EUROPEAN COMMISSION'S SERVICES PASS FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR TALKS WITH CROATIA

ZAGREB, May 24 (Hina) - The European Commission's expert services on Wednesday afternoon adopted a Feasibility Study for the commencement of negotiations with Croatia on the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, and forwarded the study into a further procedure, said a spokesman for Croatia's Foreign Ministry today. "The Croatian diplomacy has been informed by the European Commission's expert services that the Feasibility Study has been accepted for the start of the negotiations with the Republic of Croatia on the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, the spokesman Goran Rotim was quoted by Hina as saying. Expert services of the European Union's executive body have sent the document into the further procedure, Rotim added. On Wednesday morning, the European Commission postponed the final adoption of the study due to several technical amendments and ordered the elaboration of the text. "Croatia is exceptionally satisfied with the speed of the process in which its relations with the European Union are being improved and strengthened," Rotim assessed and added that first steps of this process were the completion of the procedure of the passage of the Feasibility Study. The EU Ministerial Council is excepted to adopt the Feasibility Study at its session, scheduled for 12-13 June. By the adoption of the document, the Council will give a mandate to the European Commission for launching the negotiations with Zagreb. The official commencement of the negotiations cannot be expected before autumn, according to the Croatian Foreign Ministry. (hina) jn ms