CONFERENCE ON CROATIA'S ADJUSTMENT TO EU OPENS NEAR RIJEKA

LOVRAN, April 22 (Hina) - The Croatian Government has on numerous occasions stressed its strategic orientation towards joining European associations, especially the European Union, Croatian Minister for European Integration Ljerka Mintas-Hodak said on Thursday at the beginning of the second international conference "European Union and Croatia's Adjustment" in Lovran, near the northern Adriatic port of Rijeka. More than hundred scientists and experts on EU economic systems, from the country and abroad, are participating in the conference. They will present results of their research of the effects of cooperation and integration of new EU member-countries, future members and countries in transition, with emphasis on Croatia. Croatia believes that its level of democratic and market economy development is not considerably lagging behind the EU member- countries, Mintas-Hodak said, adding the reason for Croatia's lagging behind is of political nature. An aggravating circumstance is the fact that Croatia is not receiving any financial, institutional, educational or other forms of help from the EU, but has to resort to its own resources, she said. She also stressed the importance of cooperation between state bodies, and between those bodies and local authorities, with the aim of approaching the EU. She added Croatia was preparing a plan of integration activities. The conference is organised by the Faculty of Economy in Rijeka and is sponsored by the Croatian Government. (hina) rml