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Croatia Begins Final Stage of EU Entry Talks

   VOA News 30 June 2010
   The  Croatian  and EU flags are seen at the parliament building at St.
   Mark square in Zagreb, Croatia, 24 May 2010

Photo: AP

   The  Croatian  and EU flags are seen at the parliament building at St.
   Mark square in Zagreb, Croatia, 24 May 2010

   Croatia  is  entering  the final stage of its bid to join the European
   Union,  resuming  talks  Wednesday that had been stalled over a border
   dispute with Slovenia.

   The  two sides opened negotiations on the last three of 35 chapters in
   the  application  process Wednesday. The final talks cover competition
   law, judicial reform and foreign policy.

   Croatia's accession talks were interrupted in late 2008 when EU member
   Slovenia  blocked  further  negotiations until a decades-long maritime
   border  deal  was  in  place  granting  Slovenia  direct access to the
   Adriatic Sea.

   The  obstacle  was removed earlier this month when Slovenians passed a
   referendum to let an international panel settle the issue, which could
   force Croatia to give up some territory.

   Croatian  authorities have said an EU accession treaty could be signed
   in early 2011.

   The  maritime  border  dispute  began when Croatia and Slovenia gained
   independence during the 1991 breakup of the former Yugoslavia.

   Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.

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