ZAGREB, Nov 6 (Hina) - Croatia should not miss the opportunity to prove itself in the implementation of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) so it could run as candidate for full membership in the EU by 2004, Croatian
European Integration Minister Neven Mimica said on Tuesday. Speaking at a diplomatic forum at the Institute for International Relations (IMO) dedicated to the process of European integration and relations between Croatia and the European Union, Mimica recalled that the first wave of expansion of the EU should occur by the end of 2004, and added that Croatia must use the opportunity to find its position among candidates in the second wave of expansion. "The EU and its inter-government conference should by the end of 2004 draw a clear picture of the strategy of development and expansion of the EU. This is Croatia's opportunity to prove, by successfully implementing the SAA, that it
ZAGREB, Nov 6 (Hina) - Croatia should not miss the opportunity to
prove itself in the implementation of the Stabilisation and
Association Agreement (SAA) so it could run as candidate for full
membership in the EU by 2004, Croatian European Integration
Minister Neven Mimica said on Tuesday.
Speaking at a diplomatic forum at the Institute for International
Relations (IMO) dedicated to the process of European integration
and relations between Croatia and the European Union, Mimica
recalled that the first wave of expansion of the EU should occur by
the end of 2004, and added that Croatia must use the opportunity to
find its position among candidates in the second wave of
expansion.
"The EU and its inter-government conference should by the end of
2004 draw a clear picture of the strategy of development and
expansion of the EU. This is Croatia's opportunity to prove, by
successfully implementing the SAA, that it can fulfil its ambitious
goal set by the government, that is, to become ready for full
membership by the end of 2006," Mimica said.
The diplomatic forum has gathered diplomats accredited in Croatia,
experts for international relations and participants of current
political processes.
Speaking about the process of ratification of the SAA in
parliament, the minister said the government's intention was to ask
for the ratification through ordinary, not a two-third majority of
votes.
"The reasons have both a political and legal basis. The SAA will in
any way transfer Croatia's sovereignty or constitutional
jurisdiction to some supranational bodies, therefore,
ratification by a two-third majority of votes is not necessary," he
said.
In his speech, the minister again stressed that the SAA does not
request of Croatia to multilaterally connect with its neighbours in
Europe's South-East.
"Croatia has decisively drawn the line. We are prepared to
contribute to the stabilisation of the region and cooperate on a
bilateral level, which the SAA requests. Any multilateral
arrangements, such as a customs union, are out of the question.
Instead, the issue is about bilateral agreements which would, for
example, regulate free trade," Neven Mimica said.
He said there was a possibility that the Central European Free Trade
Agreement expands to countries of Europe's South-East, and this
expanding the free trade zone which would, at one time, include some
members of the European Union, currently candidates for
membership.
(hina) lml