BRUSSELS, Dec 18 (Hina) - Negotiations between Croatia and the European Union on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) had a very good and encouraging start, Croatia's chief negotiator and the head of EU's negotiating
delegation assessed on Monday. At the end of the first negotiating round in Brussels today, it was agreed the second round is to be held in Zagreb in February. In the meantime, technical experts will meet in January to discuss trade liberalisation. This means we have set a relatively fast negotiating pace, said Catherine Day, head of the EU delegation. She would not predict when negotiations might wrap up, only saying it should be done as soon as possible. Croatia hopes for the end of June 2001, when Sweden completes presidency over the EU. Day said today's talks had addressed the political, institutional, and economic aspect of the SAA. Croatia's chief negotiator Neven Mimic
BRUSSELS, Dec 18 (Hina) - Negotiations between Croatia and the
European Union on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA)
had a very good and encouraging start, Croatia's chief negotiator
and the head of EU's negotiating delegation assessed on Monday.
At the end of the first negotiating round in Brussels today, it was
agreed the second round is to be held in Zagreb in February. In the
meantime, technical experts will meet in January to discuss trade
liberalisation.
This means we have set a relatively fast negotiating pace, said
Catherine Day, head of the EU delegation. She would not predict when
negotiations might wrap up, only saying it should be done as soon as
possible.
Croatia hopes for the end of June 2001, when Sweden completes
presidency over the EU.
Day said today's talks had addressed the political, institutional,
and economic aspect of the SAA.
Croatia's chief negotiator Neven Mimica described today's talks as
historic for Croatia as they were the first serious negotiations on
the institutionalisation of Croatia-EU relations.
"We've got a clear picture of the agreement's political and legal
foundation and concluded that the positions both sides have on the
matter are identical. I believe that very soon Croatia will be in
the position to implement the Stabilisation and Association
Agreement, which is the most important part of this process and in
which we want to be a credible partner," said Mimica.
Today's first round of negotiations addressed issues relating to
political and regional cooperation, financial cooperation,
institutional mechanisms of agreement implementation, and free
transit of people and capital. More complex chapters, such as trade
liberalisation and legal harmonisation, should be tackled in the
second and third rounds.
(hina) ha