ZAGREB, Jan 30 (Hina) - Croatia's European Integration Minister Neven Mimica and his assistant Visnja Samardzija presented to the government on Thursday a report on the implementation of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement
(SAA) in 2002, the European Integration Ministry said in a statement.
ZAGREB, Jan 30 (Hina) - Croatia's European Integration Minister
Neven Mimica and his assistant Visnja Samardzija presented to the
government on Thursday a report on the implementation of the
Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) in 2002, the
European Integration Ministry said in a statement. #L#
Of 229 measures which were to be implemented in 2002, 209 were or are
almost implemented. A total of 356 measures are to be implemented by
the end of 2006, which means that a half, or 58%, of all measures
have been implemented so far.
The greatest progress was made with regard to political
requirements. Croatia has adopted a constitutional law on minority
rights, a law on the state radio and television is in parliamentary
procedure, cooperation with the Hague war crimes tribunal has
continued, the return of refugees has been accelerated and regional
cooperation has been strengthened. Issues such as minorities and
the media were approached through the adoption of laws, although
the settlement of issues such as minorities, as well as refugees and
the justice system is a long-term process requiring permanent work,
it is noted in the report.
As regards adjustment to the EU market, the free movement of goods
and trade liberalisation, Croatia has met all conditions from the
Memorandum on the Liberalisation and Facilitating of Trade within
the Stability Pact (the country has signed free trade agreements
with the countries of South-East Europe, passed a decree on customs
tariffs for 2003 and signed an agreement on joining the Central
European Free Trade Agreement).
With regard to the adjustment of the national legislation to the
EU's acquis communautaire, the parliament this year adopted a
national programme on joining the EU, it adopted or is about to
adopt laws on competition, state subsidies, public acquisitions,
consumer protection, changes to the Customs Law and various
technical legislation.
Priorities in 2003 include: the urgent implementation of measures
that were not implemented in 2002, the adoption of laws on state
subsidies, the speeding up of the process of property restitution,
the signing of a memorandum on power market and the strengthening of
the institutional ability of the bodies of state administration.
The overall assessment in the report is that the progress Croatia
made last year makes it a credible partner to the EU and that the
implementation of the SAA is an excellent basis for future
activities, i.e. the submission of a membership application.
(hina) rml sb