BRUSSELS, Nov 20 (Hina) - European Union foreign ministers in Brussels have given the European Commission (EC) the green light to commence negotiations with Croatia on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement.
BRUSSELS, Nov 20 (Hina) - European Union foreign ministers in
Brussels have given the European Commission (EC) the green light to
commence negotiations with Croatia on a Stabilisation and
Association Agreement.#L#
European Commissioner on Foreign Affairs Chris Patten's spokesman
Gunnar Wiegand said on Monday the EC was pleased with the Council of
Ministers' decision on negotiations with Croatia, stressing it
would make it possible to formally open them during the Nov. 24
Zagreb Summit.
The foreign ministers passed the decision at a closed-door session
without discussion. The decision had already been agreed on the
level of the committee of permanent representatives, which is
composed of ambassadors of EU's 15 members.
Croatia expects the negotiations will wrap up in six months.
The Stabilisation and Association Agreement is a new form of
contractual relations the EU has intended for five Southeast Europe
countries, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Federal Republic
of Yugoslavia, Macedonia, and Albania, in view of stabilising them
by bringing them closer to integration with European
institutions.
The agreements will be adjusted to the circumstances in each
country.
(hina) ha