LJUBLJANA/BRUSSELS, April 14 (Hina) - Janez Potocnik, the candidate for the first Slovene European Union commissioner, answered for 90 minutes questions by European Parliament members about his views on EU expansion during the
introduction of new European commissioners on Wednesday. Potocnik particularly commented on the western Balkans and Croatia which he described as a country that had made the most progress.
LJUBLJANA/BRUSSELS, April 14 (Hina) - Janez Potocnik, the candidate for
the first Slovene European Union commissioner, answered for 90 minutes
questions by European Parliament members about his views on EU
expansion during the introduction of new European commissioners on
Wednesday. Potocnik particularly commented on the western Balkans and
Croatia which he described as a country that had made the most
progress.#L#
Potocnik, Slovenia's incumbent European Integration Minister, is
expected to work together with the European Commissioner for
Enlargement, Guenter Verheugen, in the European Commission until this
October, when the term of office of the current Commission expires.
Western Balkan states need clear European prospects, they are the ones
that can do the most for their European future, but they also need
unselfish support on that path, Potocnik said adding that Croatia had
made most headway in this context.
"Croatia has made the greatest progress and I sincerely hope that in
the coming weeks it will obtain a positive opinion of the European
Commission," Potocnik said.
Asked by a Socialist deputy from Austria, Hannes Swoboda, whether
Croatia should solve outstanding issues with Slovenia before joining
the EU, Potocnik answered that bilateral issues should be settled
through bilateral negotiations, and those pertaining to the European
'acqui' in line with the acqui. The problem of demarcation of the
borderline at sea is a bilateral issue, while Croatian parliament's
proclamation of a protected zone on the sea is an issue pertaining to
the fulfillment of European rules, because the Adriatic sea must be
protected in cooperation with neighbouring countries, Potocnik said.
Commissioners from 10 countries which will join the EU on 1 May are to
be confirmed by the European Parliament at its session in Strasbourg
on 5 May. After that, the Council of the EU is to give the green light
for their appointment. The new commissioners will be active in the
current EC team led by Romano Prodi, whose term ends in October this
year. They will have the right to vote, but they will not head any
departments. Instead, they will be appointed to work together with
commissioners from the 'old' EU member-states.
(Hina) ms sb