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Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader on Tuesday (27 January) urged Italy to ratify an important agreement between member states and Croatia without imposing new conditions.

This agreement, known as the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, is the first step for Croatia towards the EU.

Ratification of the agreement is important for Zagreb in its bid to get a positive answer from the European Commission - expected this spring - to its request to obtain a candidate status for EU membership.

"Croatia has showed its democratic and European orientation, and there is no reason why Italy should not ratify the agreement", Mr Sanader said.

But besides Italy, the UK and the Netherlands also have not ratified the agreement, due to Croatia's lack of co-operation with the war crimes Tribunal in The Hague.

In Italy, the ratification is ostensibly stalled due to procedural reasons but Croatian press is blaming the delay on Zagreb's unilateral proclamation of an environment and marine protection zone in the Adriatic Sea - expected to go into place in October, Ansa said.

Rome appears to have asked for its repeal.

Mr Sanader said on Tuesday (27 January) that he wants to discuss this issue with Rome to try to clarify matters, but he added that the decision will not be revoked.