The agreement was signed by Croatian Interior Minister Tomislav Karamarko, US Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Attorney General Eric Holder.

The Croatian delegation and the US administration officials discussed cooperation between government departments and law enforcement agencies in combating various forms of crime, trafficking in human beings and narcotics, and exchanges of expertise.

Also discussed was the process of Croatia's accession to the European Union. The Croatian delegation informed their hosts about what Croatia was doing about border control as part of its preparations to join the Schengen area of free movement.

Karamarko told reporters that the signing of the agreement completed a package, including three memorandums that had been signed earlier, laying the ground for Croatia's joining the US Visa Waiver Program.

Karamarko said that the lifting of visa requirements for Croatian citizens travelling to the US "depends on the rate of rejected visa applications falling from the present 5.3 per cent to 3 per cent." He added optimistically that "the process is developing favourably and visas will be lifted after the rate has dropped below 3 per cent," which will eventually be decided by Congress.

Karamarko said that they discussed cooperation between the Croatian Ministry of the Interior and the US departments of homeland security and justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which he said included exchanges of people and information, and training. He said that the meeting was held in a friendly atmosphere and that he was very pleased with it.

Karamarko said that the US hosts expressed full support for the speedy accession of Croatia to the EU after it met all the membership criteria.

Karamarko said that on Thursday he was meeting with officials from various agencies of the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice to analyse their cooperation and put forward proposals for its improvement.