VIENNA, Dec 2 (Hina) - Croatia wishes to submit an application for full membership in the European Union as soon as possible, Croatian European Integration Minister Neven Mimica said at an international conference entitled "The
Influence of the Expansion of the EU on Business - Risks and Opportunities to Expand the European Market", which is being held in Vienna Monday.
VIENNA, Dec 2 (Hina) - Croatia wishes to submit an application for
full membership in the European Union as soon as possible, Croatian
European Integration Minister Neven Mimica said at an
international conference entitled "The Influence of the Expansion
of the EU on Business - Risks and Opportunities to Expand the
European Market", which is being held in Vienna Monday. #L#
Mimica spoke about Croatia's expectations and ambitions in the
coming months, particularly in the first half of next year when, as
he said, "we expect the EU to advance the process of stabilisation
and association".
He advocated the concept of regional candidates within which
current potential candidates would move on to having status of
future candidates according to criteria of individual
preparations, achievements and deserves.
"Everything said at the conference gives us hope and diminishes the
doubt about what the European Commission's reaction to Croatia's
application for membership will be," Mimica said.
In his introductory speech, Special Coordinator for the Stability
Pact Erhard Busek expressed great support to Croatia's efforts on
its way to the EU.
He said that his advice to Croatia was to submit its application as
soon as possible and initiate the process that it deserves, the
process of accelerating Croatia's path to the EU regardless of the
pace other countries in Southeast Europe are moving with.
(hina) sp it sb