Two out of three Croatia’s chapters to be open

Slovenian and Croatian PMs Borut Pahor and Jadranka Kosor have agreed to form a committee to deal with the open issues between the two countries. The premiers reached this agreement after yesterday’s two-hour meeting in Slovenia. Two out of three Croatia’s chapters to be open Pahor said after the meeting that Slovenia and Croatia would try to address at least two out of the three issues over which Slovenia was still blocking the closing of Croatia’s negotiating chapters on the environment, fisheries, foreign and defense policy before Croatia’s next EU accession conference. The next conference is scheduled for February 19. Pahor and Kosor agreed that the newly formed mixed committee should start its work next month and that the first meeting would be held in Zagreb. The two countries decided to launch an initiative for the preparation of a conference on perspectives and importance of the Western Balkan countries for the peace and security in Europe and the importance of their accession to the EU. This is the first meeting of the two since November, when they signed an agreement on arbitration as a means of solving their countries’ border issues. The Croatian parliament has already adopted the agreement, while there has been a delay in the ratification in Slovenia with criticism of the deal being voiced in public. The agreement has become a subject of assessment of the Slovenian Constitutional Court. The court is expected to deliver its decision in February, but it is possible that an advisory referendum will be held prior to the ratification in parliament.

Two out of three Croatia’s chapters to be open

Pahor said after the meeting that Slovenia and Croatia would try to address at least two out of the three issues over which Slovenia was still blocking the closing of Croatia’s negotiating chapters on the environment, fisheries, foreign and defense policy before Croatia’s next EU accession conference.

The next conference is scheduled for February 19.

Pahor and Kosor agreed that the newly formed mixed committee should start its work next month and that the first meeting would be held in Zagreb.

The two countries decided to launch an initiative for the preparation of a conference on perspectives and importance of the Western Balkan countries for the peace and security in Europe and the importance of their accession to the EU.

This is the first meeting of the two since November, when they signed an agreement on arbitration as a means of solving their countries’ border issues.

The Croatian parliament has already adopted the agreement, while there has been a delay in the ratification in Slovenia with criticism of the deal being voiced in public.

The agreement has become a subject of assessment of the Slovenian Constitutional Court.

The court is expected to deliver its decision in February, but it is possible that an advisory referendum will be held prior to the ratification in parliament.