We are pleased to announce that the UK has now completed the national ratification process for Croatia and Albania's accession to NATO and anticipates welcoming both Croatia and Albania as full NATO members in April. Croatia has already proven to be a strong NATO ally and the UK greatly appreciates and values Croatia's NATO commitments beyond the region, in particular your commitment to NATO operations in Afghanistan. We now look forward to working alongside you as we meet NATO's future challenges together.

Croatia has made significant progress since deciding to join NATO, particularly in the fields of defence reform, democratic reform and co-operation with the ICTY. Croatia is an example of what can be achieved when both the people and government have a shared vision of enhanced regional security and domestic development. The reforms put in place for the NATO accession process will stand you in good stead for the next big challenge, EU accession.

The UK sees Croatia as a strategic partner and we have a strong bilateral relationship. Our support of Croatia's NATO accession complements our wider efforts to support Croatia through the UK - Croatia Strategic Partnership (SP). The SP's shared strategic goal is EU and NATO membership for Croatia, furthering its role as an exporter of stability and reform to the region.

The SP includes UK bilateral projects with Croatia totalling more than £1 million (€1.25 million) and the sharing of UK know-how. Through the new Instrument for Pre-Accession funding (IPA) for Croatia, the UK also provides approximately £20 million (€25 million) per year.

Long-term SP bilateral projects, exceeding £750,000 (€950,000), include:

• Improving court administration efficiency in four large municipal courts
• Providing a veterinary and food safety adviser, with a particular focus on making the most of EU funds
• Supporting the development of a probation service
• Developing regional business centres, or 'clusters'
• Improving controls and co-operation on the Croatia-Serbia border through the sharing of best practice and training (see www.ukincroatia.fco.gov.uk for more info)
  

The UK also has a bilateral scholarship programme for young Croatians and is spending £70,000 (€88,000) on bilateral exchanges and short-term projects.