US embassy cable - 04ZAGREB1627

UNCLAS ZAGREB 001627 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SENV, EAID, PREL, PGOV, HR 
SUBJECT: ENVIRONMENT COULD BE STICKING POINT IN CROATIA'S 
EU NEGOTIATIONS 
 
 
SUMMARY AND COMMENT 
------------------- 
1. (SBU) Environmental protection issues seem certain to be 
a major sticking point in Croatia's EU membership 
negotiations.  With the European Commission playing an 
ever-smaller role in environmental policy priority setting, 
the chaotic distribution of environmental responsibility 
among Croatian ministries and agencies and disinterest on 
the part of local governments could slow the negotiating 
process. 
 
2.  (SBU) Implementation remains the largest concern. 
While Croatia might reasonably expect to receive long 
transition periods for environmental approximation based on 
the experience of the 10 newest members, the GoC will still 
have to demonstrate that the appropriate legislation exists 
and that it has a concrete plan for implementation.  Based 
on the starting point, the environmental chapter of the 
acquis could be among the hardest to close.  END SUMMARY 
AND COMMENT. 
 
3. (SBU) Responsibility for environmental policy is diffuse 
by EU standards; according to contacts in the EC delegation 
to Croatia, the Ministry of Environment has competency for 
just about 50% of EU environmental directives.  The 
Ministries of Health, Transportation, Agriculture, and 
Economy also have authority over pieces of environmental 
policy.  This chaotic division of labor makes it extremely 
difficult to judge to what degree Croatian law tracks with 
the environmental acquis.  Moreover, the GoC has not 
completed any systematic review of existing Croatian 
environmental legislation. 
 
4. (SBU) As EC CARDS assistance to Croatia wraps up this 
year, environmental assistance will reappear as pre- 
accession aid once the Commission releases Croatia's pre- 
accession strategy in October.  CARDS funding for current 
projects -- legislative approximation, drinking water 
quality monitoring, and waste management -- will expire 
this year.  Though environmental priorities (air quality, 
water quality, and industrial pollution control) are 
unlikely to change after CARDS, Croatia will have more 
responsibility in terms of priority setting and will have a 
co-financing requirement on all projects.  According to our 
contact, the EC does not push its environmental priorities 
but finds the GoC receptive to their suggestions. 
 
 
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