ZAGREB, Feb 25 (Hina) - Croatia will fulfil conditions for membership of the European Union by 2006, European Integration Minister Neven Mimica told a news conference on Tuesday.
ZAGREB, Feb 25 (Hina) - Croatia will fulfil conditions for
membership of the European Union by 2006, European Integration
Minister Neven Mimica told a news conference on Tuesday. #L#
"Croatia can be ready to become an EU member by the end of 2006,"
Mimica said and added that Zagreb would next year fulfil conditions
from the Stabilisation and Association Agreement it concluded with
the EU, which is the first step to associated membership.
Submitting its application for EU membership last week in Greece is
part of a procedure and Croatia still has to do a lot on its path
towards the EU, Mimica said.
He said Croatia stood good chances to gain an EU candidate status
within a year.
"In the next several months we will be preparing ourselves to answer
the questions of the European Commission so that this body can voice
its opinion on Croatia's application. We expect the EU Council of
Ministers to grant the mandate for forming the opinion on Croatia's
application to the Commission in April and an inquiry of some 1,000
questions to arrive in Croatia before the summer," Mimica said.
He said Croatia would be ready to give answers to those questions
even before the foreseen deadline of three months. The answers are
already being prepared, following the questions forwarded to
Slovenia, given that two thirds of the questions would be the same.
Mimica also commented on the results of the lobby tours Croatian
officials had conducted in EU member and candidate countries.
The joint assessment is that Croatia's application is accepted with
understanding, Mimica said.
He added the Iraqi crisis would not significantly affect the pace of
Croatia's joining the EU. The minister said the biggest problem in
Zagreb's bids to draw closer to Euro-Atlantic associations would be
the implementation of three issues -- the return of refugees,
cooperation with the UN war crimes tribunal and judiciary reform.
"Croatia understands how much effort is necessary to meet EU
conditions, but we are ready for that and we can meet them, "Mimica
concluded.
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