ZAGREB, April 4 (Hina) - The conclusion of the third and last negotiating round between Croatia and the European Union on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) may be expected in May, Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula
said on Wednesday. Picula took part in a Croatian Television talk-show which tackled the SAA negotiations. He was joined by the European commissioner for foreign affairs, Chris Patten, who on Thursday will attend a Croatian government session on this issue. "I believe we shall wrap up the negotiations in May," said Picula, but added it remained to be seen if the agreement would be initialled also in May. The negotiators will invest maximum effort to that end, he said, adding his was optimistic. Patten was also optimistic. He said he had not yet taken part in negotiations which were proceeding so smoothly and transparently, in which both sides, Zagreb and Brussels in this case
ZAGREB, April 4 (Hina) - The conclusion of the third and last
negotiating round between Croatia and the European Union on a
Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) may be expected in
May, Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula said on Wednesday.
Picula took part in a Croatian Television talk-show which tackled
the SAA negotiations. He was joined by the European commissioner
for foreign affairs, Chris Patten, who on Thursday will attend a
Croatian government session on this issue.
"I believe we shall wrap up the negotiations in May," said Picula,
but added it remained to be seen if the agreement would be
initialled also in May. The negotiators will invest maximum effort
to that end, he said, adding his was optimistic.
Patten was also optimistic. He said he had not yet taken part in
negotiations which were proceeding so smoothly and transparently,
in which both sides, Zagreb and Brussels in this case, cared so much
about finding a good and satisfactory answer as soon as possible.
This, however, does not mean that the problems are simple, he said,
stressing the negotiators were now in the most important part of the
negotiations.
The SAA will become a reality in 2003-04 because it first has to be
ratified by parliaments of the EU member-states. Patten said a
transitional agreement would be initialled, one which would
include the most important parts of the main SAA.
Most benefits will come into force at once, for instance all trade
concessions, assistance in Croatian reforms, and regulations on
access to the European market, he said.
Foreign Minister Picula stressed the EU was already a big partner to
Croatia. He reminded the SAA would mark the beginning of Zagreb's
institutionalisation of relations with the EU, which in turn would
provide an opportunity for further political dialogue and economic
cooperation.
According to Picula, the fact that in negotiations on joining the EU
Croatia was "six to eight years behind" other countries in
transition urged Croatia to expedite the adjustment of its
legislation to that in force in the EU.
Citing positive and encouraging examples, commissioner Patten
singled out Spain, Greece, and Portugal, which he recalled had not
been models of democracy when they began negotiations on joining
the EU. They were poor but became very successful over a very short
period of time, he said.
Asked how and when Croatia would meet the social pro-European
partnership, Picula said briefly that the EU did not develop its
image of social security "overnight". It is a painful process which
still goes on in the EU as well, when there are eruptions of social
discontent, he said.
Asked about the EU's regional approach to candidate-countries,
Patten said geography was not fateful and emphasised the principle
of individual approach, namely that each country's readiness would
be evaluated on the basis of its achievements, he explained.
(hina) ha