Austrian politicians for Croatia's EU accession without referendum
Austrian politicians for Croatia's EU accession without referendum
POGUSCH, July 11 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader was assured by Austrian Chancellor Afred Gusenbauer and Vice Chancellor Wilhelm Molterer on Friday that Austria undoubtedly supported Croatia.
Gusenbauer and Molterer said that Austria would continue to strongly support Croatia regardless of who would be in power in Austria.
Sanader was attending a traditional meeting of politicians and business people in Pogush organised by the Kleine Zeitung newspaper.
During the talks with Gusenbauer, Sanader said Croatia would pursue its road to the European Union and that European countries, notably those in Central Europe, asked for the process to continue regardless of the fate of the Treaty of Lisbon.
Gusenbauer said Austria's Social Democrats were pushing to have all important topics in Austria-EU relations put to the referendum, but that this did not refer to Croatia's EU accession.
Molterer said his OeVP party unreservedly supported Croatia's EU membership and wanted Croatia to join the EU as soon as possible, when all requirements have been met. He added that the OeVP was against the referendum, and that in Croatia's case it was not necessary.
Sanader briefed the Austrian politicians about the activities Croatia was undertaking to step up the EU accession negotiations. Both Gusenbauer and Molterer said the negotiations should be wrapped up by the end of summer 2009, and that the EU institutional crisis and Ireland's rejection of the Treaty of Lisbon must not slow down Croatia's negotiations.
Sanader also held talks with Austrian business people, who said they were interested in investing further in Croatia.
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