Unfortunately, the border issue with Slovenia is blocking Croatia's negotiations. The European Commission has offered assistance in a bid to help solve the 18-year-old problem. After six months of intensive efforts and after playing extra-times, it is now on the two neighbouring countries to talk and find a solution, Rehn said while attending the opening of an exhibition on Zagreb photographs in the Commission's headquarters in Brussels.
If talks are unblocked soon, it should be possible for them to reach a final stage by the end of this year, provided that Croatia shows results in reforms, Rehn said, reiterating his support to Croatia's efforts in this regard.
According to him, Croatia has passed a long road of reforms and has recently achieved encouraging results in the shipbuilding sector.
The commissioner called on Croatia to step up reforms in the judiciary, intensify the struggle against corruption and settle outstanding issues in the cooperation with the Hague-based UN tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.