Croatia heads to finalise EU entry talks

[pampango]

Source: Daily Times

Croatia made progress on Wednesday towards completing its European Union accession, wrapping up negotiations on issues such as police, border controls, foreign policy and visa rules.

But EU officials warned Zagreb it still had to show more effort in combating corruption and crime and convincing EU governments that its judiciary reforms are showing results, if it wants to meet its goal of finishing talks in 2011. “Croatia has clearly been making good progress in terms of meeting EU accession criteria and we can safely say the conclusion of negotiations is within reach now,” Belgian foreign minister Steven Vanackere, who oversaw talks between Croatia and EU governments, told a news conference. “But it is clear further effort is required,” he said.

The Zagreb government argues it is doing all it can to weed out abuses. It points to efforts to prosecute former Prime Minister Ivo Sanader, arrested in Vienna this month on a Croatian warrant in a corruption probe. But EU diplomats say Croatia faces a steep challenge to convince sceptics in the bloc.

Read more: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010%5C12%5C23%5Cstory_23-12-2010_pg4_9

[NuclearDem]

1. Always love to see more strides towards unity in our world

Hope it works out well for them! :)