PRINCIPLES OF THE ARMED FORCES DEVELOPMENT In the planning period defined in this Plan, the Armed Forces will be organized according to the following principles: • Strategic Coherence: the development of Defense Capabilities will ensure readiness to respond to present and future threats and security challenges. • Focus on Capabilities: Taking into account threat diversity and risks resulting from the complexity of the Security environment, the Armed Forces should have capabilities required for the execution of various types of operations and activities – the ones resulting from their basic Constitutional role and commitments assumed under Article V of the North Atlantic Treaty; Crisis Response Operations outside the territory of the Republic of Croatia that contribute to international security and stability; activities for providing assistance to civilian institutions and population, that is, various kinds of Humanitarian Operations at home and abroad. • Flexibility: The Armed Forces will undergo continuous adjustments and transformation in accordance with the complexity of Security environment. • Competence Based Approach: Human resources of the Armed Forces will be continuously strengthened as well as the institutional prerequisites for the professional development of the members of the Armed Force based on competencies. • Focus on the International Cooperation: The Republic of Croatia will participate in common efforts of NATO and the EU to build, maintain and strengthen capabilities. Smart Defense, • • • • and Pooling and Sharing initiatives are the key elements of such approach. In the context of EU membership, EU structural funds will be used accordingly, in order to build the capabilities of the Armed Forces envisaged for the civilmilitary dual use, particularly in the area of Search and Rescue, Medical Transportation, Border Control, coping with the impacts of ecological disasters, etc. Affordability: Defined priorities and appropriate dynamics of Capability Development will set up the balance between the Capability Development requirements and resources provided by the State. Single Set of Forces: The Republic of Croatia will develop a single set of Forces for NATO and EU arrangements and mechanisms deriving from the commitment to strengthen strategic partnership between these two organizations. High Standards of Civil-Military Relations: The Republic of Croatia will provide the conditions for establishing high standards of Civil-Military relations that encourage the society to place the high levels of trust in the Armed Forces, build effective management and control mechanisms, professional autonomy and social responsibility of the Armed Forces, effective prevention of all forms of discrimination, continuous enhancement of integrity and transparency, promotion of Military Ethics and Gender Awareness Policy. Inter-Agency Cooperation: There will be cooperation, coordination and coordinated action between the Armed Forces and other State bodies in the development of capabilities to conduct missions and tasks, and to provide response to risk and threats. 13