The chairman of the European People's Party (EPP) group in the European Parliament, Joseph Daul, said in an interview with the Zagreb newspaper Vjesnik of Monday that the remaining policy areas in accession negotiations between Croatia and the European Union would be closed soon, and that this year Croatia would get the accession treaty and a date for EU entry.
The interview took place ahead of a meeting of the EPP Bureau in Zagreb. Daul said that the EPP, by deciding to hold its meeting in Zagreb, wanted to express its support to Croatia in the final stage of its accession negotiations.
The EPP Bureau is due to meet in Zagreb on March 3 and 4 to discuss Croatia's EU entry, and the topics on the agenda will include the policy area dealing with the judiciary and fundamental rights, the economic benefits of EU membership, and the implications of Croatia's membership for the future integration of other countries in the region. The meeting will be held a few days before the European Commission submits an interim report on Chapter 23 - Judiciary and Fundamental Rights.
