Over a year has gone by since the referendum but the Brexit negotiations – that are set to last for two years – were launched only five months ago. Our shared values have not and will not change. I want my sons (half-British, half-French, fully European) to feel at home in Europe, whether they end up living in the UK, France or Croatia, said British ambassador in Croatia Andrew Dalgleish for Diplomacy&Commerce magazin.
Photo: Anto Magzan/PIXSELL
It’s been more than a year since the British people have voted in favour of Brexit. Do they have a clearer picture today of how life in the UK will be without the EU?
The UK wants a deep and special partnership with the European Union which ensures that Europe is strong, prosperous and well defended from threats. We will continue to play our leading part in our collective defence and security goals. We want to continue buying goods and services from the EU and to continue selling British goods and services to our EU partners. We want to welcome investors to the UK’s dynamic, business-friendly marketplace and to trade even more with the rest of the world. But we also want to be able to exercise better control over who is allowed to cross our borders and to ensure that we’ve got full authority over decisions that directly affect our citizens.
What has changed in your work in Croatia compared to the time you came here, and Brexit was not even in the perspective?
› My discussions regarding the EU are obviously intensive and covering different subjects – the UK is still a member of the EU, so we speak about the EU issues as well as about Brexit negotiations but are regular and positive. Our NATO cooperation goes from strength to strength. I’m happy to have worked on a number of crucial foreign policy issues where the UK and Croatia have stood shoulder-to-shoulder. The scope for deeper direct bilateral relationships has only grown and this is where Brexit, while creating some short-term uncertainty, actually creates opportunities.
In one interview, you said that your main goal was to see the United Kingdom leave the European Union in a way that was good both for the UK and Croatia. From today’s perspective, this could look like there was direct line between the UK and Croatia?
› The EU-relationship between the UK and Croatia following Brexit will be a function of those negotiations – in an EU framework, Croatia will enjoy the same relationship with the UK as will any other EU member state. One specific aspect of that relationship that I’m already working on to try and improve is our commercial relationship. The level of trade between our two countries is really rather low. I think there are so many opportunities for doing more together. Aside from our relationship in the EU, I’m already seeing a significant deepening of our military cooperation, through NATO but also bilaterally and we will continue to use every opportunity for our armed forces to engage, share experiences and learn from each other. We’ve been doing some exciting work too on sharing our experiences on STEM education: BBC micro:bits, pocket-sized codeable computers designed in the UK, are now in the hands of thousands of pupils in Croatia thanks to a Croatian enthusiast who has seen how great they are for getting kids excited about science and coding. And we’re doing some quite innovative work with the Croatian Tourism Ministry and delivery bodies on extending the tourist season in Croatia and attracting a greater diversity of tourists based on the massive growth we’ve seen in tourism in the UK in recent years.
What security challenges do you see as a threat to peace and security both in the region and Europe, as well as globally. How can we ease the constant tensions?
› The security environment is constantly evolving, whether it be from the threat of Daesh, the aggressive and provocative behaviour of certain regimes in defiance of the international community, the use of disruptive cyber-terrorism, or the unwelcome involvement of some states in the internal affairs of others . Our shared euro-atlantic values are at the foundation of the premise that the way to address tensions is through dialogue, diplomacy and a readiness to see things from the perspective of the other side. Commitment to the rule of law and international norms of behaviour are essential. And the fact that the UK will be hosting the Western Balkans Summit in 2018, to which Croatia is invited, is a good indicator of how absolutely committed we remain to this region.
Since it has joined the EU four years ago, how interesting is Croatia to British investors? What attracts them to Croatia and what makes them cautious?
› The workforce is well educated and inventive – being a self-starter and showthe UK’s dynamic, business-friendly marketplace and to trade even more with the rest of the world. But we also want to be able to exercise better control over who is allowed to cross our borders and to ensure that we’ve got full authority over decisions that directly affect our citizens. What has changed in your work in Croatia compared to the time you came here, and Brexit was not even in the perspective? › My discussions regarding the EU are obviously intensive and covering different subjects – the UK is still a member of the EU, so we speak about the EU issues as well as about Brexit negotiations – but are regular and positive. Our NATO cooperation goes from strength to ing initiative, rather than depending on constant direction and instruction, comes naturally to many Croatians. Infrastructure and operating costs are relatively low too. But there are reasons for caution. The fiscal framework can be daunting – just how many taxes and parafiscal measures are likely to apply is rarely clear. The legal system can also be horribly slow. British investors know that sometimes things go wrong and require an answer in law, but they don’t like the idea of having to wait ten years for that answer. Uncertainties over land ownership can also deter investors looking to open factories or other facilities but who have doubts over whether they can buy or rent the land out-right without the threat of a previous claim appearing. The Croatian government is putting a lot of effort into cutting red tape and reducing regulatory burdens, which will be welcome news to British investors.
What will change for Croatian workers in the UK after Brexit? Should this issue be solved at the bilateral level or in Brussels?
› The British Government has made it clear that it wants to resolve as quickly as possible the situation of EU citizens resident in the UK- and the situation of British citizens living in the EU. The UK will treat Croatian workers in the same way as other EU citizens in a post-Brexit world. The transitional controls on the free movement of Croatian workers that are currently in place in the UK and several other countries are a part of that question and will be looked at by the UK as the negotiations proceed.
What do you think of the government programme for improving the business climate?
› I think it’s great that the Croatian Government is focusing its efforts on improving the business climate but it really is too early for me to assess what the impacts of that programme are.
Year-on-year, Croatia has been recording fantastic results in tourism. How much time do you have for meeting your fellow countrymen in Zagreb, or on the coastline?
› The great news is that in the past few years, the numbers of British tourist have been going up for 20% each year. And I`m enjoying discovering parts of Croatia that aren`t always on the traditional tourist trail – I`m in two minds about whether to share these experiences with my compatriots or keep these “secret” gems to myself!