Višnja Samardžija social implications to the extent that is necessary. The economic reform process very often demands sacrifices from its citizens and it is necessary to give them a clear vision of what the benefits are that they will gain in return( Pezelj 13 ). Preparations for Croatia's participation in the OMC in the social area are under way through the elaboration of the Joint Inclusion Memorandum(JIM). Such a document is obligatory for the EU candidates, which have to prepare it before the accession with the European Commission 14 . For Croatia, the JIM is one of the activities envisaged in the area of poverty and the reduction of social exclusion within the framework of the Accession Partnership. It was finalised in October 2006 and should be followed by a concrete action plan. It focuses on key challenges related to poverty and the reduction of social exclusion and defines key measures Croatia will have to undertake within its social policy. Preparation of documents included consultation procedures with a wider team of experts through targeted seminars, workshops and conferences 15 which were also presented to the public. Another document which is in the process of preparation is Joint Assessment Paper(JAP) on employment priorities 16 . It will present a joint analysis by Croatia and the Commission of the key challenges in labour market reform and for employment policies, focusing on the need to promote and manage structural changes in order to establish flexible and adaptable labour market. 13. Ana Milićević Pezelj represented the Union of Autonomous Trade Unions of Croatia at the conference, and gave the presentation in the form of a speech only. 14. The JIM outlines the principal challenges in relation to tackling poverty and social exclusion, presents the major policy measures taken in the light of the agreement to start translating the EU's common objectives into national policies and identifies the key policy issues for mo­nitoring and revue. The JIM provided a basis for the new member states to prepare their first NAP/inclusion after accession. 15. The TAIEX seminar on the Joint Inclusion Memorandum was organised in Zagreb on 26 June 2006 while the conference on the occasion of finalising the JIM was held in Zagreb on October 23 with participation of the representatives of the European Commission. 16. The Joint Assessment Papers on employment priorities(JAPs) was the first step of the co­operation process on employment that the Commission/Directorate-General for Employment and Social Affairs initiated in 1999 with candidate countries. The objective was to ensure that candidate countries define employment policies that will prepare them for membership and progressively adjust institutions and policies to allow them to fully participate in the EU-wide employment policy co-ordination as from accession. It also aimed at ensuring that both the EU financial support for accession and the preparations for the implementation of the European Social Fund would focus on supporting the identified employment policy priorities. 26