Croatia is in the final stage of entry talks with the European Union

Croatia is in the final stage of entry talks with the European Union, but Turkey and other aspirants need to revive reforms, curb crime and protect media freedom, a draft report by the EU executive showed on Thursday. In its annual progress report on enlargement policy, obtained by Reuters ahead of its publication on Nov. 9, the executive European Commission gave no forecast when negotiations with Croatia could end. Zagreb hopes to finish them next year. The timing could play an important role in the coming months as EU leaders search for ways to change the bloc's main law, the Lisbon treaty, to create a permanent system for handling financial crises. Some EU diplomats have suggested attaching any changes to Croatia's accession treaty could be one solution.

But Zagreb still has to prove it has adjusted its policies to EU standards on the rule of law and fighting corruption, as well as tackling the difficult issue of state aid to shipyards. "Negotiations with Croatia have entered their final stage," the Commission said in the draft. "However, efforts must continue and further intensify in particular in the field of judicial reform," it said. The draft text still has to be approved by all 27 EU Commissioners, who can change it ahead of publication. Regarding Turkey, whose EU bid has met reluctance from key member states such as France and Germany, the Commission repeated criticism of its failure to comply with a 2005 deal -- known as the Ankara Protocol -- to open up its ports to Cyprus.

News source: Balkans.com link: article