ZAGREB, May 23 (Hina) - An agreement on stabilisation and association which Croatia should sign with the European Union in the first half of 2001 at the latest means for Croatian authorities the start of "difficult but sweet"
negotiations with Brussels, European Integration Minister Ivan Jakovcic said in Zagreb on Tuesday.
ZAGREB, May 23 (Hina) - An agreement on stabilisation and
association which Croatia should sign with the European Union in
the first half of 2001 at the latest means for Croatian authorities
the start of "difficult but sweet" negotiations with Brussels,
European Integration Minister Ivan Jakovcic said in Zagreb on
Tuesday. #L#
"I expect Croatia will sign the Agreement on Stabilisation and
Association in the first half of next year at the latest thus
opening wide the door to difficult but sweet negotiations on full
membership," Jakovcic said in an interview with Hina.
It is expected that the European Commission will on Wednesday in
Brussels adopt a feasibility study on the start of talks on the
agreement on stabilisation and association between Croatia and the
EU. After that, the study should be adopted by the EU Council of
Ministers on June 13.
According to Jakovcic, Zagreb should experience a process of
accelerated drawing closer to the EU and possibly catch up with or
even overtake some other countries which are already waiting to be
admitted in the first and second round of EU expansion.
I believe that Croatia deserves a 'fast track' policy, i.e. to be
allowed to go as fast as it can and deserves to, because of the
Government's achievements in the first 100 days of its work,"
Jakovcic said.
Asked whether his recent statement that Croatia would be ready for
admission to the EU as early as 2006 was too optimistic, the
Minister said he was talking about Croatia's readiness and not
about Europe's political will to invite Croatia.
"Confident that in the meantime we would implement all the
necessary legal adjustments, I said that Croatia would be ready for
full membership in 2006 and surprise everyone in Europe with its
economy," he added.
The signing of the agreement on stabilisation and association means
two things for Croatia - "a clear political distinction from
everything that in political terms is considered the Balkans, and a
strong economic growth."
"Obviously, we are becoming part of the European family and leaving
the region's fate behind. The Croatian government has made it clear
that it is ready for cooperation with all countries of South-East
Europe but we will in no way agree to cooperation with the current
regime in Belgrade," he stressed.
Signing the agreement on stabilisation and association should also
enable Croatia's economy and all branches which depend on it -
science, culture, education and sports - to experience an
accelerated growth.
(hina) mm rml