EU - Croatia To Complete Talks In 2011

The European Commission has confirmed that Croatia is on the right track towards completing accession talks in the first half of 2011, but declined to commit itself to any specific deadline. “In terms of timing, ultimately the conclusion of negotiations depends on Croatia’s own merits and when it meets the conditions. This may be possible by next year if Croatia steps up its efforts but as I said, many challenges remain,” said European Commission President José Manuel Barroso at a joint press conference with Croatia’s Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor on 25 October in Brussels.

He made clear that the Commission will not propose any date for the completion of negotiations with Croatia in its forthcoming progress report on accession candidates to be published on 9 November. “There was a clear commitment of the member states in the so called renewed consensus on enlargement not to set a date before the process is concluded,” said Barroso, adding that this is a general rule unrelated to Croatia’s actual progress in talks. “Things are going well. There is a steady progress” in talks, he underlined.

Barroso praised the “determination” of the Croatian government in implementing reforms, but underlined that in order to meet its self-imposed deadline, Zagreb has to step up reforms in the following fields: judicial reform, the fight against corruption and organised crime, war crimes trials, refugee and minority issues, and full cooperation with the international war crimes tribunal (ICTY) in the Hague. ”I have emphasized to the Prime Minister that it will be important for Croatia to continue to demonstrate concrete results in these areas. A track record of reforms and implementation is needed,” said Barroso.

Kosor acknowledged that “there is still a lot of work ahead of Croatia,» but expressed confidence that the government would “conclude work in time.” She specified that Zagreb would close three negotiating chapters in early November and four in December. That would leave talks on four chapters to be completed in the first half of 2011.