Commission issues challenging to-do list for Croatia

http://www.euractiv.com/en/enlargement/commission-issues-challenging-list-croatia-news-502724

BACKGROUND

Croatia has been an EU candidate country since June 2004 and began accession negotiations in October 2005. Currently 28 of 35 negotiation chapters are closed. Chapter 23 on the 'judiciary and fundamental rights' is expected to be the most difficult.

Other open chapters include regional policy, fisheries, competition and agriculture, as well as two technical chapters (budget and 'other issues') which must be closed last. Progress is expected on the non-technical chapters, which may be closed as early as April.

In 16 February the European Parliament voted massively by 584 votes to 43 in favour of a resolution congratulating Croatia for "substantial progress," stating that negotiations "can be completed in the first half of 2011 provided that the necessary reforms continue to be pursued resolutely".

Simultaneously, a coalition of Croatian NGOs including Transparency International Croatia issued a joint statement on Chapter 23 warning that for "some crucial benchmarks" there was "a lack of evidence of sincere political will" on the part of the Croatian government.