"A candidate country is expected to draw up a Schengen Action Plan. We said we would draw up and adopt it by the end of the year and we will stick to that," Bagic said in Brussels where a bilateral phase of an in-depth analysis of the adjustment of Croatia's legislation to that of the EU for the chapter on freedom, justice and security, ended on Thursday.
Over the past three days, Croatian representatives informed the European Commission of the level of the adjustment to the EU's acquis communautaire for the said chapter.
"Our presentation was very well received and there were no question to which we did not have a proper answer," Bagic said.
"This chapter includes the issue of asylum, visas, migrations, judicial cooperation in civil matters, including cooperation in prevention of drug smuggling, customs and police cooperation, fight against organised crime, judicial cooperation in criminal matters, fight against terrorism, and issues concerning external borders, regulated by the Schengen Agreement.
Bagic said the Croatian delegation informed EC representatives of the initiative aimed at changing an ex-police station in Kutina into a reception centre for asylum seekers. Apart from that, Croatia is also considering to build another two transit centres - at the borders with Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia and Montenegro, Bagic said.
Bagic said Croatia's legislation in that chapter was not fully adjusted to EU standards, adding however, that there was nothing problematic or unacceptable in the EU acquis communautaire for Croatia.
The EU acquis communautaire for this sector is quickly changing and it was even recommended to Croatia not to rush the adjustment process but to wait for some parts of the acquis communautaire to be consolidated within the EU, Bagic said.
The European Commission is now expected to draw up a report on the screening of that chapter, based on which the EU member states would agree on the negotiating platform.