The European Commission said in Brussels on Monday for the first time that Croatia could wrap up EU accession negotiations towards the end of the first half of 2011. If all criteria are met, the negotiations could be wrapped up by June 2011, during Hungary's European Union presidency, said Alexandra Cas Granje, director for accession candidates at the European Commission's Enlargement Directorate General. Speaking at a meeting of the EU-Croatia Joint Parliamentary Committee, which began in Brussels on Monday afternoon, Granje outlined the possible pace at which the remaining negotiation chapters could be closed.
At the next accession conference, scheduled for December 22, Croatia could close three chapters - "Justice, Freedom and Security", "Environment" and "Foreign, Security and Defence Policy". The European Commission has already confirmed that Croatia has met all the closing benchmarks for the "Environment" chapter and on Monday this was also confirmed for "Justice, Freedom and Security" and "Foreign, Security and Defence Policy". The Commission has forwarded the chapters to Council of the EU working bodies, which have to greenlight the closing. Regarding the "Judiciary and Fundamental Rights" chapter, one of the most difficult, she said the Commission would likely release a provisional report on Croatia's compliance with the closing benchmarks on March 11, at which point it would be clearer when the chapter could be wrapped up.
Granje warned of the criteria that must be met for the closing of the "Judiciary and Fundamental Rights" chapter, including cooperation with the Hague war crimes tribunal, which involves providing the court with missing military documents from the 1990s. Zagreb has to close six policy chapters next year. It has met the closing benchmarks for the "Fisheries" chapter but the EU must respond to Croatia's request for a transitional period and to Slovenia's request regarding traditional fishermen's rights. Granje said those elements were under discussion and that "Fisheries" could be ready for closing early next year. The closing of the "Competition Policy" chapter will depend on restructuring plans for the country's shipyards. Granje said the Commission had received plans for three shipyards and that they were being examined.
At the next accession conference, scheduled for December 22, Croatia could close three chapters - "Justice, Freedom and Security", "Environment" and "Foreign, Security and Defence Policy". The European Commission has already confirmed that Croatia has met all the closing benchmarks for the "Environment" chapter and on Monday this was also confirmed for "Justice, Freedom and Security" and "Foreign, Security and Defence Policy". The Commission has forwarded the chapters to Council of the EU working bodies, which have to greenlight the closing. Regarding the "Judiciary and Fundamental Rights" chapter, one of the most difficult, she said the Commission would likely release a provisional report on Croatia's compliance with the closing benchmarks on March 11, at which point it would be clearer when the chapter could be wrapped up.
Granje warned of the criteria that must be met for the closing of the "Judiciary and Fundamental Rights" chapter, including cooperation with the Hague war crimes tribunal, which involves providing the court with missing military documents from the 1990s. Zagreb has to close six policy chapters next year. It has met the closing benchmarks for the "Fisheries" chapter but the EU must respond to Croatia's request for a transitional period and to Slovenia's request regarding traditional fishermen's rights. Granje said those elements were under discussion and that "Fisheries" could be ready for closing early next year. The closing of the "Competition Policy" chapter will depend on restructuring plans for the country's shipyards. Granje said the Commission had received plans for three shipyards and that they were being examined.
News source: BalkanInsight link: article
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