The People's Party (HNS) also expressed its position, saying it would support the government's proposal in the parliamentary procedure, but would insist on the adoption of a document eliminating discrimination against Croatian fishermen in the zone. The government proposes the postponement of EFPZ activation until January 2008, HNS chief Vesna Pusic told reporters in the Sabor.
HSP parliamentarians say they insist on the immediate declaration of an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and the immediate application of the ecological segment of the EFPZ, and that negotiations can be held with the European Union on fisheries.
All other things will be pulling the wool over our eyes, Miroslav Rozic of the HSP said in the parliament today.
HSP deputies say that Croatia should have proclaimed the EEZ before opening accession negotiations with the European Union, and accuse both the Ivo Sanader Cabinet and the previous government led by Ivica Racan of pushing the country into a worse position than it had been before the declaration of the EFPZ.
HSP parliamentarian Tonci Tadic explained the difference between the EFPZ and EEZ, saying that the former covers only a portion of sea-water without the sea-bed.
Tadic thinks that Italy would oppose the idea that the EFPZ boundary should be the middle line which Italy and the then Yugoslavia established in 1968 as the boundary between their continental shelves.
Two diplomatic notes which Italy has already sent to Croatia reflect Rome's opposition, according to Tadic who said that the notes read that Italy holds that geographical circumstances have changed since 1968.
He added that Zagreb had not responded to the notes, and he also rejected pressure from the European Commission regarding the matter. In this context he said that all European countries declared their EEZs and ecological zones unilaterally and without any consultations.
The HSS said on Tuesday it abided by its position that the EFPZ must be immediately activated. It sent its proposal into parliamentary procedure.
HNS chief Vesna Pusic said that her party in general supported the government's proposal, but it insisted on a document to be included regulating the protection of fishermen.
Commenting on announcements by some Opposition parties that they would not back the government's motion, Pusic said that anybody who wants to be at the helm of the country must know how to harmonise two opposing goals: Croatia's admission to the European Union and the protection of the Adriatic.
Earlier on Tuesday, Prime Minister Ivo Sanader said he was expecting answers from the parliamentary parties to his cabinet's proposal on EFPZ, in accordance with what they had agreed at their meeting last Friday.
"I hope that party leaders will harmonise their positions in the course of the day or tomorrow, as they positively responded to what was presented at (Friday's session), and that the proposal can be considered by the government tomorrow and sent to the parliament by the end of this week," Sanader said.
Parliament Speaker Vladimir Seks said later in the day that he was expecting the government's proposal this week.
On Monday, European Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said he expected Croatia to avoid unilateral moves regarding the EFPZ.
In June 2004, the Croatian parliament decided that the EFPZ would not be applied to EU member-states until Zagreb reached agreement with the European Union on partnership in fisheries.
During their meeting in Brussels on Monday evening, Commissioner Olli Rehn and Croatian Foreign Minister Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic confirmed that Croatia was discussing with interested countries its plans regarding the EFPZ.