Brussels, 07/06/2011 (Agence Europe) - The Commission is preparing to recommend to member states that accession negotiations with Croatia on the four pending chapters be closed and that July 2013 be set as the deadline for Croatia's joining the EU. The Commission recommendation, already agreed by the college of commissioners in Strasbourg on 7 June, will be announced by Commission President José Manuel Barroso on Friday 10 June (he may even travel to Zagreb to announce the good news, it is suggested). “I believe we are very close to concluding negotiations with Croatia, at least on the part of the Commission. I believe that there will be some very good news on this regard on Friday”, Barroso said on Tuesday after the College meeting. “The Croatian authorities, and particularly the current government, have worked very hard to meet the conditions they have been set. They will soon be able, I am sure, to reap the rewards of that hard work”, he said. The four remaining chapters to be closed are: judiciary and fundamental rights, competition, budget, and other issues. (H.B./transl.rt)