EC notes "partial improvement" in Serbia-Croatia relations

Progress has been made in relations between Serbia and Croatia, says the European Commission. It notes, however, that Croatia is reluctant to accept investments from Serbia. The EC’s exhaustive annual report on the reforms that Croatia is carrying out on its way to the EU states that there has been an improvement in relations between Belgrade and Zagreb, especially after the visits of senior officials. EC notes "partial improvement" in Serbia-Croatia relations The two countries still have a visa-free regime, but there has been no progress concerning the question of borders. Stating that there “has been some progress in cooperation concerning around 2,000 missing persons in the war,” the EC notes that there are “issues left concerning property, especially compensation of tenant and owner rights, return of refugees and the genocide trial before the International Court of Justice”. The analysis stresses that “economic cooperation is progressing, though Serbian investment is very limited compared to Croatian investment in Serbia. The reason could be Croatia’s hesitancy to accept Serbian investment.” It also warns that “there is still a problem in Croatia with impunity for war criminals, especially if the victims were Serbs or when the perpetrators were members of Croatian armed forces.” The report adds that protection of minority and cultural rights has been partially improved, but there were “some reports of ethnically based attacks on Serbs.” “Police investigations have been stepped up, but not many cases end up in court. Many such cases have not been reported due to mistrust of the authorities and public intolerance towards Serbs,” the report says. “Members of the Serb community, including those who stayed in Croatia during the war, face difficulties getting jobs, especially in war-torn areas.” The report adds that “discrimination continues, especially in the public sector and local level”. “It is necessary for Croatia to develop a spirit of tolerance towards the Serb community and to take measures to protect those who are still exposed to threats, hostility and violence,” the annual report concludes.

EC notes "partial improvement" in Serbia-Croatia relations

The two countries still have a visa-free regime, but there has been no progress concerning the question of borders.

Stating that there “has been some progress in cooperation concerning around 2,000 missing persons in the war,” the EC notes that there are “issues left concerning property, especially compensation of tenant and owner rights, return of refugees and the genocide trial before the International Court of Justice”.

The analysis stresses that “economic cooperation is progressing, though Serbian investment is very limited compared to Croatian investment in Serbia. The reason could be Croatia’s hesitancy to accept Serbian investment.”

It also warns that “there is still a problem in Croatia with impunity for war criminals, especially if the victims were Serbs or when the perpetrators were members of Croatian armed forces.”

The report adds that protection of minority and cultural rights has been partially improved, but there were “some reports of ethnically based attacks on Serbs.”

“Police investigations have been stepped up, but not many cases end up in court. Many such cases have not been reported due to mistrust of the authorities and public intolerance towards Serbs,” the report says.

“Members of the Serb community, including those who stayed in Croatia during the war, face difficulties getting jobs, especially in war-torn areas.” The report adds that “discrimination continues, especially in the public sector and local level”.

“It is necessary for Croatia to develop a spirit of tolerance towards the Serb community and to take measures to protect those who are still exposed to threats, hostility and violence,” the annual report concludes.