EU "to intensify pressure on Croatia" - report

EU "to intensify pressure on Croatia" - report

However, according to the article, the Croatian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs said there would be no change in their attitude - "at least until after the election campaign in Serbia and until a new government has been formed."

The EU working group for enlargement ended its meeting on Friday without the consent of Croatia to allow Serbia to open chapter 23 in the country's EU accession negotiations.

Croatia did not give its consent for the adopting a report on the fulfillment of thecriteria for the opening of the chapter.

It was agreed to open chapter 24 in June.

Serbia's chief negotiator in the accession talks Tanja Miscevic said that since Croatia failed to present its position on the opening of chapter 23, the item was removed from the agenda.

"The Croatian representative did not have the instruction from Zagreb, so this item was left for next week," Miscevic said on Friday, adding that the item would be "constantly put on the agenda" and would not be "moved, removed, or blocked" until it receives Zagreb's green light.

Reacting on Friday, Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said his government was "astonished" by Croatia's decision "not to support Serbia's European path."