Brussels, 03/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - Croatia still considers that it is possible to conclude EU accession negotiations in June, despite the rather worrying interim report published on 2 March by the European Commission. This report focused on the country's state of preparation in the field of justice and fundamental rights (EUROPE yesterday). The report notes that “certain progress” has been made in legal reform, the fight against corruption/crime and respect for fundamental rights, but it also underlines that Croatia is far from fulfilling all 10 “closing benchmarks” set out by member states for concluding accession talks on this chapter. The Commission clearly indicates in its report what measures Zagreb still has to take to meet these criteria. Croatian Foreign Minister Vladimir Drobnjak considers that the Commission report was both good and beneficial and he is not in any way ruling out the possibility of concluding negotiations in June. “The report is good because it says that significant progress has been made (…) It is also beneficial, because it clearly specifies what more Croatia needs to do in Chapter 23, namely it must prove that it has a functioning legal and institutional framework”, commented Drobnjak. He concluded: “By following the clear guidelines, in cooperation with the Commission, the goal of concluding accession negotiations in June is feasible”. (H.B./transl.fl)