Slovenië en Kroatië hebben nog steeds geen oplossing voor grensconflict (en)
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS – Yet another round of talks on the longstanding border dispute between Croatia and Slovenia failed on Wednesday (27 May) increasing the pressure on Zagreb's EU membership timetable.
It was the first meeting between EU enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn i and the foreign ministers of Slovenia and Croatia since the two countries presented their responses to the latest Brussels proposal aimed at solving the bilateral quarrel.
"Commissioner Rehn welcomes the commitment of both countries to this process of facilitation by the European Commission, endorsed by the Presidency Trio and the EU member states. He will report [on the countries' responses] to the Presidency Trio shortly with a view of concluding the process," said Krisztina Nagy, spokeswoman for Mr Rehn.
For his part, Slovenian foreign minister Samuel Zbogar said that talks on the border dispute would continue in the first half of June and that he felt the enlargement commissioner was willing to accept small changes to his proposal.
"I believe Commissioner Rehn was clear today that this was not a take it or leave it proposal and that he is ready to accept small changes," Mr Zbogar told Slovenian journalists after the meeting.
"I am expecting a response and a continuation of talks," he added.
The 18-year-old border dispute between Slovenia and Croatia reached a turning point in December when Slovenia blocked Croatia's EU accession talks over the issue.
The blockage prompted Mr Rehn to intervene and suggest a mediation proposal to help break the deadlock.
In the latest version of his proposal, the commissioner suggested the countries should solve their dispute via a five-member international arbitration tribunal that would operate in line with international law – a point Croatia has been strongly pushing for.
Zagreb's EU accession date threatened?
Croatia has accepted that proposal, but Slovenia last week proposed amendments which it considers essential in order to accept the arbitration.
Earlier this week Zagreb said these changes were unacceptable however.
"We will not agree to amendments," prime minister Ivo Sanader said on Monday, reiterating that for Croatia this was a "take it or leave it proposal."
As the stalemate continues, Croatia's EU membership timetable looks increasingly threatened.
The country – an EU candidate since 2004 – was expected to end EU accession talks by the end of this year and join the bloc by 2011.
But with almost half of the year gone, a third of the chapters of its negotiations package – nine for opening and two for closing – remain blocked by Slovenia.