Brussels, 23/11/2009 (Agence Europe) - Croatia is expected to take a further step towards EU membership at the next meeting of (“deputy-level”) negotiators in Brussels on Friday 27 November. It is highly likely that three more chapters - energy, financial services and consumer protection - will be provisionally closed. This decision is expected to be confirmed this week by the working group and COREPER. On 2 October, Zagreb opened six new chapters (free movement of capital, agriculture, food safety, taxation, regional policy, and justice, freedom and security) and closed five (free movement of labour, company law, statistics, trans-European networks and customs union). With the expected closure of three chapters on Friday, Croatia will have closed 15 of the 35 chapters. (H.B./transl.rt)