BRUSSELS, Dec 15 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader called onleaders of the European People's Party (EPP) on Thursday to take intoaccount, in considering a new budget plan for the 2007-2013 period, Croatia's ambition to
become a full member of the European Unionbefore the next elections for the European Parliament in June 2009.
BRUSSELS, Dec 15 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader
called on leaders of the European People's Party (EPP) on Thursday to take into
account, in considering a new budget plan for the 2007-2013 period, Croatia's
ambition to become a full member of the European Union before the next
elections for the European Parliament in June 2009. Sanader made the
appeal at a summit of the EPP, the umbrella organisation of European Christian
Democrat and Popular parties, in Meise, outside Brussels, which was held ahead
of a meeting of EU heads of state or government on the new long-term
budget.
EPP leaders welcomed last week's arrest of fugitive Croatian Army
general Ante Gotovina in Spain's Canary Islands.
"I received great satisfaction here. It was said that Croatian
officials were right in saying that Gotovina was not hiding in Croatia, which
confirmed Croatia's credibility," Sanader said in a brief statement to the
press outside Bouchout Castle.