(BRUSSELS) - Croatia took another step Wednesday on its goal of EU membership, opening new policy talks which cement its position at the head of a list to become the bloc's 28th member state.
At a formal signing ceremony in Brussels, EU and Croatian officials opened the talks on two more of the 35 policy chapters which all candidate nations must successfully negotiate prior to membership.
The chapters -- on Trans-European Networks (transport, energy and communications) and Financial and Budgetary Provisions -- bring to 16 the total number opened since Croatia's adhesion talks began in October 2005.
That figure contrasts sharply with the six chapters opened by fellow candidate nation Turkey, which began its EU talks at the same time.
Turkey, which faces opposition from France and elsewhere to its EU aspirations, reached that figure by also opening two EU policy chapters on Wednesday.
However Ankara's refusal to recognise EU member Cyprus and misgivings that the largely Muslim country does not belong in the European club have hampered its accession process while Croatia's path has continued without any major hiccups.
That situation may soon change, as a row with Italy and Slovenia over a protected Adriatic fishing zone raises the prospect of Zagreb's first major hurdle.
Time is running out for Croatia to meet a January 1 to respond to Brussels' call for it to scrap the fishing zone which Zagreb says is required to protect stocks from Italy's larger fishing fleet.
ervinsh: ketriacademy.al Albanian programming courses - Professional training in the field of programming led by experts from the Ketri Web program company
Nov 17, 2023 4:58:46 GMT -5
Pyrros: sretna nova 2024 svim slavena !!
Dec 31, 2023 18:12:47 GMT -5