ZAGREB, April 17 (Hina) - The Croatian government on Thursday welcomed the April 14 decision of the European Union's Council of Ministers to forward Croatia's application for EU membership to the European Commission for
evaluation.
ZAGREB, April 17 (Hina) - The Croatian government on Thursday
welcomed the April 14 decision of the European Union's Council of
Ministers to forward Croatia's application for EU membership to the
European Commission for evaluation. #L#
"Aware that this decision confirms the European prospects of the
Republic of Croatia and facilitates the process of its drawing
closer to the EU, the Government intends to continue adequately
implementing the Stabilisation and Association Agreement and the
provisional agreement on trade-related issues. The Government also
conveys the readiness of all competent ministries to invest the
necessary efforts into preparing timely and adequate answers to the
questions the European Commission is to forward to the Republic of
Croatia, so that it could evaluate its EU membership application,"
reads a government statement welcoming the EU Council of Ministers'
decision.
The government has also stated that obligations concerning some 50
reform laws, which are to be forwarded into parliamentary
procedure, are its first priority. The government has entrusted the
European Integration Ministry with preparing a detailed plan of
activities, so that each ministry could start fulfilling its share
of obligations towards the EU as soon as possible.
Vice-Premier Goran Granic recalled that three years ago the
government had defined its main goal - integration into Euro-
Atlantic associations. Over the past year years, the government has
won the confidence of its partners and Croatia's future integration
with Europe will depend on its abilities, he said.
European Integration Minister Neven Mimica welcomed Croatia's
achievements on the path to the EU. "I can guarantee that we are not
only able to answer the questionnaire, but also to meet the EU
membership criteria by the end of 2006," he said.
Government members agreed in a debate that the EC's evaluation of
Croatia's application would not depend only on the EC, but also on
Croatia's pace in answering the questionnaire. Finance Minister
Mato Crkvenac said summer holidays would have to be adjusted to
those plans and voiced confidence that answers to the questionnaire
would be prepared by the autumn.
(hina) rml