GOVT. ADOPTS NATIONAL PROGRAMME FOR INTEGRATION WITH EU

ZAGREB, Dec 12 (Hina) - The Croatian government on Thursday unanimously adopted a national programme for integration with the European Union for 2003. #L# Government officials adopted two conclusions proposed by Prime Minister Ivica Racan. Racan proposed that the parliament call an extraordinary session for next week, possibly on December 18, at which it should adopt the programme by consensus. The government has also requested the parliament to adopt a resolution conveying the readiness of all parties to cooperate in the programme and defining the deadline for the submission of an application for EU membership. This, Racan said, should be done by the end of February next year. The programme was presented by European Integration Minister Neven Mimica. Mimica said that the programme analysed Croatia's current position regarding adjustment to EU standards, and in a systematic and comprehensive way defined the obligations of the government and all bodies of state administration, thus becoming a "binding guide". The programme includes the names of personnel in the state administration responsible for the job, with their phone numbers and duties, Mimica said. Mimica said that the government would adopt a new programme every year. "I believe that we have finally adopted a document which can bring about a general consensus on the dynamics and nature of tasks that must be completed so we could speed up our integration with the EU," Mimica said. He explained that countries which were candidates for EU membership had such programmes, but they adopted them only after they had been granted the status of candidates. Croatia is probably the only non-candidate which has such a programme at such an early stage of adjustment to EU standards, he added. PM Racan said the programme was a basis for all activities within the process of implementation of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement. (hina) rml