FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR EU-CROATIA NEGOTIATIONS EXPECTED IN JUNE

BRUSSELS, April 7 (Hina) - The European Union Council of Ministers, scheduled to convene in Luxembourg on Monday, will request of the European Commission to submit a feasibility study on initiating negotiations with Croatia on the Stabilisation and Association Agreement in two months, at the July session of the EU Ministerial Council. #L# This suggestion to the member countries' foreign ministers was prepared at the level of permanent representatives of the 15 countries in Brussels, EU's official sources said on Friday. As part of an extended agenda, the EU will discuss relations with countries of the South East of Europe, the "western Balkans". It has been announced that participants would discuss Croatia based on a report on the recent visit of the ministerial Troika on March 28. The Troika left Zagreb with positive assessments about the course of the new Croatian Government's realisation of political and economic reforms, as well as Croatia's readiness to cooperate and normalise relations with neighbouring countries, particularly Bosnia-Herzegovina. The formal call on the European Commission to complete its feasibility study on negotiations with Croatia by the June session means that the start of talks could be expected this autumn. Upon submitting the feasibility study as envisaged by standard procedure, the EU Council of Ministers should in the next phase formally request of the European Commission to draw up a motion of the EU's negotiating programme. The Council of Ministers should confirm the Commission's mandate for negotiations with Croatia. This will be followed by more concrete talks on the date of their commencement. Open negotiations on the Stability and Association Agreement have begun with Macedonia on Wednesday. (hina) lml mm