ZAGREB, Jan 30 (Hina) - Premier Ivica Racan has said that Croatia has a historic chance of accelerating its journey towards the European Union and urged that the current tempo on the path to the EU should be retained.
ZAGREB, Jan 30 (Hina) - Premier Ivica Racan has said that Croatia
has a historic chance of accelerating its journey towards the
European Union and urged that the current tempo on the path to the EU
should be retained. #L#
At a session at which the government considered the implementation
of a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) in 2002, it was
said that Zagreb had to date met 59 percent of all of the commitments
it should fulfil in the six-year transitional period.
In 2002, Croatia implemented 92 percent of its obligations defined
for that year under the SAA, European Integration Minister Neven
Mimica briefed the government.
Such good results are very important for the application for full
membership which Croatia will submit now so as to join countries in
the second round of the Union's enlargement, the minister added.
The government forwarded into urgent parliamentary procedure a
bill on the election of representative bodies of units of local and
regional self-rule. The bill should ensure the enforcement of the
Constitutional Law on National Minorities' Rights.
According to the 2001 census and the provisions of the
constitutional law, ethnic minorities have the right to have their
representatives in 144 units of local self-rule and 10 units of
regional self-rule.
Additional elections should be organised in five counties and 83
units of local self-rule so that the said rights can fully be
exercised.
According to the same data, Croats account for less than half the
population in 17 municipalities, and special elections should be
organised in 11 to ensure their representation as well.
(hina) ms sb