EVENING NEWS 29.5.2002.
Great Britain Offers Five Million Pounds Support to Croatia
At a press conference in Zagreb Wednesday European Integration
Minister, Neven Mimica, and the Secretary for Southeast Europe
at the Foreign Office, Denis MacShane, told reporters Great
Britain wished to help Croatia in its approach to the EU and
that five million pounds over a period of three years had been
earmarked for the purpose.
The money will be used for furthering the efficiency of the
state administration in solving issues related to European integration,
issues related the judiciary branch and internal affairs, especially
the solution of problems such as crime, corruption, the development
of a market economy, education, employment, the reform of the
health and social welfare systems, refugee return, environment
protection, agriculture and regional growth, the media and the
coordination of a joint EU foreign and security policy. MacShane
said he hoped the plan would encourage Croatia to continue with
reforms, with the refugee return programme and with its cooperation
with the ICTY. He also asked General Gotovina to appear before
the Tribunal and thus remove the greatest obstacle to normal
relations between Croatia and the EU. He also announced that
“Croatia’s request for full-fledged EU membership might arrive
earlier than expected”. Croatia officials have confirmed that
Croatia might submit a request for EU membership as early as 2003.
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