The decision of Parliament was relayed to representatives of Italy, Slovenia and the European Commission at a trilateral meeting in Brussels the following day, June 4, at which minutes were taken, the Ministry said in an attempt to clarify the situation regarding the EFPZ after the EC Delegation to Croatia issued a statement on the matter and following different statements and interpretations.
"The course of events clearly confirms that there were no negotiations about the Parliament's decision nor was any agreement signed at the meeting," the statement said.
The EC and the EC Delegation to Croatia warned Croatia against unilaterally activating the EFPZ, claiming that by signing the agreed minutes at the meeting with representatives of Italy and Slovenia, attended also by EC officials, Croatia had pledged not to do it.
"The minutes described the content of the talks. Interpretations that they could be a legally binding agreement are all the more unfounded," the ministry said.
The ministry recalled that in the meantime Croatia had become a candidate for EU membership and started EU entry talks and that its status was no longer that of the so-called third countries with which the EU signed agreements on partnership in fisheries.
"Croatia's new, higher-level status has led to the need to reconsider the decision on the EFPZ under the new circumstances, about which a diplomatic dialogue with European partners and the EC was launched in line with a meeting of the Council for Stabilisation and Association," the ministry said.
The ministry stated that it therefore could not accept interpretations that "may constitute an attempt to restrict the right of the institutions of the Republic of Croatia" to make decisions regarding fisheries in the Adriatic.
The ministry expressed readiness to solve all issues regarding the EFPZ with neighbouring countries in the spirit of good neighbourly relations, dialogue and European standards.