Croatia has closed three more chapters in its accession negotiations with the European Union and has taken an additional step towards achieving its goal of completing the negotiations by the end of the Hungarian presidency in June next year.
At the accession conference, Croatia closed negotiations in chapters 24 – Justice, Freedom and Security, 27 – Environment, and 31 – Foreign, Security and Defense Policy. Croatia has made significant progress; 2010 was an impressive year in which it closed 11 chapters, bringing the total number of closed chapters to 28. Croatia has also made considerable progress in the remaining six chapters, which provides a good basis for their closure in the coming months. This demonstrates the determination of Croatian authorities to continue with reforms, stated Commissioner for Enlargement Štefan Fuele at a press conference. The Croatian delegation is led by Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Gordan Jandroković, while the European side is represented by Belgian Foreign Minister Steven Vanackere. The European legal acquis is divided into 35 chapters, and negotiations are not conducted in two chapters (Institutions and Other Issues) as there is no legal acquis to be transposed into national legislation, reports Hina. (www.hrt.hr)
