HSS HANDS OVER INTERPELLATION REGARDING GOVT'S CONDUCT ABOUT PROTOCOL VII

~ke stranke ZAGREB, March 26 (Hina) - The club of deputies of the Croatian Peasant Party (HSS) on Thursday submitted to the parliament's head an interpellation request regarding the work of the government, claiming that the Ivo Sanader Cabinet acted unlawfully in negotiations with the European Union on quotas for the import of agricultural and food products, which will go into force upon the admission of ten new members to the EU on May 1.#L# The HSS accuses the government of failing to ask the Sabor to support its negotiating platform towards the EU, which weakened Croatia's negotiating position. The government has already held two rounds of negotiations on Protocol VII, under which Croatia would have to accept higher import quotas for agricultural produce and food. The HSS maintains that this would cause damage to Croatia's economy, particularly farmers. Interpellation is a procedure in which the government explains its conduct to MPs. The parliament votes on the interpellation, and in case when a majority of MPs give a negative opinion on the government's conduct, a motion for a vote of no-confidence in the government is put on the agenda. (Hina)