Minister Picula participated at the meeting of MFA's of the Forum of EU and the PSP countries...

On Tuesday, 9 December 2003, Mr. Tonino Picula, the Croatian Foreign Minister, participated at the first meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Forum of EU and the PSP countries, established at the Thessalonike Summit in June this year.

In addition to chiefs of diplomacy of the 25 current and future members of EU, three candidate countries and colleagues form PSP countries, the meeting was also attended by Mr. Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission, and Mr. Chris Patten, Commissioner for External Relations.

The goal of the Forum was to consider the progress made in the implementation of the Declaration of the Summit in Thessalonike by both the EU, which is to strengthen the stabilisation and association process by new instruments, as well as by PSP countries, considering individual achievements in fulfilling the Copenhagen criteria.

In his speech, Minister Picula expressed his conviction that the avis of the European Commission, expected in late March next year, will demonstrate in an objective way the Croatian achievements and that this will introduce a new and a more direct phase in relations between Croatia and the EU. He added that replies to additional 200 questions put to Croatia by the European Commission are being prepared.

Avis of the Commission should present to the Member States enough evidence on the progress of Croatia and its fulfilment of the criteria so that the European Council might decide, in June next year, on giving a candidate status to Croatia and opening of negotiations, Minister Picula said.

Almost all interlocutors at the meeting commended achievements of Croatia on its path to the realisation of its European ambitions. Mr. Romano Prodi was most direct and emphasised that Croatia fulfilled all conditions for EU candidate status and that it will represent the first ring in the new chain of enlargement.

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