ZAGREB, Feb 10 (Hina) - Commenting on the upcoming meetings of Premier Ivica Racan and Foreign Minister Tonino Picula with officials of Euro-Atlantic associations in Brussels, Ivan Jakovcic announced the establishment of a joint
working consultative group, also known as the Task Force. In regard to that, Jakovcic said Foreign Ministry officials will on February 14 and 15 hold talks on political requirements in Brussels, whereas his ministry will take over the part of responsibilities which refer to 'the concrete adjustment to EU conditions." Of other steps which will be taken in the area of Croatia's European integration, Jakovcic announced a visit of a 'fact-finding' mission to Croatia in March and the drawing up of a study in cooperation with the European Commission on Croatia's readiness to resume talks aimed at its integration to the EU and the feasibility of that process. The study should be drawn u
ZAGREB, Feb 10 (Hina) - Commenting on the upcoming meetings of
Premier Ivica Racan and Foreign Minister Tonino Picula with
officials of Euro-Atlantic associations in Brussels, Ivan Jakovcic
announced the establishment of a joint working consultative group,
also known as the Task Force.
In regard to that, Jakovcic said Foreign Ministry officials will on
February 14 and 15 hold talks on political requirements in
Brussels, whereas his ministry will take over the part of
responsibilities which refer to 'the concrete adjustment to EU
conditions."
Of other steps which will be taken in the area of Croatia's European
integration, Jakovcic announced a visit of a 'fact-finding'
mission to Croatia in March and the drawing up of a study in
cooperation with the European Commission on Croatia's readiness to
resume talks aimed at its integration to the EU and the feasibility
of that process. The study should be drawn up in spring.
If everything goes as planned, Jakovcic said, talks on the signing
of an Agreement on Stabilisation and Association should start in
autumn and the agreement could be signed several months later.
"After that, the door to our full membership will be opened and that
process will last several years," Jakovcic said.
Jakovcic wanted to emphasise the fact that these were the first
projected deadlines but their fulfilment would not depend only on
the Ministry of European Integration or even only on Croatia but
also on the EU's future strategy of expansion and its policy toward
Croatia.
"By presenting the clear deadline that we want to achieve, we are
saying to our partners indirectly that we are very interested in
meeting all the requirements as soon as possible so that they could
start paying attention to Croatia as much as possible," Jakovcic
said.
Jakovcic said he was very optimistic regarding Croatia's admission
into the first group of countries wishing to access the EU, however,
he reminded reporters of his earlier stands that "Croatia should be
in the EU by the year 2006" as well as of announcements that Croatia
could have "some special status" in that process.
(hina) rml