The declaration said that the participation of Croatian citizens in the elections would depend on Croatia's fulfilment of the requirements under the Stabilisation and Association Agreement and the necessary institutional arrangements within the EU.
The Co-Chairman of the Joint Committee, Pal Schmitt, said that Croatia might join the EU as a member in 2009 provided that it resolutely continued with the reforms.
The Croatian Co-Chairman, Gordan Jandrokovic, welcomed the mention of the year 2009 in the declaration "although Croatia is not bothering about dates."
The Joint Committee held its fourth meeting in Brussels on Tuesday and Wednesday. The meeting was attended by Committee members - members of the Croatian Parliament and the European Parliament - and representatives of the Croatian negotiating team, the European Commission and the EU Presidency.
The meeting focused on the progress of accession talks between Croatia and the EU, the reforms Croatia was undertaking in public administration, the justice system, the functioning of local institutions, the position of ethnic minorities, and the return of refugees.
During a debate on refugee returns and minority rights, Committee member Milorad Pupovac, who represents the Serb minority in the Croatian Parliament, welcomed the government's housing programme for former tenancy right holders, saying that two issues remained unsettled -- how the apartments built under the housing programme will be used and whether it will be possible to purchase them.