BRUSSELS, May 16 (Hina) - A feasibility study for negotiations between the European Union and Croatia, the first draft of which has been completed and positive, should be adopted by the European Commission on 24 May, and approved by
the Council of Ministers at its regular session, due to be on 13 June. The European Commission completed the feasibility study's first draft with the positive conclusion on a possibility of launching negotiations with Croatia on stabilisation and association, diplomatic sources in Brussels said on Tuesday. At the moment, the document is going through regular internal consultations in the European Commission and is being prepared for the Commission's regular session on 24 May. If the Ministerial Council confirms the Commission's positive findings in June, this will mean that political consent is given for opening negotiations, but the negotiations may formally begin in
BRUSSELS, May 16 (Hina) - A feasibility study for negotiations
between the European Union and Croatia, the first draft of which has
been completed and positive, should be adopted by the European
Commission on 24 May, and approved by the Council of Ministers at
its regular session, due to be on 13 June.
The European Commission completed the feasibility study's first
draft with the positive conclusion on a possibility of launching
negotiations with Croatia on stabilisation and association,
diplomatic sources in Brussels said on Tuesday.
At the moment, the document is going through regular internal
consultations in the European Commission and is being prepared for
the Commission's regular session on 24 May.
If the Ministerial Council confirms the Commission's positive
findings in June, this will mean that political consent is given for
opening negotiations, but the negotiations may formally begin in
autumn.
Besides a decision on accepting the feasibility study, the Council
of Ministers should ask the Commission to prepare a draft mandate
for the negotiations with Croatia.
Then at July's session, which will be the last one before summer
holidays, the Council of Ministers can give the Commission the
mandate for negotiations.
Following consultations with EU member-states and talks in the
European Parliament, the Commission is to begin drafting its
concrete draft agreement. After that Zagreb receives it to respond
to the document and give its proposals.
Croatian diplomats in Brussels described it as a regular procedure
but it would allow the two parties to sit at the joint table not
before October.
"All is proceeding in an accelerated manner but their initial
procedure must pass all stages," Croatian sources added.
In the case of Macedonia, the EU Council of Ministers adopted a
feasibility study about negotiations on stabilisation and
association in July 1999, while the negotiations were officially
opened in April 2000.
(hina) mm ms