EU-Croatia: EU Commission, Zagreb passes latest test
Country on the right track, Fule on 6-month monitoring
(ANSAmed) - BRUSSELS, APRIL 24 - After six months of observation, Croatia has passed the latest test ahead of its becoming a European Union member state: the EU Commission has today adopted the first monitoring report after the signing of the treaty. The document, on the period from 1/9/2011 to 29/2/2012, ''shows that Croatia is on the right track'', said EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule. ''I am convinced that Zagreb will take all the final steps necessary to ensure that the country is fully prepared for its adhesion''. In order to become an official member state on July 2013 with all its papers in order, Croatia must first make progress on a number of issues, beginning with the most urgent: the privatisation of the naval shipbuilding sector. Impunity for war criminals, claims Brussels, ''is still a major challenge, since most of the criminals have not yet been brought to justice''.
Among the thorny issues to sort out is also border management, since Croatia's borders will at the same time become the external ones for the EU. Croatia must revise agreements and border crossings with Bosnia Herzegovina, as well as implement food safety systems, for which veterinary inspections are required. Taking stock of the latest assessments by Brussels will be the next EU-Croatia Association Council on June 6, before the next six-month report expected to be issued in the autumn.
Among the thorny issues to sort out is also border management, since Croatia's borders will at the same time become the external ones for the EU. Croatia must revise agreements and border crossings with Bosnia Herzegovina, as well as implement food safety systems, for which veterinary inspections are required. Taking stock of the latest assessments by Brussels will be the next EU-Croatia Association Council on June 6, before the next six-month report expected to be issued in the autumn.
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