ZAGREB: COMMITTEE SUPERVISING IMPLEMENTATION OF PROVISIONAL AGREEMENT HOLDS SESSION

ZAGREB, April 19 (Hina) - A provisional committee, set up to supervise the implementation of the Provisional Agreement on Trade-related Issues between Croatia and the European Union, held its first meeting in Zagreb on Friday. #L# The head of the European Commission's General Directorate for External Relations, Reinhard Priebe, told journalists that the meeting tackled the political and economic situation in Croatia. There was also mention of some points in a recent EC report on Croatia's progress in implementing the Stabilisation and Association Agreement. This refers primarily to those areas in which, as noted in the report, not enough progress has been made, such as the judiciary and refugee returns. The meeting also touched on questions relating to trade relations between Croatia and the EU, such as sugar exports, as well as other areas covered by the Agreement, like traffic and transit, he said. The committee consists of representatives of the EC and Croatian authorities. Its duty is to supervise the application and implementation of the Provisional Agreement on Trade-related Issues. The committee should meet once a year while its sub- committees should meet more frequently. The next such meeting is scheduled for June this year. (hina) sp sb