Croatian Foreign and European Affairs Minister Vesna Pusic and Chairman of the Bosnian Council of Minister Vjekoslav Bevanda signed an agreement on border crossings and an agreement on cross-border transport, while the joint declaration on the interpretation and application of Article 11 of the agreement on free transit through Croatia's territory from the port of Ploce and through Bosnia's territory in Neum was signed by Pusic and Bosnian Foreign Minister Zlatko Lagumdzija.

These documents that have been negotiated under the auspices of the European Commission foresee two international border crossings -- Metkovic 2 - Bijaca in the south and Gradiska in the north -- which will be equipped for sanitary and veterinary inspections and through which plant and animal life can be transported.

The agreement on cross border transport will facilitate border crossings for citizens of both countries living five kilometres from either side of the border, with the possibility of this parameter spreading to up to 30 kilometres at a later date.

Goods in sealed trucks will be transported from one part of Croatia to another through the Neum corridor. Bosnia will be able to export all products through the Ploce port, but only those goods that are allowed to enter the EU will be imported in Bosnia through Ploce.

The transport of goods from Bosnia to the Ploce port to reach third countries is now regulated in accordance with the model by which Russia's enclave Kaliningrad is connected with the rest of Russia through EU territory.

"This is a big day for us," Pusic said, stressing that during the negotiations both sides had citizens' in mind.

"Croatia is entering the European Union on 1 July. We've come a long way, we have transformed our country in that process, it has become more functional, better organised and more capable of facing new challenges. I am confident that Bosnia too can do the same. We are entering the European Union, but we are not moving. We are staying at the exact same place geographically. For us, stability and prosperity is one of the biggest objectives," Pusic said.

Bosnian PM Bevanda said the signed agreements would make life easier for the people and peoples in Bosnia. "Signing these agreements enables the continuation of normal life and the economy in Bosnia and Croatia," Bevanda said.

Lagumdzija expressed satisfaction with with fact that the European Union and Croatia made a concession to Bosnia by changing their regulations so that Bosnia could export its products through the Ploce port,

EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele said that in two weeks the EU border would move, adding that the bloc would become bigger and stronger with Croatia becoming the 28th member. Croatia is a very well prepared candidate which has gone through such accession negotiation that no country has gone through before with regard to both complexity and credibility of the process.