CROATIA IS prepared to give legally binding guarantees to Slovenia that its EU accession negotiations will not prejudice the territorial dispute between them that is blocking those same talks, Irish diplomats were told yesterday.
Croatia’s chief accession negotiator, ambassador Vladimir Drobnjak, was in Dublin for what he described as “stocktaking” discussions with the Department of Foreign Affairs on the talks that Croatia hopes can be completed by December to pave the way for accession in 2011.
But Mr Drobnjak admits that can only happen if Slovenia lifts its veto “soon” on the opening of discussions of many of the chapters (policy areas) that remain at issue with the EU. He said Ireland is very supportive.
Croatia is engaged with Brussels in 22 chapters, having agreed seven, in the lengthy process that aligns an accession state’s laws and administrative practices with those of member states.
Croatia has fallen out with Slovenia over a strip of land 6km (3.7 miles) long and a sea border that means the latter does not have direct access to international waters. Mr Drobnjak insists, however, that in practice access has “never been impeded” and that the claim is “without merit”.
Zagreb believes the 18-year dispute between otherwise friendly neighbours – “we have never in our history fought a single war” – could be resolved by referring it to the International Court of Justice in The Hague and Mr Drobnjak says that Croatia would accept its decision. Slovenia is unwilling to go to the court.
Mr Drobnjak says he regrets that Slovenia has sought to conflate the border issue with that of accession. And, citing Baltic precedents Cyprus and Gibraltar, he argues that the EU has in the past shown flexibility over the supposed principle that it should not accept new member states whose borders are subject of dispute.
The issue is expected to be addressed in the first meeting of the two countries’ prime ministers later this month.
Yesterday EU commissioner for enlargement Olli Rehn said he believed the timetable for completion of talks could be met if a solution could be found to the border issue and if Croatia “works very intensively” on the fight against corruption and the restructuring of the country’s shipbuilding.
Croatia is expected to join Nato in April, without Slovenian opposition.
