SEMINAR ON JOINING EUROPEAN UNION STARTS IN DUBROVNIK

DUBROVNIK, July 7 (Hina) - A two-day seminar called "Joining the European Union - the inside view: cooperation between the legislative and executive authority and the impact on the negotiations process" started in the southern Adriatic town of Dubrovnik Friday. The seminar is attended by about 60 participants, and representatives of countries which are the closest to joining the European Union will hold lectures, namely representatives of Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Poland and Slovenia. The seminar was opened by Croatian Minister for European Integration Ivan Jakovcic who expressed optimism about Croatia approaching the European Union. He stressed that Croatia's association with the European Union could be expected in the first half of the next year the latest. "I believe we will end negotiations in the first half of the next year the latest after which we will sign an agreement on stabilisation and association which will later be ratified by European Union member countries", Jakovcic stressed. The present were greeted by representative of the European Commission in Croatia Per Vinter, French Ambassador to Croatia Albert Turor and head of the section for the European Union and the Council of Europe with the Croatian Foreign Ministry Andrej Plenkovic. (hina) it