Brussels, 04/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - The progress that Croatia must make in reform of its justice system remains the last challenge to be raised by the Balkan state before it can join the European Union, Viviane Reding, European Justice Commissioner, said on Thursday 3 March. Addressing the press in Zagreb, the commissioner said, as reported by AFP, that “the only remaining problems are to be found in Chapter 23” of the membership negotiations, relating to justice and fundamental rights.
Membership talks with Croatia began in 2005. To date, 28 of the 35 chapters to be covered during these talks have been closed. Zagreb trusts it will be able to complete membership talks at the end of June and become a full member of the EU in 2012. “All the other chapters remaining have been negotiated and are at an end. Some chapters have still to be closed officially but there are no major problems as far as these are concerned”, Reding added.
The commissioner was in Zagreb the day after the European Commission presentation of a report on progress made by Croatia in the justice field. The Commission has invited Croatia to double its efforts in this area and to take additional measures. Viviane Reding, who was visiting Zagreb to take part in a conference of the European People's Party (EPP) on Croatia's membership of the EU, pointed out that the report also underlined the “considerable progress” made to date. (Gp./transl.jl)