BRUSSELS, April 4 (Hina) - A Croatian parliamentary delegation and the European parliament's standing delegation for inter-parliamentary co-operation with Southeast Europe countries ended a meeting in Brussels on Tuesday by releasing
a joint statement on the results of the two-day talks.
BRUSSELS, April 4 (Hina) - A Croatian parliamentary delegation and
the European parliament's standing delegation for inter-
parliamentary co-operation with Southeast Europe countries ended a
meeting in Brussels on Tuesday by releasing a joint statement on the
results of the two-day talks.#L#
The statement, signed by Croatian delegation head Ivo Skrabalo and
Doris Pack, the head of the European parliament's standing
delegation, gives an extensive overview of the positions taken
during the talks and of the opinions the two delegations exchanged
on Croatia's political and economic situation, Croatia's relations
with the European Union (EU), and the situation in the region.
Both sides have expressed satisfaction with Croatia's willingness
to respect its international obligations, among which are the
abandonment of all forms of ethnic discrimination in the legal
system and practice, the implementation of the Dayton peace
agreements, co-operation with the war crimes tribunal in The Hague,
and orientation to strengthen co-operation with neighbours.
Support has been given to Croatia's efforts to carry out reforms
which, says the statement, will lead to further democratisation in
the country and its integration with Euro-Atlantic structures.
Croatia's access to the World Trade Organisation has also been
supported.
The two parliamentary delegations have voiced their concern at the
possibility that a higher unemployment rate and stagnation in
industrial production could endanger democratisation processes in
Croatia.
The part of the statement speaking about Croatia's relations with
the EU welcomes co-operation within a joint EU-Croatia task force.
The parliamentarians advocate an individual evaluation of
countries in the region in their approaching the EU, expecting that
a European Commission feasibility study on the commencement of
negotiations with Croatia on an agreement on stabilisation and
association will be ready by summer.
The statement encourages EU companies to invest in Croatia, and
calls on governments to contribute to creating a positive climate
for investments.
Judging that foreign investments could be the most significant
source of Croatia's economic revival, the parliamentarians have
called on the EU Council of Ministers to give the European
Investment Bank a mandate to operate in Croatia.
The statement also supports Croatia's goal to join NATO's
Partnership for Peace programme.
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