Rural areas account more than 90% of the land area of the Republic of Croatia inhabited by about 47% of the total population. So far all efforts have not brought the expected results in the quality of life in rural communities, which continues to monitor the demographic depopulation (vital groups are emigrating population), economic decline, and differences in infrastructure and services between urban and rural areas are becoming larger. Since 1995 the strategies that are aimed for the development of Croatian agriculture do not deal only through the development of agriculture as a business, but for the entire rural area. Croatia has its rural policy adapted and harmonized with the European Union, and since has been able to use the pre-accession programs of the European Union's own agricultural and rural policies adapted strategic priorities of the EU pre-accession programs. Using the pre-accession funds for agriculture and rural development, Croatia gained vital experience through preparing programs for agriculture and rural development, which include the principles of programming of rural development measures, their implementation, monitoring, control and evaluation, which are valid for the current member states. Are the pre-accession programs in achieving their role in Croatia, will be seen only when Croatia joins the European Union, that is, how able will Croatia to use the resources of the Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund.