Rupel: Croatia, Serbia have different EU paths

Dimitrij Rupel says that Slovenia is not treating Croatian and Serbian EU integration equally. The Slovenian Foreign Minister said that both countries must fulfill all obligations before entering the EU. Rupel: Croatia, Serbia have different EU paths In Croatia’s case, that means not implementing the decision for protection of the ecological fishing zone (ZERP) in the Adriatic Sea towards Slovenia and Italy. Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader criticized Rupel’s recent statement that the EU should treat Croatia and Serbia the same as far as integration discussions were concerned, and that both countries should have to meet the same criteria. Sanader said that a minister should behave according to European standards, adding that the Croatian Foreign Ministry would also be reacting to Rupel’s statements. Rupel said that his statement had been misconstrued and that he had simply repeated the long-standing stances of Slovenia and the EU, adding that this was Ljubljana’s official stance. “It is not a question of treating Croatia and Serbia equally, as the last Croatian statement made out, but a confirmation of Slovenia’s stance regarding the expansion of the EU in the western Balkans,” Rupel said. He also said that such arguments and conflicts were detrimental and unimportant. “At this moment in time, the EU expects these countries to fulfill their obligations and standards. In Croatia’s case, that means that EU member-states will not impose an ecological fishing zone in the Adriatic,” Rupel said.

Rupel: Croatia, Serbia have different EU paths

In Croatia’s case, that means not implementing the decision for protection of the ecological fishing zone (ZERP) in the Adriatic Sea towards Slovenia and Italy.

Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader criticized Rupel’s recent statement that the EU should treat Croatia and Serbia the same as far as integration discussions were concerned, and that both countries should have to meet the same criteria.

Sanader said that a minister should behave according to European standards, adding that the Croatian Foreign Ministry would also be reacting to Rupel’s statements.

Rupel said that his statement had been misconstrued and that he had simply repeated the long-standing stances of Slovenia and the EU, adding that this was Ljubljana’s official stance.

“It is not a question of treating Croatia and Serbia equally, as the last Croatian statement made out, but a confirmation of Slovenia’s stance regarding the expansion of the EU in the western Balkans,” Rupel said.

He also said that such arguments and conflicts were detrimental and unimportant.

“At this moment in time, the EU expects these countries to fulfill their obligations and standards. In Croatia’s case, that means that EU member-states will not impose an ecological fishing zone in the Adriatic,” Rupel said.