ROLE OF THE ATLANTIC COUNCIL OF CROATIA

ON THE WAY TOWARDS NATO - Informing, researching, monitoring,

understanding and identifying problems, reacting, advocating,

taking part in forming public opinion, staying involved

Monika Begovic PhDVice-President of the Atlantic Council of Croatia

September 2016

Atlantic Council of Croatia

association with the aim of promoting euro-atlantism

Member of the Atlantic Treaty Association – umbrella independent organization created in 1954, which acts as a network facilitator and supporter of NATO values and promoter of democracy, individual liberty and rule of law

The YATA – youth branch of the ATA formed in 1996 to reach younger generations and bringing together groups of young professionals interested in international security policies, providing opportunity for networking

Road to NATO: step-by-step

Croatia joined Partnership for Peace (PfP) in 2000, beginning the process of accession

In 2002 Croatia joins Membership Action Plan (MAP). In MAP framework Croatia set out its reform plans

Croatia received an invitation to join NATO during Bucharest Summit in 2008

Croatia joined NATO Alliance in April 2009 at Strasbourg/Kehl Summit

Road to NATO: step-by-step

NATO membership became one of the foreign policy priority already in 1991, when this was passed unanimously in the Croatian Parliament, while the next step was adopting the ‘Study on NATO Enlargement’ in 1996, however NATO had specific demands from Croatia:

support of Dayton Accord agreements, return of refugees and displaced persons, full cooperation with the UN ICTY

public opinion formed with the help of certain media began to not welcome these demands

Change of the approach in official politics, resulted with Croatia joining the PfP in 2000 the Atlantic Council of Croatia was established, when the NATO popularity was at its lowest level, and the civil society just began to form its structure

Campaigns and polls

Media campaign of joining NATO by the Croatian Government started in 2006

In the period between 2000 – 2003 only around 35% of population supported Croatia to join NATO

In the period between 2004 – 2006 that number increased to around 45-55% of population supported Croatia to join NATO

In the period between 2006 – 2007 the support fell to 35-40% again In 2008 support to join NATO was 55-60%

The downturn happened because of the war in Afghanistan and growing number of casualties, invasion of Iraq, threat of military attack against Iran reasons: seeing NATO as the USA

This resulted in Croatian Government reaching a decision of not submitting the protocol on NATO membership to a referendum, but have it ratified by the Parliament

Fears of Croatian public towards joining NATO Fear of Croatian soldiers would die abroad in NATO missions that country

actually doesn’s need; Fear that NATO generals would command the Croatian Amred Forces Fear of NATO military basis on the Adriatic (tourism) Fear of increased defence spending

Benefits of NATO membership

Article 5: whenever any of its member or country attacked by any external party, other members and countries come forward for collective defense

Modernizing defence institutions and democartic reforms (political system based on market economy)

Participation in decision-making process (especially for small countries) Burden sharing International visibility Ability to address new security challenges Improved relations with other European countries, but also US and Canada enlargement of NATO – promoting regional stability Stability and prosperity (economic prosperity promotes democracy and

political stability

What does the Atlantic Council of Croatia do? Informing the public on benefits of joining NATO Stresses NATO values as core values of every democratic country Identifies problems, researches, publishes Reacts

The work depends on political, institutional and social climate the attitudes of decision makers

What does the Atlantic Council of Croatia do Being involved means to have specific goals and objectives, identify target

group, find partners and work strategically

Specific: working with students

Advocating and written contributions (in Croatian and English language) + distribution

Overviews of polls and official politics – recommending improvements

Finding partners

What does the Atlantic Council of Croatia do – after NATO membership It is important to have public confidence and to constantly boost that

confidence

Increasing the awareness on NATO values: individual liberty, democracy, human rights and the rule of law

Trying to point out the importance of the stability in the Western Balkans, not only for regional security, but globally

What does the Atlantic Council of Croatia do – after NATO membership International Summer School – invite participants and sepakers from

all around the world. This year- jubilee15th School, and we always dedicate to contempirary topics in international security. We put the accent on the region and a need in developing a better cooperation with NATO to adequately respond to the challenges coming from new security threats. Outcomes: contribution to regional and cooperative security and stability and achieving better mutual understanding; networking among invitees – speakers and young professionals

For participants we organize simulation during which young students can better imagine how it is to be a politician, public person, someone who reaches decisions

What does the Atlantic Council of Croatia do – after NATO membership We publish a Yearbook with the papers and essays of our distinguished

speakers boosting confidence and raising the importance of our contribution to certain topics in the public

The project – the School itself is based on 5 days active engagement of all participants and speakers in foreseen topics, developing discussion and exchanging opinions and ideas, especially on NATO core values, future NATO’s role in this part of the world

Since Croatia joined NATO we organize a celebration of the anniversary of being a full NATO memebr country in cooperation with the Ministry of Defence

Croatia in NATO

As a NATO member country Croatia contributes to the Aliance’s cohesion and strength and its global security role