Post by MiG on Feb 8, 2008 12:43:19 GMT -5
Premier On EU: It Takes Two To Tango
Croatia plays the largest part in opening EU accession chapters and must do more to prevent repeating 2007's poor progress.
ZAGREB, CROATIA - After meeting with the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs vice president Ioan Mircea Pascu and European Commission reporter Hannes Swoboda, Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader said 2009 is still the year Croatia strives towards when it comes to accessing the EU.
Sanader stressed that he had sent a clear message to the European Parliament, stating Croatia will end most of its open chapters in negotiations by the end of year, such as reform of jurisdiction, public administration and fighting corruption.
The prime minister also said it takes two to tango, i.e. for Croatia to access the EU. He pointed out it is nonsense that Croatia is a Security Council member, while the chapter which refers to foreign-political security has been blocked for it at the same time.
- It takes two to tango, but Croatia has to do the largest part. 2007 must not be repeated when not enough chapters were opened – Sanader pointed out.
Swoboda said the fact a representative of the Serbian minority was chosen as deputy prime minister was a good sign and that Croatia might end negotiations by the end of 2009.
- We will put pressure on the commission to reopen the chapter on foreign political security – Swoboda said, adding that the European Commission use good relations with the Slovene government to solve open issues in the spirit of trust and mutual co-operation.
Pascu said it does take two to tango, but he also pointed out that Croatia must lead in this dance because it is taking place in its back yard.
Croatia plays the largest part in opening EU accession chapters and must do more to prevent repeating 2007's poor progress.
ZAGREB, CROATIA - After meeting with the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs vice president Ioan Mircea Pascu and European Commission reporter Hannes Swoboda, Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader said 2009 is still the year Croatia strives towards when it comes to accessing the EU.
Sanader stressed that he had sent a clear message to the European Parliament, stating Croatia will end most of its open chapters in negotiations by the end of year, such as reform of jurisdiction, public administration and fighting corruption.
The prime minister also said it takes two to tango, i.e. for Croatia to access the EU. He pointed out it is nonsense that Croatia is a Security Council member, while the chapter which refers to foreign-political security has been blocked for it at the same time.
- It takes two to tango, but Croatia has to do the largest part. 2007 must not be repeated when not enough chapters were opened – Sanader pointed out.
Swoboda said the fact a representative of the Serbian minority was chosen as deputy prime minister was a good sign and that Croatia might end negotiations by the end of 2009.
- We will put pressure on the commission to reopen the chapter on foreign political security – Swoboda said, adding that the European Commission use good relations with the Slovene government to solve open issues in the spirit of trust and mutual co-operation.
Pascu said it does take two to tango, but he also pointed out that Croatia must lead in this dance because it is taking place in its back yard.
Source: www.javno.com/en/croatia/clanak.php?id=121375