RIJEKA, April 23 (Hina) - The Croatian government issued a special statement at its session in Rijeka on Thursday, hailing the European Commission's very positive avis on Croatia's EU membership application.
RIJEKA, April 23 (Hina) - The Croatian government issued a special
statement at its session in Rijeka on Thursday, hailing the European
Commission's very positive avis on Croatia's EU membership
application.#L#
The government said it was determined to implement concrete
recommendations from the European Partnership, notably recommendations
regarding the strengthening of democracy and the rule of law,
cooperation with the ICTY, the promotion and protection of the rights
of minorities, the strengthening of regional cooperation, the return
of refugees, the restitution of property, the struggle against
corruption, organised crime and terrorism.
The government took note of the assessments, comments, proposals and
criticism which the European Commission stated in the avis. The
government said in the statement that it would use those comments as
the guidelines in the reform processes.
The government believed that the positive avis on Croatia's
application would be an encouragement to other neighbouring countries
to invest more efforts in the process of joining the EU. In that
context, the government will continue to strengthen good-neighbourly
relations and regional cooperation, particularly by sharing its
experience from the process of drawing closer to the EU.
The government expressed satisfaction with the conclusion of the
European Commission which recommended to the European Council to start
membership negotiations with Croatia.
While waiting for the European Council to adopt the European
Commission's recommendation at a session in June, the government has
instructed the Foreign Ministry to inform all EU member states of
Croatia's determination to implement all conditions to be able to
start negotiations on joining the EU as soon as possible.
The government has instructed all relevant ministries to draw up a
thorough analysis of the avis and adequate measures.
In this connection, the government will adjust its national programme
on association with the EU for 2004, the statement said,.
The government adopted the Statement on the European Commission's Avis
at its session in Rijeka.
(Hina) it