ZAGREB, Mar 6 (Hina) - Following a meeting with the head of the European Commission's Technical Mission for evaluation, Fabrizio Barbaso on Monday, Croatia's European Integration Minister Ivan Jakovcic expressed hope Croatia would
sign an agreement on stabilisation and association with the European Union in the first half of 2001. "This is the beginning of the first real, serious and difficult negotiations between Croatia and the European Union," said Jakovcic. He expressed belief that the EC Mission would obtain the right information during this and future visits to Croatia and recommend to the EU Council of Ministers to start negotiations which could result in the signing of an agreement on stabilisation and association in the first half of 2001. "I am confident that we will prove that Croatia can meet the key EU requirements," Jakovcic emphasised. Barbaso said that a new period in EU-Croatia relat
ZAGREB, Mar 6 (Hina) - Following a meeting with the head of the
European Commission's Technical Mission for evaluation, Fabrizio
Barbaso on Monday, Croatia's European Integration Minister Ivan
Jakovcic expressed hope Croatia would sign an agreement on
stabilisation and association with the European Union in the first
half of 2001.
"This is the beginning of the first real, serious and difficult
negotiations between Croatia and the European Union," said
Jakovcic. He expressed belief that the EC Mission would obtain the
right information during this and future visits to Croatia and
recommend to the EU Council of Ministers to start negotiations
which could result in the signing of an agreement on stabilisation
and association in the first half of 2001. "I am confident that we
will prove that Croatia can meet the key EU requirements," Jakovcic
emphasised.
Barbaso said that a new period in EU-Croatia relations had begun
since the January parliamentary elections. The purpose of the visit
of the EC Mission is to gather information and material which would
be used in preparing a report (Feasibility Study), on the basis of
which the EU Council of Ministers will this autumn decide about
starting negotiations on the signing of the agreement on
stabilisation and association.
The second goal of the EC Mission is to determine, in cooperation
with the Croatian government, the needs and priorities for EU's
future assistance in the implementation of announced reforms by the
new Croatian government, said Barbaso, adding he was expecting with
great interest the fulfilment of first European instructions
agreed on during the visit of a government delegation to Brussels in
February. The government has prepared a very stimulating programme
for the implementation of those instructions.
Barbaso announced that European commissioner for foreign policy
Chris Patten would visit Zagreb on Thursday. Patten and his hosts
will discuss the future cooperation between the EU and Croatia.
(hina) mm rml