VIENNA, Dec 2 (Hina) - Croatia under no criteria belongs to the western Balkans from which it should be excluded, the European commissioner for EU enlargement, Guenther Verheugen, said in Vienna on Monday.
VIENNA, Dec 2 (Hina) - Croatia under no criteria belongs to the
western Balkans from which it should be excluded, the European
commissioner for EU enlargement, Guenther Verheugen, said in
Vienna on Monday. #L#
Verheugen spoke at the opening of an international conference
addressing the business influence of European Union enlargement
and the risks and opportunities of an expanded European market. The
event was organised by The Economist magazine. Among the
participants is Croatia's minister for European integration, Neven
Mimica.
Judged by individual achievements, Croatia should be in the second
EU enlargement wave, Verheugen told the conference, which pooled
senior officials of EU nations, the European Commission and
membership candidates, European integration ministers, and
representatives of renowned European and world financial companies
and corporations.
Expansion is the most important project of the EU's 15 nations, said
Verheugen.
He also said the western Balkans would not be tackled at, but after
an upcoming summit in Copenhagen.
Austrian chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel said the best way to achieve
peace, stability and democracy in Europe was to expand the EU to the
benefit of both member states and admission candidates.
Schuessel concurred Croatia should not be left waiting but viewed
as a possible candidate for negotiations in the second EU expansion
round.
(hina) ha sb