ZAGREB, Nov 7 (Hina) - Croatia has this year achieved significant progress in approaching the European Union, a joint Croatian and EU consultative working group assessed in Brussels Monday during its fourth meeting. The joint group
has concluded that negotiations on the Agreement on Stabilisation and Association would begin on November 24, within the Zagreb Summit, the Croatian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Representatives of Croatia and the European Union stated that the Croatian Government had resolutely approached thorough preparations in fulfilling EU criteria set in Copenhagen. In this context they reiterated the significance of conclusions of the European Council from Santa Maria de Feira on Croatia as a potential member of the EU, the statement said. EU representatives reported on the completion of a new financial and technical instrument of assistance for states included in the process of stabili
ZAGREB, Nov 7 (Hina) - Croatia has this year achieved significant
progress in approaching the European Union, a joint Croatian and EU
consultative working group assessed in Brussels Monday during its
fourth meeting.
The joint group has concluded that negotiations on the Agreement on
Stabilisation and Association would begin on November 24, within
the Zagreb Summit, the Croatian Foreign Ministry said in a
statement.
Representatives of Croatia and the European Union stated that the
Croatian Government had resolutely approached thorough
preparations in fulfilling EU criteria set in Copenhagen.
In this context they reiterated the significance of conclusions of
the European Council from Santa Maria de Feira on Croatia as a
potential member of the EU, the statement said.
EU representatives reported on the completion of a new financial
and technical instrument of assistance for states included in the
process of stabilisation and association -- CARDS -- and announced
the adoption of a decision of the economic and financial council of
ministers on expanding activities of the European Investment Bank
to Croatia.
The Croatian delegation reported on the implementation of
recommendations from the three previous meetings in the areas of
harmonising Croatian legislature with EU standards, including the
Constitutional Law on national minorities; on the implementation
of the return of refugees; cooperation with the international war
crimes tribunal in The Hague and all aspects of regional
cooperation.
The delegations held talks on the macroeconomic situation in
Croatia and structural reforms, a draft budget for 2001 and
budgetary projections for the next three years, as well as on other
economic issues.
(Hina) lml jn