Brussels, 11/05/2006 (Agence Europe) - The first meeting of the European Parliament's EPP-ED Group Bureau chaired by Hans-Gert Pöttering, was held on 11 May in Split, attended by Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader. According to a press release, Mr Sanader said on this occasion that he was convinced Croatia could have joined the European Union in 2004 if it had not been for the “war forced on it by the Milosevic regime”. Croatia was always at the centre of European civilisation, its architecture, history and culture witnessing this reality, he pointed out. Croatia will be able to take up its rightful place in Europe in the near future, Mr Pöttering said.
The EPP-ED Bureau continues its work with a detailed debate on Croatia's readiness for EU Membership, and with an exchange of views on the situation in the Balkans.