BRUSSELS, March 26 (Hina) - The European Commission on Wednesday released its second annual report on progress achieved by countries from the Stabilisation and Association Process, emphasising priorities which the governments of some
countries should focus on in the next twelve months.
BRUSSELS, March 26 (Hina) - The European Commission on Wednesday
released its second annual report on progress achieved by countries
from the Stabilisation and Association Process, emphasising
priorities which the governments of some countries should focus on
in the next twelve months. #L#
The part of the report on the political situation in Croatia notes
that Croatia should fully cooperate with the U.N. war crimes
tribunal in The Hague and implement a recently adopted strategy for
the reform of the judiciary.
Croatia should secure the implementation of a recently adopted
Constitutional Law on National Minorities and hold separate local
elections for minorities, reads the EC document.
With regard to the implementation of the Law on Croatian Radio-
Television (HRT), it is noted that the HRT should be enabled to
operate independently and that parliament should also adopt laws on
television and radio diffusion according to European standards.
Special attention is paid to refugees and the report notes that
Croatia should efficiently apply adopted legislation to complete
the process of property restitution and process repossession and
tenancy rights claims in and outside of areas of special state
concern. It is also pointed to the need for creating social and
economic conditions for improving the atmosphere for return and the
reintegration of returnees.
Croatia is advised to improve cooperation with the state ombudsman,
adopt an election law redefining Diaspora representation and
secure adequate minority representation.
Special emphasis in this section is placed on the need to draw up a
strategy for the protection and integration of Romanies.
The EC suggests concluding with Macedonia an agreement on a
bilateral convention and finding final solutions to outstanding
bilateral issues, particularly with Slovenia.
The EC believes that progress should be made in the fight against
corruption and in the application of the national programme and
legislation.
Croatia is advised to continue fiscal consolidation this year, stay
within budgetary limits, adopt new laws, including those on labour
and companies, and expand court capacity.
The EC calls for speeding up privatisation, particularly for
completing the partial privatisation of the national oil giant INA,
and for privatising the Croatian Power Company and the Croatian
Postal Bank. It suggests the further drastic reduction of the
Croatian Privatisation Fund's (HFP) portfolio in small and medium-
sized companies.
With the aim of implementing the Stabilisation and Association
Agreement, Croatia should continue adjusting domestic legislation
to EU standards, particularly legislation pertaining to trade, the
EC notes, enumerating individual laws that need adjustment.
The report notes the need to implement the National Programme on the
Fight Against Trade in Humans and the National Drug Abuse
Programme.
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