ZAGREB, May 25 (Hina) - The European Commission adopted a feasibility study on negotiations with Croatia on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) and recommended that the European Union Council of Ministers give the green
light for the commencement of those talks, reported the European Commission's Delegation in Zagreb on Thursday. The European Commission passed the report on the feasibility study, in Brussels on Wednesday evening.
ZAGREB, May 25 (Hina) - The European Commission adopted a
feasibility study on negotiations with Croatia on a Stabilisation
and Association Agreement (SAA) and recommended that the European
Union Council of Ministers give the green light for the
commencement of those talks, reported the European Commission's
Delegation in Zagreb on Thursday.
The European Commission passed the report on the feasibility study,
in Brussels on Wednesday evening. #L#
The Commission endorsed positive assessments in the study, and
added that the new Croatian Government had recorded substantial
progress in the areas of politics and economy as well as in
technical issues.
The Commission also drew a conclusion that the EU should start
negotiations on Croatia's association.
"Consequently, on the basis of this report and in particular taking
into account the considerable progress noted under the new
Government, the Commission considers that the conditions for the
opening of negotiations for a SAA with Croatia are met," it said.
"Therefore, the Commission recommends to the EU Council to
authorise the opening of the negotiations and will shortly present
a proposal for negotiating directives for a Stabilisation and
Association Agreement with the Republic of Croatia," read a
statement.
In the political context, the new Government in Zagreb is
"committed to full democratisation and long-term stabilisation of
Croatia and has already started serious work in finding appropriate
solutions to earlier political shortcomings," it read.
"Substantial progress can be reported in politically sensitive
areas of concern such as refugee and displaced people return, full
cooperation with the ICTY, improved regional cooperation and
democratisation of media," it added.
The Commission, however, said that political stability in the
country would be needed to continue this important reform process.
First encouraging steps have been taken in the economic sector,
"although the Croatian economy continues to face problems. The
Government is committed to tackling the structural problems and is
working on urgent adoption of a comprehensive economic reform
programme."
Regarding technical issues, Zagreb "has started progressive
harmonisation with European standards." Major efforts, however,
"for further alignment with EU legislation will be needed," the
Commission held.
The political developments in Croatia following parliamentary and
presidential election in early 2000 and the new Government's firm
commitments to pursuing democratic and economic reforms have
marked a new beginning in bilateral relations between the European
Union and Croatia, the statement said adding that that's why the
General Affairs Council of 14-15 February 2000 invited the
Commission to prepare a report on the feasibility of negotiating a
Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with Croatia, it
recalled.
The EU Council of Ministers is expected to adopt this feasibility
study, at its 13 June session, and it will thus give a mandate to the
European Commission to launch the negotiations with Croatia.
The official commencement of the negotiations cannot be expected
before autumn, according to the Croatian Foreign Ministry.
The EU Council can also endorse the mandate at its session
in July, which will be the last one before summer holidays.
After consultations with EU member-states and in talks held in the
European Parliament, the Commission will, in line with its mandate,
start elaborating its concrete draft text of the agreement. It will
deliver the draft document to Croatia so that Zagreb can prepare its
counter-proposals.
Following the SAA, a next step in the contractual relations between
Croatia and the EU is still unclear.
Sources close to the European Commission believe that at the moment
it is impossible to assess Croatia's announcements that as early as
2006 Croatia can be ready for the EU membership. Those sources
maintain that it is realistic to expect that Croatia may be granted
the EU full membership between 2010 and 2015, as for the dynamics of
the EU enlargement it is not only important how much a candidate is
ready but also how much the EU can be adjusted to a rise in the number
of its member-countries.
(hina) mm ms