"Brussels must not helplessly watch how European law is being thwarted because other states might refer to this case to push national interests through. When the Croatian prime minister says that Croatia is not a 'floor mop', it shows a very odd understanding of the point of the European Union," said Dresden's Saechsische Zeitung.
Halle's Mitteldeutsche Zeitung said Croatia's case should serve as an example to others in the region. "In negotiations with Serbia, Macedonia, Albania, Kosovo and other Balkan EU membership candidates, it is not enough to insist only on the political and social alignment of norms. This is also about how political elites treat the past and its representatives. A government which protects possible war criminals and accused murderers is too removed from the level of a European law-based state."
"Croatia has thoroughly botched its EU entry," said Bielefeld's Neue Westfaelische.
"A little under two months ago, Croatia should have been a model to the others in the region. Instead, it has become a horrifying example," the daily said, wondering about the motives of Zagreb's behaviour because Josip "Perkovic is not a national hero" whose extradition might cause citizens' protests. Perkovic was a former Yugoslav and Croatian intelligence chief wanted in Germany for the 1983 murder of a Croatian dissident.
The paper said it was unlikely that PM Zoran Milanovic could profit from his "tough" stance towards Brussels. "Prime Minister Milanovic must have misjudged all these aspects as well as the European Commission's determination to protect the common rule of law. It is now on Milanovic's friends to discretely teach him how to abide by the rules, which is something he should have learned before joining the EU."
"Many new European Union members find it difficult to understand that the club they joined is something more than just a 'goose that lays golden eggs'," Maerkische Zeitung from Frankfurt (Oder) said, adding, "It's completely unacceptable that by an extraordinary law Croatia is protecting a group of people from extradition who are suspected of crimes in other European Union members."
Mittelbayerische Zeitung noted that the German authorities had rejoiced too soon that Perkovic would be available to them after Croatia's EU accession, wondering if Croatia had been mature enough to join. "One thing is certain, a community of trust does not work like this. The EU is not just a trade community but is first and foremost founded on common law, commitments and values. Zagreb evidently hasn't fully understood this."
The paper feared that similar conduct could be expected from other Balkan countries. "No state born on the territory of the former Yugoslavia has sufficiently dealt with its own past. One should add that the norms demanded by the EU are seen as an attack on state sovereignty. For that reason, Brussels should keep up the pressure on Croatia," said Mittelbayerische Zeitung.