VERHEUGEN: CROATIA ALREADY CLOSE TO EU, PROSPECTS ARE EXCELLENT

DAVOS, Jan 26 (Hina) - Croatia is already very close to the European Union and has excellent prospects to make up for stalling in integration into European structures, the European Union's commissioner for enlargement, Guenther Verheugen, said on Friday.#L# Verheugen took part in a Davos, Switzerland debate on the second transition in Central and East Europe with the transition countries' representatives, Croatian President Stipe Mesic among them. Croatia is already very close to the EU because it is a potential candidate, an active member of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe, and is negotiating a Stabilisation and Association Agreement, and I believe we will wrap up the negotiations very soon, Verheugen told reporters before meeting Mesic. He stressed a decision on submitting a request for EU membership had to be made by Croatia itself. The possibilities that Croatia make up for lost steps in integration with European structures are excellent, Verheugen said, adding the EU could only encourage Croatia to pursue with internal structural reforms and prepare for submitting the admission request and finally, membership in the EU. Mesic is in Davos attending the World Economic Forum. (hina) ha