04/10/2006 (Agence Europe) - Croatia's perspectives of joining the EU remain intact, despite the recent statements of European Commission President José Manuel Barroso on institutional reform taking priority, said the deputy chairman of the Joint EU-Croatia Parliamentary Committee, Hungarian MEP Pal Schmitt (EPP-ED) on Wednesday. Mr Barroso argued last week that the enlargement process should be suspended after the accession of Bulgaria and Romania, to allow the EU to achieve the institutional reforms necessary before accepting new members (see EUROPE 9272). Mr Schmitt shares Mr Barroso's view on the need for institutional reform, but feels this reform could be carried out in parallel with Croatia's accession process. “If Croatia continues with the same pace and determination shown so far, the aim of EU membership before the end of this decade could be achieved,” he said. Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader also said in Zagreb on Wednesday that his country deserved to join the EU in two or three years' time. “Some people are mentioning 2012 or 2014. For us, that is out of the question,” he said. (hb)