Croatia urges further EU enlargement

Croatia’s chief EU negotiator Vladimir Drobnjak says that the Lisbon Treaty crisis should not affect Zagreb’s EU prospects. “The process of EU enlargement must continue even after Croatia’s accession. We hope that it will include Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, Macedonia, and Kosovo. That topic must remain on the table. A clear perspective for membership is important. Croatia’s success would be an important message for the Western Balkans,” Drobnjak said in an interview with Vienna daily Presse. Croatia urges further EU enlargement He said that Croatia’s membership talks with the EU were continuing apace despite the Irish “No” vote on the Lisbon Treaty. “We are convinced that the problem regarding the Lisbon Treaty will be resolved before Croatia’s negotiations are complete. We expect to close and open separate chapters before the end of July,” Drobnjak stressed. “Our goal is to open one or two new chapters in July, and all others by the end of the year. The opened chapter needs to be closed by the end of the summer or autumn next year. We then have to sign the agreement. We expect to have the support of many countries,” the negotiator predicted.

Croatia urges further EU enlargement

He said that Croatia’s membership talks with the EU were continuing apace despite the Irish “No” vote on the Lisbon Treaty.

“We are convinced that the problem regarding the Lisbon Treaty will be resolved before Croatia’s negotiations are complete. We expect to close and open separate chapters before the end of July,” Drobnjak stressed.

“Our goal is to open one or two new chapters in July, and all others by the end of the year. The opened chapter needs to be closed by the end of the summer or autumn next year. We then have to sign the agreement. We expect to have the support of many countries,” the negotiator predicted.