ZAGREB, April 20 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader on Tuesday expressed satisfaction with a positive decision of the European Commission on Croatia's application for full membership in the European Union.
ZAGREB, April 20 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader on
Tuesday expressed satisfaction with a positive decision of the
European Commission on Croatia's application for full membership in
the European Union.#L#
After he received the positive 'avis' from the European Commission
Delegation's head in Zagreb, Jacques Wunenburger, Sanader voiced
satisfaction on behalf of the government and the entire Croatian
public with the document, which was made public in Strasbourg this
afternoon.
Our final goal is Croatia's full membership in the EU in the next few
years... we hope to complete the negotiations so that we could join
the EU within that time frame, Sanader told reporters.
Wunenburger said the avis was based on the Copenhagen criteria and was
also a recommendation to open negotiations with Croatia on full
membership in the EU.
The Copenhagen criteria refer to political and economic conditions and
the candidate-country's ability to adjust its legislation to that of
the EU (acquis communautaire).
Commenting on the EC's opinion, Wunenburger started with the third
group of the criteria stating the EC estimated that Croatia would be
able to adjust its legislation to the EU's in the medium term, except
for the part referring to environmental protection, which it
considered a long-term goal.
With regard to the economy, the EC believes that Croatia is a
functioning market economy and a functioning democracy with stable
institutions guaranteeing the rule of law and with no significant
problems regarding the protection of the basic human rights,
Wunenburger said.
However, with regard to all the three groups of the Copenhagen
criteria the EC based its positive opinion on additional efforts
which Croatia is expected to make to further adjust its legislation
and continue economic and political reforms, especially regarding
minority rights, refugee returns, judiciary reform, and the fight
against corruption.
Cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former
Yugoslavia in The Hague has significantly improved in recent months,
which has been confirmed by the tribunal's chief prosecutor, Carla del
Ponte, however, Croatia must continue full cooperation and guarantee
that the remaining indictee will also appear before the tribunal,
Wunenburger said.
He also said the avis was a recommendation by the EC and that the
European Council was expected to decide on the opening of accession
talks with Croatia probably in June. This decision will also depend on
Croatia's future activities and the country will continue to be under
constant scrutiny by international factors, Wunenburger said.
PM Sanader thanked Ambassador Wunenburger for the help given to
Croatia on its way to the EU and expressed special gratitude to the
government of Ivica Racan which submitted Croatia's membership
application and answered a large number of questions posed by the EC.
"Important political goals such as admission to the EU require a
consensus of all parties and I share the pleasure of having made the
first concrete step on that road with all parties and the entire
Croatian public".
The PM added that Croatia now had to reorganise its economy to
increase exports and the competitiveness of its products as well as
improve the living standards and purchasing power of its citizens.
"The beginning of the process of admission to the EU dramatically
changes the status of our country and I am confident that the avis
will play an important role in Croatia's international promotion and
in attracting foreign investors".
(Hina) rml