SEMINAR FOR CRO JOURNALISTS ON EUROPEAN UNION

( Editorial: --> 1999 ) ZAGREB, May 6 (Hina) - A seminar on European Union institutions and policy was held for Croatian journalists in Zagreb on Wednesday. The seminar was held at Europe House, which is one of the organisers along with European Commission envoy to Croatia Per Vinther. The seminar was opened by British Ambassador Colin Munroe under the banner "European Union on the Threshold of the 21st century". Munroe said that respect for the principles of good-neighbourly relations is exceptionally important for a peaceful future in this part of Europe. The EU is trying to positively respond to the impatience and desire for European integration present in this part of Europe by helping things accelerate with the promotion of progress, tolerance and helping people learn from the European experience and avoid numerous mistakes which we made on our path, said Munroe. Vinther familiarised seminar participants with the structure of the European Union, its institutions and main political terms of reference. He said that the European Union has earmarked ECU21 billion which will from the year 2000 to 2006 finance preparations of future members for joining the EU. The adviser to the Austrian Ambassador to Zagreb, Andreas Stadler, spoke about concrete elements of the laborious process of adjusting national institutions to the EU. (hina) as mrb/rm 061920 MET may 98