Minister Jandroković thanked for the support France is extending Croatia in its accession negotiations, pointing out France’s strong engagement during its EU presidency.
He also thanked for the ratification and depositing of the Protocol on the Accession of the Republic of Croatia to NATO.
In regard to Slovenia’s blockade and the current state of Croatia’s accession negotiations, he reiterated that Croatia is willing to sign a joint statement with Slovenia which would confirm that none of the documents adopted after June 25th 1991 prejudges the solution to the border issue. In that regard, we expect that the accession negotiations be separated from the border issue, which would be in accordance with the principles built into the foundation of the European Union. “Croatia has so far opened 22 and temporarily closed 7 chapters”, said Jandroković. “Also, it is technically ready to open another nine”.
Secretary of State Le Maire said he came to Croatia to once again express the support by French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Prime Minister François Fillon for Croatia’s speedy accession to the EU. He pointed out once again that it is necessary to separate Croatia’s negotiations from the border issue, whose nature is strictly bilateral.
He said he came to Croatia with three messages: Croatia has to become the 28th EU member, the Croatian-Slovenian border dispute has to be solved quickly, and compromise has to be found, as that is the way the EU works. France, as a former EU presiding country, wants to continue assisting Croatia and Slovenia, if both sides still wish so.
The meeting also discussed the state of affairs in the region, as well as the economic relations, which were described as good, with a mutual interest in their further strengthening.