BRIJUNI, Sept 9 (Hina) - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic voiced confidence on Tuesday there would be a new wave of European Union enlargement around 2007.
BRIJUNI, Sept 9 (Hina) - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic voiced
confidence on Tuesday there would be a new wave of European Union
enlargement around 2007. #L#
Addressing the two-day "Northern Europe-Southern Europe" economy
forum at the Brijuni Isles, Mesic, speaking about Croatia's bids to
join the EU, said the economy must be crucial in the association of
new transition countries into the EU.
He said Croatia's advantage lay in the fact that it could meet the
economic requirements for admission to the Union on the level of
countries joining next year as well as of candidates for the second
enlargement round -- Bulgaria and Romania.
Mesic said that despite a high economic growth rate with a low
inflation recorded last year, there was no satisfaction with what
had been achieved.
"The economic growth is the result of domestic demand, not export.
Croatia must keep the current payments deficit under control," the
president said, adding that he advocated a development policy in
which export was the lever of economic growth.
Mesic also advocated more cooperation in international relations,
saying this was very important for the linking of all parts of
Europe. He asserted mutual understanding and economic cooperation
had no alternative.
Mesic also spoke of Croatia's economic cooperation with countries
in northern Europe, announcing he would visit Sweden and Finland
before the end of the year.
The "Northern Europe-Southern Europe" economy forum, which wrapped
up today, pooled about 80 participants from 22 states who discussed
the region's European prospects.
(hina) ha