The Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER), a body consisting of EU ambassadors, said at a meeting on Wednesday that Croatia was sufficiently prepared to open negotiations on the chapter Trans-European networks and sent the Croatian government a letter inviting it to submit its negotiating position.
As for the chapter Environment, Croatia has been given one benchmark which it will have to meet in order to open negotiations on this chapter. It will have to draw up and present a plan for the establishment of administrative capacities and for securing funds for the implementation of the EU legislation in this chapter. The plan is expected to be coordinated with the adjustment of Croatian legislation to EU standards.
As for the policy chapter Food safety, veterinary and phytosanitary policy, Croatia was given four benchmarks. The first benchmark refers to the adoption of framework laws on food and veterinary medicine, which are already under procedure in the Croatian parliament.
The second benchmark refers to the adoption of a strategy for the transposition and implementation of the acquis communautaire in this chapter.
The third benchmark refers to the need to introduce an appropriate system for the identification and registration of pigs, goats and sheep. It also binds Croatia to present measures taken to establish a system of registration and identification of cattle.
The fourth benchmark refers to the classification of all food production facilities according to categories based on the acquis communautaire.
Of 27 chapters that have passed the procedure in the Council of the European Union, Croatia now has to meet benchmarks for nine chapters, while talks on 18 chapters can be opened without benchmarks.
Croatia has so far submitted negotiating positions for 14 chapters, and negotiating positions for another four chapters are being prepared.
So far Croatia has opened talks on six chapters. Talks on two of the six chapters have been provisionally closed.
The European Commission is currently making a draft joint position of the EU on eight chapters. Talks on those chapters can be opened after EU draft negotiating positions are unanimously adopted by the COREPER.