PARLIAMENT BEGINS DISCUSSION ON SAA

ZAGREB, Oct 24 (Hina) - A report by the European Integration Minister in the parliament on Wednesday marked the start of a discussion on the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) between Croatia and the European Union, whose signing has been announced for October 29 in Luxembourg. The benefits of the agreement and future associations will exceed the expenses, Minister Neven Mimica said, but warned that it was a well known fact that the expenses of adjusting to European legislature will be high. During his entire speech, Mimica accentuated the advantages of joining European associations, arguing it is the best option for Croatia. Citing examples of current EU members, the minister said the growth of the economy in Croatia as a member of the EU would be tripled by joining the organisation. The minister commented on five groups of objections mentioned in relation to the SAA. Firstly, there is the fear of Balkan associations. Mimica said he cannot give any guarantees, but the SAA text the two sides are to sign contains no provisions which could legally be interpreted in the sense of a creation of Balkan associations, which would, in fact, be a violation of the agreement with the EU. Croatia is prepared for regional cooperation, but not regional ties, Mimica stressed. The second criticism was that Croatia would have to transfer its sovereignty to the EU, which Mimica said was untrue, as this is only the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, not accession into the EU as full member. The third group of comments involves claims that the agreement does not fully regulate Croatia's status as a potential EU candidate. Mimica replied that no guarantees are given ahead. Croatia will have to struggle for the status of potential candidate with concrete actions, as had all members and candidates previously, he said. The minister also dismissed speculation about the government having avoided a public and parliamentary discussion and having made decisions about the SAA by overstepping its legal authority. He stressed the platform of the agreement was made public on the Internet, and the government had tried to inform as many institutions and individuals as possible with the document in the one-year period of negotiations. The minister also refuted the fifth group of objections that the EU would not be expanding any more as it is faced with the global fight against terrorism. In the present conditions, Croatia has no alternative to Europe and must bind itself to reforms because this is what is in its national and public interest, Mimica stressed. "More than 75 percent of Croatian citizens support Croatia's opting for Europe and joining European associations. We must thus begin the battle for reform and a better life in Croatia. We always have the option to cancel," Mimica asserted, adding the government was convinced that this would not occur because the European option was the best. (hina) lml sb