ZAGREB, Dec 18 (Hina) - Premier Ivica Racan on Wednesday called on the Croatian parliament to support by consensus a national programme for the country's association with the European Union and thus "decisively define and support a
long-term reform process" the aim of which is to enable Croatia to join the EU by 2007.
ZAGREB, Dec 18 (Hina) - Premier Ivica Racan on Wednesday called on
the Croatian parliament to support by consensus a national
programme for the country's association with the European Union and
thus "decisively define and support a long-term reform process" the
aim of which is to enable Croatia to join the EU by 2007. #L#
Speaking on behalf of the government, which last week adopted the
national programme for association with the EU, Racan proposed that
MPs back the said programme, adopt a plan for adjusting the national
legislation with "the EU acquis communautaire" for 2003, support
plans for submitting an application for EU membership until the end
of February 2003 and to pass a resolution enabling the Sabor to
become "a participant in everything that should be done in the
process of joining the EU".
The national programme, according to the premier, is "a clear and
precise action plan for the harmonised and organised
implementation of Europe-oriented reforms".
The programme determines Croatia's own dynamics and contents of the
adjustment process based on an objective assessment of its own
potential, Racan said.
He called on parties to stand behind the national project so as to
"exclude this goal and its accomplishment from pre-election and
post-election struggles".
Speaking of the schedule of moves within this "ambitious but
actually feasible plan", Racan said that in February 2003 Croatia
would apply for membership in the EU so that by mid-2004 it could be
given the status of a candidate and start negotiations on
association.
By the end of 2006 Croatia should be ready for membership and wrap up
the negotiations, having met the political, democratic, economic,
legal and institutional criteria set in Copenhagen.
He said that it would not be too early to apply for membership next
February and that "the hastiness is not for its own sake" but was the
result of analyses and consultations. The application will
strengthen Croatia's negotiating position and role in
international relations, he added.
By next February Zagreb will be able to show that it has honoured the
obligations it has undertaken such as "the protection of minority
rights, the strengthening of the function of public television and
cooperation with the Hague-based UN tribunal". Croatia has defined
ways for the settlement of the two remaining political pre-
conditions: the judicial reform and the return of refugees, Racan
said.
(hina) ms sb