COUNCIL OF MINISTERS: STUDY ON NEGOTIATIONS WITH CROATIA FOR JUNE

LUXEMBOURG, April 10 (Hina) - European Union foreign ministers on Monday urged the European Commission to prepare a study on the feasibility of opening negotiations on an agreement on stabilisation and association with Croatia for the Council of Ministers' June meeting. The Council is satisfied with the results of a visit a ministerial troika made to Zagreb on March 28, and applauds the resolute engagement of Croatia's government to effect political and economic reforms, and will continue to do so, the Council of Ministers said in Monday's statement from its April sessions in Luxembourg. The Council has called on the European Commission to submit a study on the feasibility of opening negotiations for signing an agreement on stabilisation and association with Croatia in time for discussion at the Council's June meeting. In the statement, the EU Council of Ministers expresses its highest appreciation for the willingness Croatia has demonstrated to fully participate in regional co-operation and continue working on normalising relations with its neighbours. In that respect, the Council applauded Croatian President Stipe Mesic's recent visit to Bosnia-Herzegovina, and a joint statement aimed at facilitating refugee returns by Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula and Bosnian Serb Premier Milorad Dodik. The Council hopes the statement will be implemented in full. (hina) ha mm