MINISTER: CROATIA MUST AVOID 'EURO-SCEPTICISM'

ZAGREB, May 5 (Hina) - Croatia will improve its communication strategy with regard to European integration so as to inform as many people as possible about those processes and avoid a rise in "uninformed Euro-scepticism", Croatian European Integration Minister Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic said in Zagreb on Wednesday.#L# The minister was speaking at a conference called "Enlargement After Enlargement", which the Croatian Students' Association and the European Integration Ministry organised at Zagreb's Faculty of Economy. Grabar Kitarovic said that Euro-scepticism was common in countries that were drawing closer to the European Union, which she said was happening in Croatia, too, however, "uninformed Euro-scepticism" must be avoided. She reiterated that Croatia expected to obtain candidate status and a date for the start of accession talks from the EU in June. The event was also attended by the head of the European Commission's Delegation in Zagreb, Jacques Wunenburger, Irish Ambassador Gerald Ansbro, Dutch Ambassador Lionel Veer, and the Czech and Slovene ambassadors, Peter Burianek and Peter Bekes, respectively. All speakers at the conference said the EU would continue to expand after the latest round when ten new members joined the bloc. Ambassador Wunenburger said that the latest enlargement round had raised hopes among EU residents that it would contribute to economic progress, as well as fears about a possible loss of jobs. The Irish ambassador, whose country is chairing the EU, said that Croatia's candidacy would be discussed in Brussels on June 17 and 18. The Dutch ambassador, whose country will take over the EU presidency in the second half of this year, pointed to the need for Croatia to prepare well for EU membership rather than worry about the admission date. The Czech and Slovene ambassadors, whose countries joined the EU on May 1, said Prague and Ljubljana were ready to help Croatia on its way to the EU. (Hina) rml