Europarlement: Kroatië goed op weg naar toetreding (en)

On 2011 February 16, the European Parliament (EP) discussed the report on Croatia’s EU accession process. Speaking on behalf of the Presidency, Hungarian Foreign Minister János Martonyi welcomed the positive attitude of MEPs that the accession talks could be concluded in the first half of 2011, if Zagreb continues to carry out the necessary reforms.

On 2011 February 16, the European Parliament (EP) discussed the report which evaluates Croatia’s EU accession process and the changes in 2010. MEPs praised the country’s achievements and encouraged Zagreb to make more efforts.

At the plenary meeting in Strasbourg, Hungarian Foreign Minister János Martonyi welcomed the positive attitude of MEPs, and expressed the Presidency’s acknowledgement for their constructive contributions. The EP report based on the November assessment of the European Commission confirms the Hungarian Presidency’s idea that the accession talks started in October 2005 can be concluded in the first half of 2011.

Peace and stability

Enlargement is one of the four priorities of the Hungarian Presidency. In the plenary debate János Martonyi said that Croatia’s EU accession serves Europe’s strategic interests by strengthening peace, democracy and stability across Europe, especially in the West Balkans.

A good example is the settlement of a long-running border debate between EU member state Slovenia and applicant Croatia precisely due to the accession process. Croatian Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor and his Slovenian counterpart, Borut Pahor i, decided back in 2009, with the Swedish Presidency’s mediation, to submit their marine border debate over the Gulf of Piran to the International Court of Arbitration. The EP report and the Council welcomed the arbitration award which came into force in 2010.

An active participant of regional cooperation, Croatia has improved its relationships with neighbouring countries in general, and worked on the area’s pacification, recalled in the plenary debate Mr Martonyi with reference to the General Affairs Council’s conclusions adopted last December.

Conditionality

“Since the negotiations started, we have opened 34 of the 35 negotiation chapters, and have temporarily concluded 28”, said the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Mr Martonyi said that the conclusion of the accession talks is now within easy reach. At the same time, the report made by both the Presidency and Austrian socialist Hannes Swoboda stresses that Croatia’s accession is only possible if Zagreb performs a set of benchmarks.

Seven chapters are not temporarily concluded (competition policy, agriculture and rural development, fishery, regional policy and the alignment of structural instruments, justice and fundamental rights, budgetary and financial provisions and other affairs). The Council especially expects convincing results from Croatia in Chapters 23 (justice and fundamental rights) and 8 (competition policy).

The Hungarian Presidency proposed to monitor the pace at which Croatia performs the acquis and makes the necessary adjustments to its laws, said Mr Martonyi and added that the Commission’s evaluation, to published in March, on the results in justice and fundamental rights will provide important information for the Presidency’s future work and hence for the possible conclusion of Chapter 23 at a later date during the term.

It poses a special difficulty that several open chapters could affect Croatia’s budget, but the Hungarian Presidency hopes that with proper dedication and commitment the Croatian Government will be able to successfully conclude the process.