When you read the publications of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration please bear in mind the date of publishing, and take into consideration the fact that some of the publications were published before May 1 2004, when significant changes took place in the European Union, due to the fifth wave of enlargement. Therefore, incorrect information, i.e. information which was valid up until May 1 2004, may be found in some publications.

Sincerely,

Editors

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration published the booklet Croatia on the Road to the European Union in English, German (Kroatien auf dem Weg in die Europäische Union) and French (Croatie en route vers l'Union européenne).

The Stabilisation and Accession Agreement between the Republic of Croatia and the European Communities and their Member States constitutes the legal foundation of the relations between the Republic of Croatia and the European Union. The Agreement established the first contractual relations between the Republic of Croatia and the European Union, and marked the beginning of the institutionalisation of these relations. The Agreement should contribute to the political and economical stabilisation of the Republic of Croatia, as well as to the establishment of closer long-term relations between the parties to the contract. The Agreement is of unlimited duration and facilitates the preparation of the Republic of Croatia for realisation of the full membership in the European Union.  

Publication How to join the EU? – 85 Questions and Answers for Croatian farmers about the EU has been prepared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration in cooperation with the experts from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, and in cooperation with farmers and their associations which take part in the Working group for the preparation of negotiations in Agriculture and Rural development chapter. The publication is published with financial support of the British Embassy in the Republic of Croatia.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration issued the third edition of the publication Croatia on the Road to the European Union: From Candidacy to Membership, aimed at informing the general public about the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union.

The year 2005 began with the merging of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of European Integration with a challenging task of coordinating their work ahead. The year reached its pinnacle point with the opening of accession negotiations for full membership of the Republic of Croatia in the European Union on 3rd October. This Yearbook documents the activities and achievements of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration in 2005 within the process of Croatia’s accession to the European Union and the efforts within the process of integrating Croatia into the NATO.

Communication Strategy is a document by which the Croatian Government commits itself to informing the public, timely and objectively, about the process of the Croatian rapprochement to the EU and its effects. The Government’s basic communication goal is to create among Croatian citizens the most comprehensive and the most profound understanding possible of all the aspects of the EU accession process.

This systematic and simple handbook, which is a result of successful cooperation between the Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Norway, is intended to be used mainly by government officials who, in their work, have use of knowledge about the European Union and Croatian preparations for the accession.

One of the main tasks on the Croatian way to full membership in the European Union is to harmonize the national legislation with the acquis communautaire of European Communities. A key position in this process belongs not only to the legal technical issues, but to the reinforcement of the Croatian ability to prepare and efficiently implement the laws as well.

The aim of this publication is to offer answers about the negotiations on the accession to the EU, namely about what is being negotiated, how the negotiations are conducted and who is responsible for conducting the negotiations.

In its efforts to ensure the best possible translation of EU legal acts to Croatian, which is one of the conditions for accession to the European Union, the Translation Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration continues to publish a series of language manuals.

With regard to visible interest for the previous editions and the need to interpret information in connection with European integration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European integration published a new, updated edition of the Small Lexicon of European Integration.

The publication of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration entitled „Myths and legends about the European Union“ gives answers to most frequently asked questions regarding the future of homemade products after Croatia becomes a member of the EU. The first edition of the publication also contained a post-card which citizens could use to write their question, comment or suggestion and mail it free of charge to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, in cooperation with „Školska knjiga“, launched a project of publishing a two-monthly feuletton in „Modra Lasta“ under the name “EU kids”. EU kids is a new educational-entertaining source of information aimed at the pupils of elementary schools which, in sequels of two months, brings the term of European Union and its different aspects closer to children, with contents and language adjusted to their age.

There were two important events in 2004 that have marked the road of Croatia to the European Union: European Commission opinion on the application of Croatia for membership of the European Union received on April 20 and confirmation of the status of the Republic of Croatia as candidate country for full membership of the EU on June 18. Those events have triggered the need for the new extended edition of the publication Croatia on the Road to the European Union: From Candidacy to Membership.  

The Ministry of European Integration published the new publication Fifth enlargement of the European Union: 2004 to mark the fifth enlargement wave of the European Union, which has extended the EU membership to ten new member states. The publication wishes to acquaint readers with the past enlargements of the EU as well as to explain the entailing processes, activities, changes and novelties.

The annual report of the Ministry for European Integration demonstrates what has been achieved in the course of 2002.

Zagreb, 21 February 2003 - Ministry for European Integration published a new publication entitled Croatia on the Road to the European Union: From Candidacy to Membership, which was designed to inform the general public about the Croatia's application for membership in the European Union.

The above-mentioned publication comprises of the selection of Internet pages where citizens can find basic information on different aspects of European integration processes. In addition to that, this booklet of the Ministry for European Integration wants to contribute to further popularisation of Internet, as a means of information and general communication tool.

At the very beginning of work on the translation of legal acts of the European Union to Croatian, a need emerged for drafting a manual to provide translators, editors and other experts who participate in the translation and terminological harmonization with guidelines for their work and assistance in problem-solving.

Glossary of the Stabilization and Association Agreement is the first of a series of manuals to be published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, and it is intended for all those who take part in the process of harmonization of the Croatian legislation with the legal system of the European Union.

The harmonization of legislation with the acquis communautaire of the EU is a complex process which significantly changes the legislative frame of the Republic of Croatia. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration initiated the project of horizontal effect analysis which, based on the estimates of a poll, intended to point out areas or regulations of the EU which are expected to cause negative effects on the economy when they are applied.

The purpose of this publication is to familiarize the public with the basics of the system and law of the State aid, as one of the instruments of economic policy which the State uses to directly influence economic relations and activities of individual economic subjects. The publication originated based on presentations held on the round table about the State aid, and brings an overview of Spanish, Slovenian and Polish experiences, as well as a new legislative solution for the State aid in the Republic of Croatia.