Croatia, and work more efficiently alongside EU members. Spain also adopted a multilateral approach to reach international stability. In 2013, through its National Security Strategy, Spain also places national security in a global context to create a national and international safe environment, and sees European integration as providing greater regional security. The new Spanish government also recognizes the central value of European foreign policy coordination that aligns with the EU. Spain, just as Croatia, defends and supports the involvement of the EU in democracy and peace. Both Croatia and Spain recognize the importance of becoming more involved in the EU and its foreign policy goals, but have not successfully found a way to flourish as other EU members have.
Croatia’s foreign policy choices appear as a part of EU-wide negotiations about migration. Migrants from Middle East and central Asia, trying to reach wealthier EU states, typically cross into Croatia from Bosnia undeclared and unidentified. Therefore, Croatia has experienced a 30% increase in unauthorized migrants. As a result, Croatia, like other EU countries, has been working on having stricter flow of migrants and border controls. Previously when crossing Croatia’s borders, only documents and license plate numbers were only for suspicious people. It will now be that all documents and all vehicle license plate number will go through a special scanner for all Croatian citizens, citizens of non EU-countries, and citizens of the Schengen zone. Th The police also warned that the waiting times at the border crossing will begin to take longer. This change will occur due to the increased terrorist attacks in Europe. Croatia is not yet a member of the Schengen crisis, although moving closer to becoming a member, and as a result Croatia citizens and migrants will feel the effects.
The European Commission is also working towards negotiations with Croatia to have it within the Schengen area. Once Croatia meets the technical criteria for the of the EU’s Schengen zone, the European Commission will assess if Croatia is ready to join. Croatia hopes will occur before the next elections for the European Parliament. Croatia hopes to join by 2020 as it is one of the six european union members not part of the passport-free Schengen zone. The free movement of people would benefit Croatia’s economy, specifically in its tourism sector which makes up about 20 percent of Croatia’s GDP. However, the Council of Europe continues to urge for Croatia to launch investigations concerning reports of police violence and theft against migrants. The Commissioner of the Council of Europe addressed a letter to the Croatian Prime Minister revealing the UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has received reports of 2,500 migrants being pushed back from Croatia since the beginning of 2018 and 1,500 people being denied to asylum procedure which includes 100 children. In addition, more than 700 people have experienced violence and theft by Croatian officers. However, Croatian officials have denied such claims. As a result, until Croatia recognizes such claims and implements investigation will the European Commission allow for Croatia to be within the Schengen zone. Despite this, Croatia continues its negotiations with the EU in hopes of achieving its foreign policy goals.
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“Contemporary Croatia.” croatia.eu.http://croatia.eu/article.php?lang=2&id=24. Accessed October 21, 2018.
EU Agenda Team. “National Backgrounders – European Foreign Policy Country Profile – Spain.” EU Agenda. December 2015. https://euagenda.eu/publications/national-backgrounders-european-foreign-policy-country-profile-spain. Accessed October 22, 2018.
Knezović, Sandro, and Nani Klepo. “Croatian Foreign Policy in 3D.” IRMO, 2017, 1-42. http://www.irmo.hr/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/3D.pdf. Accessed October 21, 2018.
Pavlic, Vedran. “Stricter Controls Coming to Croatian Border Crossings.” Total Croatia News. April 1, 2017. https://www.total-croatia-news.com/lifestyle/17852-stricter-controls-coming-to-croatian-border-crossings. Accessed October 21, 2018.
Reuters, Tickers. “Croatia on Course for Schengen Zone Entry in 2020 – Government Official.” SWI Swissinfo.ch. October 16, 2018. https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/reuters/croatia-on-course-for-schengen-zone-entry-in-2020—government-official/44478100. Accessed October 21, 2018.
“Spain as a Template for European Foreign Policy?” Carnegie Europe. http://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/53614. Accessed October 29, 2018.
I thought you really explained well how the EU commission and council played major roles in Croatia`s efforts within the Schengen area. I really liked how you gave the positive and negatives of the negations, giving great insight on how Croatia and the EU coincide.