The head of the working group, Isidoro Gottardo, said Croatia had make considerable headway in accession negotiations with the EU, as evidenced by the statement by the chief or the European Commission Delegation in Croatia, Vincent Degert, that negotiations were continuing on other chapters of the acquis communautaire.
Gottardo joined the recent congratulations by the European Parliament rapporteur on Croatia, Hannes Swoboda, who said in a report Croatia had made significant headway in reforming public and local government and fighting corruption by adopting or amending important laws.
Gottardo said Croatia must properly exploit pre-accession funds and that he appreciated the efforts of the government, saying it was committed to implementing all the measures and tasks on the path to the EU.
He underlined the importance of national legislation being fully adjusted to EU laws on environmental protection and access to public information about this field as well as of honouring the Kyoto Protocol.
Respect for the rights of minorities, their social integration, and cooperation with the Hague war crimes tribunal are important for Croatia on the path to the EU, Gottardo said, adding that EU representatives had not come to lecture but to assist and ensure that Croatia's accession be completed in the right way.
The rapporteur for the accession period 2006-07, Antii Liikkanen, said today's meeting was held at the right time, just after EU presidents and prime ministers agreed a solution providing for further enlargement. He added this meant that Croatia would become the next EU country and must therefore step up its participation in pre-accession funds.
Degert and Croatian Development Minister Bozidar Kalmeta were unable to attend. Degert's envoy Sandro Ciganovic said Croatia's GDP was half the percentage in EU countries and that many years would be necessary to reach the European level.
He added, however, that this would be made easier by structural and cohesion funds which Croatia would be able to use once it became a full member, receiving EUR 1-1.5 billion per year, and would have access to other money from funds for agricultural development and other programmes.
Between 2000 and 2006, Croatia drew more than half a billion euros from EU pre-accession funds, according to reports presented today.
The state secretary for development at the Development Ministry, Zdravko Livakovic, said that a lot of money from the funds so far had been invested in the development of undeveloped areas, but added this was not enough to reduce the difference in development of Croatia's regions.
Croatia has to create a framework for a more balanced development, but concrete projects for obtaining money from the EU funds have to come from local authorities so that all parts of Croatia can be equally ready for the advantages offered by EU membership, said Livakovic.
The conference was organised by Split-Dalmatia County.