Coordination of the positions of the Republic of Croatia

Završetkom pregovora Republike Hrvatske (dalje u tekstu: RH) s Europskom unijom (dalje u tekstu: EU) i pristupanjem velikoj europskoj obitelji promijenio se i odnos RH i EU. Pristupanjem RH EU, naši predstavnici započinju svoj aktivni angažman u europskim institucijama gdje RH više ne djeluje prema poglavljima pregovora nego prema strukturama Vijeća Europske unije (dalje u tekstu: Vijeća), a djelotvorna koordinacija poslova s EU temelj je za pravovremeno oblikovanje nacionalnih stajališta te jamac zaštite nacionalnih interesa. Kako bi RH mogla učinkovito zastupati svoje interese u okviru EU potrebno je kvalitetno formulirati nacionalna stajališta i implementirati ih u pravnu regulativu te istu primijeniti u nacionalnim okvirima. Uspješna koordinacija poslova s EU je bitna i u zastupanju stajališta koje hrvatski predstavnici iznose na svim razinama te na taj način djeluju efikasno i vjerodostojno. Za funkcioniranje rada Vijeća odgovorno je predsjedništvo Vijeća, a čini ga nacionalna vlada države koja predsjeda. RH predsjedala je Vijećem u prvoj polovici 2020. godine. Bilo je to razdoblje puno izazova u kojem se RH odmah na početku suočila s nizom novih do sada nepoznatih situacija, pri čemu je najveća bila uzrokovana pandemijom koronavirusa COVID-19.With the completion of the negotiations between the Republic of Croatia and the European Union and the accession to the large European family, the relationship between the Republic of Croatia and the European Union has changed. With the accession of the RH to the EU, our representatives begin their active engagement in European institutions where the Republic of Croatia no longer acts according to negotiation chapters but according to the structures of the Council of the European Union and effective coordination of affairs with the European Union is the basis for the timely formation of national positions and the guarantor of the protection of national interest. In order for the Republic of Croatia to be able to effectively represent its interests within the European Union it is necessary to formulate national positions in a quality manner and implement them in legal regulations and apply them within national frameworks. Successful coordination of affairs with the EU is also important in representing the views expressed by Croatian representatives at all levels, thus acting efficiently and credibly. The Presidency of the Council is responsible for the functioning of the work of the Council and consists of the national government of the presiding state. The Republic of Croatia held the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2020. It was a period full of challenges in which the Republic of Croatia immediately faced a series of new hitherto unknown situations, the largest of which was caused by the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic