BRIEF NEWS BULLETIN IN ENGLISH NO. 3694 HINA ZAGREB, 19 JULY 2000

HR-POLITICS-BULLETIN BRIEF NEWS BULLETIN IN ENGLISH NO. 3694 HINA ZAGREB, 19 JULY 2000 EC ADOPTS MOTION FOR STARTING NEGOTIATIONS WITH CROATIA ZAGREB/BRUSSELS, July 19 (Hina) - The European Commission on Wednesday at its regular session adopted a proposal to the European Union's Council of Ministers to open negotiations with Croatia on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement. A statement released from EU's headquarters said the EC decision represented an important step forward in the development of EU-Croatia bilateral relations following the election earlier this year of a new political leadership in Croatia which advocates radical political and economic reforms. The EC is hopeful the negotiations with Croatia on stabilisation and association can commence before a summit of the EU and western Balkans countries, set for this autumn in Zagreb. The EU Council of Ministers next convenes in early September. EC's commissioner for external relations Chris Patten told today's session "this