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Draft
Joint Declaration Of Croatia,
EU On Political Dialogue
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LUXEMBOURG - Croatia and the European Union adopted
a draft joint Declaration on political dialogue in Luxembourg on Monday,
October 29, 2001.
The Declaration in its integral form is as follows:
"DRAFT JOINT DECLARATION OF THE EUROPEAN
COMMUNITY AND ITS MEMBER STATES AND THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA ON POLITICAL
DIALOGUE
On the occasion of the signature of the Stabilisation
and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their
Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Croatia, of the
other part, the European Community and its Member States and the Republic
of Croatia (hereinafter referred to as "the Parties") express
their resolution to reinforce and intensify their mutual relations
in the political fields.
Accordingly, the Parties agree to establish a regular
political dialogue which will accompany and consolidate their rapprochement,
support the political and economic changes underway in the Republic
of Croatia, and contribute to strengthening their existing links and
establish new forms of cooperation, in particular taking into account
Croatia's status as a potential candidate for European Union membership.
The political dialogue, based on shared values and
aspirations, will aim at:
- REINFORCING democratic principles and institutions
as well as respect for human rights, including the rights of persons
belonging to national minorities;
- PROMOTING regional cooperation, development of
good neighbourly relations and fulfilment of obligations under international
law;
- FACILITATING the integration of the Republic
of Croatia to the fullest possible extent into the political and
economic mainstream of Europe based on its individual merits and
achievements;
- INCREASING convergence of positions between
the Parties on international issues, and on those matters likely
to have substantial effects on the Parties, including cooperation
in the fight against terrorism and other areas in the field of justice
and home affairs;
- ENABLING each Party to consider the position
and interests of the other party in their respective decision making
process;
- ENHANCING security and stability in the whole
of Europe and, in particular, in South-Eastern Europe, through cooperation
in the areas covered by the Common Foreign and Security Policy of
the European Union.
The political dialogue between the Parties will
take place through regular consultations, informal contacts and exchange
of information as appropriate, in particular in the following formats:
- High-level meetings between
representatives of the Republic of Croatia on the one hand, and
representatives of the European Union, in the Troika format, on
the other;
- Providing mutual information
on foreign policy decisions taking full advantage of diplomatic
channels, including contacts at the bilateral level in third countries
as well as within multilateral fora such as the United Nations,
OSCE, Council of Europe and other international organisations;
- Contacts at Parliamentary
level;
- Any other means which
would contribute to consolidating, and developing dialogue between
the Parties;
- Where appropriate, political dialogue may be
organised as a multilateral and/or regional dialogue
