Speaking to reporters after a session of the Committee at which Croatia's chief negotiator Vladimir Drobnjak reported about the course of bilateral screening of the chapters on science and research and education and culture, Racan said that Croatian lobbying activities in Brussels were far below the level of lobbying by other countries and even other candidate countries.
The Committee is satisfied with information received today from the negotiating team, but it is also worried about the fact that Croatia is not sufficiently prepared for taking part in EU programmes in the first two chapters, Racan said.
We will not have too much legislative work in the period to come because the laws referring to those chapters have been adjusted to EU standards to a great extent. But the preparation of projects with which we will participate in European programmes will be difficult, Racan said.
Chief negotiator Drobnjak expressed satisfaction with the course of the screening process.
Drobnjak said he expected the European Commission to give a positive opinion of the screening procedure in the next month and a half and propose that membership talks start in the second quarter of next year.