BARI, May 13 (Hina) - Virtually 60 percent of the 356 measures foreseen in the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between Croatia and the EU have been fulfilled, while the remainder will be by the end of 2004, whereby Croatia
wishes to show that it is capable of meeting all the conditions set for EU membership before the end of 2006, Premier Ivica Racan in Bari on Tuesday.
BARI, May 13 (Hina) - Virtually 60 percent of the 356 measures
foreseen in the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between
Croatia and the EU have been fulfilled, while the remainder will be
by the end of 2004, whereby Croatia wishes to show that it is capable
of meeting all the conditions set for EU membership before the end
of 2006, Premier Ivica Racan in Bari on Tuesday. #L#
"Croatia's determination and the commitment of Croatian citizens
to join the EU, with which in 2004 we will have a border extending
over more than a thousand kilometres, is a strong signal of hope in
the future, stability, development and a peaceful coexistence in
the entire region," Racan said at a meeting of the chiefs of state
and governments of the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative.
Croatia's European Union entry is supported in a joint declaration
the Initiative adopted at the end of the meeting. Racan stressed the
significance of Greece's current and Italy's future chairing of the
EU because both are members of the Initiative.
Racan said he believed the historical project of EU expansion had to
continue so that all European countries could one day become
members and in that way consistently justify its name.
"Vital for Croatia is any initiative envisaging peace and
stability, the development of regional cooperation and good
neighbourly relations, the free movement of its people, goods, and
capital, and the establishment of political dialogue, free trade
zones, traffic and entrepreneurship, cooperation in the judiciary
and interior affairs, culture and environmental protection," said
Racan.
He pointed to the importance of the Adriatic-Ionian Highway project
and called on the European Commission to see for itself the
justification and need for the highway to be built.
The Bari meeting was the first summit of the Adriatic-Ionian
Initiative. Until now meetings were held at the ministerial level.
Italy completed its presidency of the Initiative in Bari and
Slovenia took over.
(hina) sp ha