Brussels, 10/02/2003 (Agence Europe) - Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission, and Stjepan Mesic, President of Croatia, met in Brussels on Monday to discuss relations between the EU and Croatia. The President of the Commission again supported Croatia's plans to submit official application to the Greek Presidency (in Athens on 18 February, see Europe of 28 January, p.7) to join the EU. Prodi says this is a fundamental initiative to show Croatia's neighbours that it is possible to make advances to the EU, pointing out that the Commission was prepared to help Croatia technically and financially through the CARDS programme (aid for the Balkans). Highlighting Croatia's stabilising role in the Balkans, Prodi added that the EU's long-term policy for the region was to accept all countries that really wanted to join. The Croatian President hailed the "positive consequences" already being seen by the announcement that Croatia will be submitting an official application to join the EU.
Asked about Croatia's position on the Iraq crisis, Mesic said that the solution had to be found through the United Nations. Prodi hailed the Greek Presidency's plans to organise a special European Summit on Iraq (see p.5), stressing that all efforts that can help find a common solution were to be welcomed.