The EU will be favourably inclined towards Croatia, which is a likeable country and Croats are a noble people which suffered a lot in the 1990s, said the prime minister of Luxembourg, the country which takes over the presidency of the EU on January 1.
Juncker believes that the talks with Croatia will not be harder than those the EU conducted with other countries.
Juncker said he hoped that there would be no need for an emergency brake in Croatia's case, adding that he believed that the date for the start of the accession talks should be set as soon as possible and not delayed indefinitely. He said he believed that the talks would start in the first quarter of 2005.
Recalling that cooperation with the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague was only one of the membership criteria, Juncker said Croatia had to convince Europe that it was making great efforts to transfer runaway General Ante Gotovina to The Hague.
Croatia must meet that obligation, because some member-states insist on it, said Juncker, who arrives in Croatia on Thursday for an official visit.
Juncker believes that the growing Euro-scepticism in Croatia is normal. The closer the prospects of membership, the more aware people are of the need to adjust, and doubts are arising, he said, adding that the Croatian authorities and European politicians had to explain to the Croatian public the benefits of EU admission.
EU membership requires great efforts, but it brings much better living conditions. EU membership is in the interest of both Croatia and the Union. We will become aware of that on the day Croatia joins us, Juncker concluded.
The Luxembourgian PM will tomorrow hold talks with his host, PM Ivo Sanader, as well as with President Stjepan Mesic and Parliament Speaker Vladimir Seks.