ZAGREB, Mar 9 (Hina) - European Commission (EC) commissioner for foreign affairs Chris Patten on Thursday said he hoped a EC technical mission would give a positive assessment of the situation in Croatia, thus enabling the
commencement of negotiations on Croatia's contractual relations with the European Union (EU). The EC Assessment Mission, visiting Croatia this week, is in charge of drafting an implementation study on Croatia's possibilities. Speaking to reporters after meeting Croatian Premier Ivica Racan, Patten said he hoped the Mission would be able to complete the study by the beginning of summer and that he strongly hoped it was going to be positive. In that case, the EC, with EU's consent, will be able to begin negotiations with Croatia on an agreement on stabilisation and association, he said. According to Patten, the EU's ambition was to improve co-operation with Croatia. This
ZAGREB, Mar 9 (Hina) - European Commission (EC) commissioner for
foreign affairs Chris Patten on Thursday said he hoped a EC
technical mission would give a positive assessment of the situation
in Croatia, thus enabling the commencement of negotiations on
Croatia's contractual relations with the European Union (EU).
The EC Assessment Mission, visiting Croatia this week, is in charge
of drafting an implementation study on Croatia's possibilities.
Speaking to reporters after meeting Croatian Premier Ivica Racan,
Patten said he hoped the Mission would be able to complete the study
by the beginning of summer and that he strongly hoped it was going to
be positive. In that case, the EC, with EU's consent, will be able to
begin negotiations with Croatia on an agreement on stabilisation
and association, he said.
According to Patten, the EU's ambition was to improve co-operation
with Croatia. This, he explained, was why the office of EC's high
representative in Zagreb should be upgraded already today.
Patten reminded the ambitions to commence EU-Croatia co-operation
had motivated frequent meetings between high-ranking EU
representatives with Croatian government officials.
He said this was the reason he was visiting Croatia for the second
time, the reason EC president Romano Prodi visited Croatia, and the
reason Croatian Premier Racan made a very successful visit to
Brussels. This is also the reason I earlier today invited Croatian
President Mesic to visit us in Brussels, he added.
Patten said he was sure Croatia's voters at parliamentary and
presidential elections earlier this year gave Europe an excellent
opportunity to place Croatia-EU relations on an entirely new
basis.
He added he was impressed by the government which he said seemed to
share the same values as the EU, was brave enough to come to grips
with a difficult economic heritage, bring the state in order, and
implement what was necessary for the Croatian people to advance as
it deserved.
In a brief statement to the press, Croatian Premier Racan said, "of
course, we know how much we ourselves have to do in Croatia. The
government has made an extensive and responsible programme in view
of rapprochement with the EU."
The Croatian government appreciates EU's willingness for co-
operation, Racan said, adding he was certain today's talks with
Patten would help in the realisation of what had been agreed on.
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