BRUSSELS: CROATIA, EC HOLD CONSULTATIONS OVER QUESTIONNAIRE

BRUSSELS, Sept 23 (Hina) - A Croatian delegation held technical consultations with the European Commission (EC) in Brussels over Monday and Tuesday in connection with the completion of Croatia's answers to an EC questionnaire based on which the EC will define its opinion of Croatia's application for European Union membership. #L# The delegation comprising 15 experts from various areas, headed by Assistant European Integration Minister Tamara Obradovic, held talks with officials of EC directorates general and the inter- department commission drafting the opinion (avis). The Croatian delegation outlined a detailed overview of how work on the 4,560-query questionnaire was carried out, the result of which was that the government had the final answers ready in five weeks' time. The consultations focused on technical questions to which Croatia will give negative answers because it does not operate with required systems or does not keep required statistical data. "We outlined the difficulties that will be evident when they start reading the answers," said Obradovic, adding that the negative answers would be accompanied by explanations and measures that were taken to eliminate such "grey zones". She said this referred to 10- 15 percent of the questionnaire. EC officials said those were difficulties typical of countries in transition and they were familiar with the problem. The answers will be delivered by Prime Minister Ivica Racan at the EC headquarters on October 9. The Commission will check the replies against data of international organisations Croatia is a member of, for example the International Monetary Fund, as well as of other sources. The avis will be finalised next March and then put to the 15 EU nations and the Council of Ministers for consideration, Michael Leigh, which heads the inter-department commission for the avis, said yesterday. (hina) ha