Skare Ozbolt was speaking to reporters at the end of a two-day meeting of the justice and interior ministers of EU member states and candidate countries in The Hague on Friday. "The conference has shown that Croatia, as a candidate for EU membership, is accepted with respect, that it can take part in debates, but does not yet have the right to participate in decision making," she said.
As regards the rules agreed upon as part of Eurojust, the EU body established in 2002 to fight against organised and cross-border crime, Croatia has met most of its obligations relating to the adjustment of legislation by adopting national plans aimed at combating organised crime and terrorism, the minister said, announcing that Croatia would fulfil the remaining requirements by the next meeting of EU justice ministers.
Skare Ozbolt had several bilateral meetings on the margins of the conference, including those with the justice ministers of Finland, France and Austria with whom the Croatian ministry cooperates as part of the CARDS programme and efforts to establish a justice academy.
The Croatian Interior Ministry was represented by State Secretary Ivica Buconjic, who said that the Croatian police would be actively involved in EU police and Europol operations, particularly with regard to border control, illegal migrations and asylum seekers.
The meeting, which is held twice a year, focused on a five-year programme of measures called Tampere II, which is aimed at promoting freedom, security and justice in the EU.
Representatives of Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania and Turkey as membership candidate countries addressed the participants during an informal part of the conference. The Croatian justice minister spoke about the results Croatia had achieved in judicial reform and in adjusting its legislation to EU standards.