"I have expressed Croatia's readiness to accept the responsibility of an EU member. We support the Union's shared foreign and security policy and are ready to take part in it, but it is too early yet to talk about specific aspects. This is not expected of us at the moment," Croatian Foreign Minister Miomir Zuzul told reporters in Brussels.
Zuzul and his counterparts from EU candidate countries and from Norway and Iceland attended a conference of EU foreign ministers on civilian aspects of peacekeeping missions in which the EU would take part.
Considering its experience, Croatia can provide assistance in peace negotiations, developing civil society, strengthening institutions promoting the rule of law and minority rights protection.
By the end of the year the EU is to take over the peacekeeping mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina from NATO, and Croatia may take part in its civilian component.
The EU also plans to establish rapid reaction forces to defuse hot spots around the world.
At a meeting of EU defence ministers in Brussels on Monday, several countries pledged to set up armed combat groups, some of which will become operational already next year.
Dutch Defence Minister Henk Kamp said that EU candidate countries might also participate in forming such groups in cooperation with EU members.