Croatia
The relevance of Croatia as a partner country derives from its geographical location in South Eastern Europe, making it a neighbour of the EU, and its aspirations to join the EU. Croatia has been a candidate country for EU membership since June 2004. It signed the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU on 29 October 2001, which entered into force on 1 February 2005. In general, Croatia – EU relations have been characterised by a long and intensive cooperation since its independence in 1991.
In its three national reports (submitted in 2004, 2005, 2007), Croatia offered assistance for implementing UNSCR 1540 and expressed a high interest in actively supporting the stabilization and democratization in the Southeastern European Region and also being involved in international engagements.
EU–Croatia trade has substantially increased since the opening of the EU market under the Autonomous Trade Measures in 2000 and the trade provisions of the SAA in 2002.
