Technocratic Model This is a prerequisite for exiting the crisis. Otherwise, the previously established model could lead Croatia further downwards.
The President of the Republic and the Prime Minister must gather the most capable personnel to define a true national development strategy that will long-term position the economy as a pillar of national security
writes Dr. Mirko Bilandžić
Faculty of Philosophy, University of Zagreb
[email protected]
In the EU Security Strategy (A Secure Europe in a Better World), among other security risks, ‘failed states’ are listed, characterized by poor governance, corruption, abuse of power and political functions, weakness of state institutions, and lack of accountability, various forms of criminal behavior, etc., resulting in internal instability manifested by expressions of dissatisfaction, violence in society, and state repression. Are these characteristics recognizable in Croatia? Croatia is technically in the final phase of negotiations and will become a full member of the EU in the foreseeable future. But will the negotiations end smoothly, or will Croatia find itself in a phase of ‘prolonged negotiations’ and a kind of testing phase imposed by the EU? The last two Copenhagen criteria (political) for EU accession determine the responsibility of future members to prepare companies for effective operation in the Union market and assess the ability to assume obligations arising from membership. It is not the acceptance of the acquis on paper that is evaluated, but the ability of the state to function in accordance with the principles and standards of the European Union. Both criteria are a serious challenge for Croatia.
The Issue of National Security With evident unemployment (300,000 people) and over-indebtedness (approximately 95 percent of GDP), two indicators should be highlighted that are strategically invaluable for the economy in the long term: (non)competitiveness of the Croatian economy and its unpreparedness for market competition within the Union. How many Croatian managers know basic data about, for example, the Finnish market, the structure of the Finnish economy, and Finnish business culture? The state of competitiveness of the Croatian economy should be even more concerning. Croatia ranked 56th out of 58 countries in 2010, with a drop in certain positions (international trade) by 31 places over a four-year period. When the corruption index and its extremely negative effects are added (corruption, to be fair, is not expressed only in the economic sphere), Croatia and its economy are clearly in a serious crisis. Is there a way out? Modern science has proven that the economy is one of the five vital areas of national security. The crisis/threat to the economy is a threat to national security. Any threat to national security requires a systematic response from national resources. Specifically, the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister, institutions constitutionally responsible for national security, must together gather the most capable national personnel who will not only offer anti-recession measures but also define a true national development strategy (and economic) that will long-term position the Croatian economy as a pillar of national security.
