Sabor in the EU Accession Process
The responsibilities of the Croatian Parliament in the process of Croatia’s accession to the European Union related to the legal and political control over the integration process.
Parliamentary scrutiny of the Government’s activities was regulated by the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia and the Rules of Procedure of the Croatian Parliament, while the process of Croatia’s accession to the European Union was regulated by other relevant documents such as: the Resolution on the Accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union (2002), the Croatian Parliamentary Parties’ Joint Statement on the Beginning of Negotiations Between the Republic of Croatia and the European Union (2004), the Declaration on the Fundamental Principles of Negotiations on Full Membership of the Republic of Croatia in the European Union (2005), the Resolution on the Strategic Guidelines for Negotiations between the Republic of Croatia and the European Union (2005) and the Statement of the Croatian Parliament and the Government of the Republic of Croatia on Joint Actions in the Process of Negotiation for Membership of the European Union (2005). Every year the Sabor debated the Government’s annual program for EU accession, i.e. the programme for assumption and implementation of the acquis communautaire, and adopted the plan on the harmonization of Croatian legislation with the acquis.
The Croatian Parliament has participated in the process of Croatia’s accession to the European Union through its working bodies.
European Integration Committee
European Integration Committee, established in 2000, monitored the harmonization of the legal system of the Republic of Croatia with the legal system of the European Union, it also monitored the exercise of the rights and commitments of the Republic of Croatia that ensue from international treaties pertaining to the Council of Europe, monitored European Union aid and co-operation programs and co-operated and exchanged experiences with bodies in European integration processes.
Croatia-EU Joint Parliamentary Committee
Croatia-EU Joint Parliamentary Committee was established under the Stabilization and Association Agreement. The Committee was established in 2004 following the decisions of the Croatian Parliament and the European Parliament. Following the decision of the European Parliament the individual approach principle was realized. The members of the Committee met twice a year at regular meetings mainly to exchange experiences about the most important issues of the Croatian accession as well as efficient functioning and future development of the EU. The Committee used to meet once in Brussels/Strasbourg and once in Croatia. At the end of each meeting the Committee adopts joint declarations and recommendations. The Joint Parliamentary Committee held 17 meetings since its establishment and the last one was held in Split on 29 and 30 April 2013.
National Committee was established as a special working body tasked to monitor the negotiations on the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union (2005 – 2011). The competences of the National Committee were to politically supervise and evaluate the course of negotiations. There were representatives of all parliamentary parties and the decisions were reached by consensus. The Committee also represented a forum for consultations and discussion between parliamentary parties and the Government. It also presented relevant information on European Union and strengthened the public awareness on European issues.