ZAGREB, Oct 19 (Hina) - A director in the European Commission's Foreign Affairs Department, Fabrizio Barbaso, on Tuesday said a consultative working group in charge of helping Croatia to come closer to the European Union will be set
up after the election. All political parties in the country advocate the establishment of this working group and claim they are ready to cooperate with the EU as much as possible, Barbaso said adding that the working group was not likely to be constituted before the election for technical reasons. During my two-day visit I have received encouraging signs regarding some sensitive issues such as the media, election law, treatment of minorities and the return of refugees. We must, however, check, just as we have already done, whether concrete actions will follow promises, Barbaso said. During his stay in Zagreb, the EU official met Croatia's Foreign Minister
ZAGREB, Oct 19 (Hina) - A director in the European Commission's
Foreign Affairs Department, Fabrizio Barbaso, on Tuesday said a
consultative working group in charge of helping Croatia to come
closer to the European Union will be set up after the election.
All political parties in the country advocate the establishment of
this working group and claim they are ready to cooperate with the EU
as much as possible, Barbaso said adding that the working group was
not likely to be constituted before the election for technical
reasons.
During my two-day visit I have received encouraging signs regarding
some sensitive issues such as the media, election law, treatment of
minorities and the return of refugees. We must, however, check,
just as we have already done, whether concrete actions will follow
promises, Barbaso said.
During his stay in Zagreb, the EU official met Croatia's Foreign
Minister Mate Granic, European Integration Minister Ljerka Mintas-
Hodak, Economy Minister Nenad Porges, Constitutional Court's
President Jadranko Crnic, opposition leaders, and Serb
representatives.
Barbaso said the goal of his visit was to check with the democratic
forces in the country which functions the consultative working
group can assume and which conditions must be fulfilled for its
constitution.
Barbaso explained that the group was not a political but technical
body which should offer advice and technical assistance to Croatia
and then forward recommendations to the European Commission. The
group will hold plenary sessions three or four times a year. The
beginning of negotiations on Croatia's association is not related
to the work of this group, the EU official said.
The EU Ministerial Council has recently several times discussed the
formation of the consultative working group, but in September this
council could not again reach the unanimous conclusion and it
decided to send a mission to Croatia to examine whether there are
conditions for its constitution and which duties it may assume.
Commenting on the fact that the parliamentary election in Croatia
will be held in the second half of December, Barbaso said he was
concerned that the date which will be finally chosen for the
election would coincide with other events, making it more difficult
for citizens to go to the polls.
An election in the mid-winter is not the best option in most
countries, but we received promises that all international
organisations and institutions will be able to monitor elections,
Barbaso said.
After his visit to Croatia, Barbaso will submit a report to the EU
Ministerial Council during its session in the mid-September, while
the Council is to hold a longer discussion on whether Croatia
fulfils conditions in December.
(hina) ms