Voormalig eurocommissaris Fischler adviseert Kroatië bij toetredingsonderhandelingen (en)

The Croatian cabinet has appointed former European Commissioner Franz Fischler i as an advisor for EU membership talks, expected to start in mid-March.

Mr Fischler, an Austrian, confirmed his co-operation with the centre-right government of Ivo Sanader on Wednesday (17 February), according to Austrian daily der Standard.

The former agriculture commissioner will advise the Croatians mainly on the agriculture and fisheries issues, but also on other issues that crop up during its accession negotiations.

Zagreb hopes to start entry negotiations on 17 March, but the European Commission recently warned its leaders that they must co-operate more with the Hague Tribunal on war crimes in the former Yugoslavia, otherwise the starting date could be postponed.

Brussels and The Hague are unhappy with the continuing inability of the Croatian authorities to hand over a fugitive general, Ante Gotovina, alleging that Zagreb is indirectly in contact with him.

Mr Fischler told the APA agency that he believed the talks would start as planned. But he stressed that Croatia must make the EU believe that they have done all they possibly can to find the general.

"If you know the practices of this general and all the possibilities he has to hide himself, you cannot seriously expect the Croatians to find him by a certain date", Mr Fischler said, and added that Prime Minister Sanader has been co-operating "very well", according to the APA agency.

Croatia also appointed a new foreign minister, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, currently head of the EU negotiating team to replace Miomir Zuzul, who resigned in January amid corruption allegations.