CRO, BELGIAN PRIME MINISTERS SIGN THREE INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS

BRUSSELS, Oct 31 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan and his Belgian counterpart Guy Verhovstadt signed three bilateral agreements, which will enable the strengthening of further cooperation between the two countries, in Brussels on Wednesday. The two prime minister signed agreements on the encouragement and protection of investments, the prevention of double taxation and social insurance. Racan and Verhovstadt told a news conference they would soon sign an agreement on cooperation between the two countries' police forces. When asked whether Croatia would be invited to a conference on Europe's future, to be organised by the European Union in the near future, Verhovstadt said it would be difficult to organise a convention which would, along with 15 member countries, be attended by 13 candidates for full membership. I think the EU must try to establish new instruments in order to be able to conduct direct dialogue on Europe's future with countries signatories to a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA), Verhovstadt said, estimating Europe would most probably have over 30 members in the next decade. (hina) it