State Secretary and Chief Coordinator for Monitoring Activities Concerning Croatia’s EU Negotiations Bianca Matković held this year’s second meeting with EU coordinators from ministries and other state bodies involved in EU negotiation processes

Informing the present parties about the current course of the accession negotiations, State Secretary Matković pointed out that 2009 is the final year of Croatia’s preparations for the EU membership, which is why all the necessary processes are planned to be intensified so that Croatia could be ready when Slovenia lifts its veto.

She pointed out that so far 22 chapters have been opened, 7 of which have been temporarily closed, and that in view of all the obligations fulfilled, Croatia expected a more significant progress in the negotiation statistics. Due to Slovenia’s veto, it is currently impossible to open the additional 9 and temporarily close 3 negotiation chapters, for which Croatia has met all of the obligations and criteria, as verified by the European Commission and the 26 member countries.

In that regard, State Secretary Matković emphasized that the formal negotiation statistics do not reflect the actual state of Croatia’s progress in the accession process, which was also pointed out at the last week’s meeting of the Council for the Implementation of the Stabilization and Association Agreement.

She also said that, in spite of Slovenia’s blockade, the Croatian Government is determined to continue with the activities pertaining to the harmonization of the legislature with the acquis, while mindful of the protection of vital national interests.

State Secretary Matković familiarized the EU coordinators with the remaining obligations, the legislature harmonization plan, and the meeting of negotiation criteria. Croatia is entering the most demanding period of harmonizing with the EU standards, with 47 laws, 182 bylaws and 132 implementation measures to be adopted by the end of the year.