EC holds consultations on sanctions to Croatia

BRUSSELS, ZAGREB The European Commission has launched consultations with member states to activate protective measures over a Croatian law on the European arrest warrant. The Commission has proposed "enhanced monitoring and suspension" of the funds for the preparation for Croatia's entry into the Schengen area. EC holds consultations on sanctions to Croatia Member states, reported Hina news agency, have ten days to vote on the issue, after which Croatia will face sanctions - unless it in the next few days changes the legislation in quesiton and harmonizes it with the EU. The Commission may, but need not accept the opinion of the member states, since according to the accession treaty it is responsible for activating protective measures. The government of Croatia, according to the announcement of Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic, should on Thursday discuss changes to the law, after which they will be submitted to parliament. According to him, "the law will be adopted, but the implementation will begin in mid-July next year." Brussels, however, considers this to be a delay tactic. Vice-president of the European Commission responsible for justice Viviane Reding said on Monday that Croatia, by amending its legislation on the European Arrest Warrant , "betrayed trust." Zagreb adopted the amendments just three days before the country joined the EU. The dispute concerns a controversial bill, known as "Lex Perkovic", which Croatia brought to exempt itself from acting upon European arrest warrants for offenses committed prior to 2002. This law was enacted to prevent the extradition of Josip Perkovic, a former Yugoslav secret services official, who is wanted in Germany for organizing assassinations of Croatian dissidents there during the 1980s. After the secession of Croatia from Yugoslavia in the early 1990s, Perkovic held high intelligence positions in the regime of Franjo Tudjman, while his son serves as national security adviser to the current president, Ivo Josipovic. (Tanjug, file) Tanjug

EC holds consultations on sanctions to Croatia

Member states, reported Hina news agency, have ten days to vote on the issue, after which Croatia will face sanctions - unless it in the next few days changes the legislation in quesiton and harmonizes it with the EU.

The Commission may, but need not accept the opinion of the member states, since according to the accession treaty it is responsible for activating protective measures.

The government of Croatia, according to the announcement of Prime Minister Zoran Milanović, should on Thursday discuss changes to the law, after which they will be submitted to parliament.

According to him, "the law will be adopted, but the implementation will begin in mid-July next year." Brussels, however, considers this to be a delay tactic.

Vice-president of the European Commission responsible for justice Viviane Reding said on Monday that Croatia, by amending its legislation on the European Arrest Warrant , "betrayed trust."

Zagreb adopted the amendments just three days before the country joined the EU.

The dispute concerns a controversial bill, known as "Lex Perković", which Croatia brought to exempt itself from acting upon European arrest warrants for offenses committed prior to 2002.

This law was enacted to prevent the extradition of Josip Perković, a former Yugoslav secret services official, who is wanted in Germany for organizing assassinations of Croatian dissidents there during the 1980s.

After the secession of Croatia from Yugoslavia in the early 1990s, Perković held high intelligence positions in the regime of Franjo Tudjman, while his son serves as national security adviser to the current president, Ivo Josipović.