BRUSSELS, Feb 24 (Hina) - Greek Foreign Minister Georgios Papandreou said in Brussels on Monday that the Greek European Union Presidency would put on the agenda Croatia's application for membership in the EU as soon as at the next
session of the Council of Ministers in March.
BRUSSELS, Feb 24 (Hina) - Greek Foreign Minister Georgios
Papandreou said in Brussels on Monday that the Greek European Union
Presidency would put on the agenda Croatia's application for
membership in the EU as soon as at the next session of the Council of
Ministers in March. #L#
If the Council of Ministers agrees, the European Commission will be
asked to draw up an assessment on Croatia's application, Papandreou
said in response to reporters' questions after today's meeting
between the EU Troika and Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula.
But, at the beginning of the news conference, Papandreou said the
Croatian application would be put on the agenda in the coming
months.
Croatian diplomatic sources say it is not very likely the
application will be debated at the Council of Ministers session on
March 18 and 19. The Council will most probably wait for a regular
European Commission annual report on the progress of countries from
the Stabilisation and Association Process, announced for late
March.
It is more probable that the application will be discussed in April
or May, say the sources.
European Commission's commissioner for foreign affairs Chris
Patten said the Commission, once it received the green light from
the Council of Ministers, would treat the Croatian application in
the same manner as those of other candidates.
It usually takes about a year or less to draw up an assessment.
Croatia will be treated in the same manner as all other candidates -
- professionally and enthusiastically -- Patten said at the press
conference.
According to the procedure, Croatia's application, which Prime
Minister Ivica Racan handed to the Greek Presidency of the EU in
Athens last week, is first put on the agenda of the Council of
Ministers, which then asks of the Commission to voice its stance on
the candidacy. The Commission's opinion and recommendations are
returned to the Council, which either accepts or dismisses them.
Only if the reply is positive can the applying country be considered
a candidate, which, if everything goes well in Croatia's case,
could happen in the first half of next year.
Papandreou, who chairs the Council of Ministers, once again
applauded Croatia's application, which, he said, symbolised not
only the wish of Croatia, but the entire region, to become part of
the EU.
He stressed all countries in the region would be assessed according
to their own merits and achievements.
Picula said that the meeting, held as part of regular political
dialogue between Croatia and the EU, focused on bilateral
relations, the situation in the region and the Iraqi crisis.
"We discussed open issues and how to solve them," said Picula,
mentioning the country's cooperation with the U.N. war crimes
tribunal, the return of refugees and the restitution of their
property.
Asked which steps the government intended to take with regard to
cooperation with the tribunal, Picula said "Croatia already has a
firm, open and frank cooperation with the tribunal," and added
Croatia had met 97% of the prosecution's requests.
Regarding the case of General Janko Bobetko, Picula said the
tribunal was waiting for an official report by the tribunal's
medical experts, who had confirmed the findings of Croatian doctors
about the general's health. He expressed hope that General Ante
Gotovina, who is on the run, would be arrested.
"This is a very important issue for us because we know that
Croatia's future in Europe is at stake. We want to continue
cooperating and maintain good relations with the tribunal," said
Picula.
(hina) lml