At an Intergovernmental Conference meeting in Brussels, negotiations were opened on the Customs Union, Enterprise and Industry, and Economic and Monetary Policy.
The chairwoman of the European Council's Enlargement Task Force, Marjata Hiekka of Finland, said afterwards that Croatia was well-prepared and had made good progress in the negotiations.
Unlike the negotiations on the chapters Science and Research and Education and Culture, which were opened and closed at the same meeting, Croatia will have to meet additional measures -- closing benchmarks -- to close the negotiations opened today.
Croatia's chief negotiator Vladimir Drobnjak said the benchmarks were expected as Croatia must fully adjust its legislation on the three chapters in question to European legal standards. He added Croatia would do its utmost to carry out the adjustments in 2007.
In the Customs Union chapter, Croatia has to meet three closing benchmarks -- draw up an integral action plan to further computerise the customs network, effectively implement customs regulations, and parliament must adopt some rules to adjust them to the EU acquis communautaire.
Regarding Enterprise and Industry, Croatia must draft an industrial policy strategy, which is already under way.
Regarding the Economic and Monetary Policy, Croatia must adopt measures which guarantee the full autonomy of the central bank and its adjustment to the European system of central banks.
Croatia will not ask for transitional periods for the said three chapters but will request material and technical assistance for the Customs Union chapter.
Drobnjak said that next year Croatia would focus on defining negotiating positions and opening negotiations on as many chapters as possible.
So far, Croatia has been invited to submit negotiating positions on nine chapters, the last time yesterday for the chapter Statistics. It has submitted negotiating positions on eight policy chapters and has met the closing benchmark for the Justice, Freedom and Security chapter.