ZAGREB, Feb 6 (Hina) - Croatia's presence in the European Union bodies has never been stronger and by the end of June the country expects to realise contractual relations with the EU, European Integration Minister Ivan Jakovcic and
Croatia's chief negotiator with the EU, Neven Mimica, told a news conference on the occasion of the first anniversary of the Ministry of European Integration. The Government's Office for European Integration grew into a ministry on February 5 last year. "The results of one-year work on drawing closer to European integration processes show that this is being done well because Croatia has never been more present in the EU bodies. We are optimistic also with regard to the further development of our relations," Jakovcic said. Chief negotiator Mimica expected the talks on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) would be completed during Sweden's presidency of the EU, by late J
ZAGREB, Feb 6 (Hina) - Croatia's presence in the European Union
bodies has never been stronger and by the end of June the country
expects to realise contractual relations with the EU, European
Integration Minister Ivan Jakovcic and Croatia's chief negotiator
with the EU, Neven Mimica, told a news conference on the occasion of
the first anniversary of the Ministry of European Integration.
The Government's Office for European Integration grew into a
ministry on February 5 last year.
"The results of one-year work on drawing closer to European
integration processes show that this is being done well because
Croatia has never been more present in the EU bodies. We are
optimistic also with regard to the further development of our
relations," Jakovcic said.
Chief negotiator Mimica expected the talks on a Stabilisation and
Association Agreement (SAA) would be completed during Sweden's
presidency of the EU, by late June.
He recalled that talks which remained to be completed referred
mostly to the dynamics of liberalisation of Croatia's market for
goods and services from the EU. In that regard, Croatia will have a
better agreement, i.e. enjoy more favourable access to the EU
market than is the case with countries which are candidates for full
membership, he said.
The implementation of the agreement will start on the day a
temporary agreement is signed and all EU countries are expected to
ratify the SAA with Croatia in one to two years' time, he said.
A social consensus is required if Croatia is to successfully draw
closer to the EU. Minister Jakovcic believes it would be good to
adopt a so-called 'Pact for Europe', which should be signed by all
relevant political parties so that the process of admission to the
EU is not made part of daily political conflicts.
Jakovcic announced a more dynamic cooperation with the newly-
established parliamentary committee for European integration with
the aim of strengthening the parliament's role in the entire
process. The minister believes it is important to implement the
CARDS programme and draw up a strategy of acquainting the public
with the admission process as well as improve the participation of
local bodies of authority.
A particularly difficult task will be the translation of European
legislation into Croatian and of Croatian laws into English,
Jakovcic said, announcing the establishment of a translation
centre.
According to the ministry's latest opinion poll on joining the EU of
June last year, 78 percent of Croatians support Croatia's admission
to the EU.
(hina) rml