No decision has been made yet to formally discuss that issue at the next college of commissioners. When we have this decision, we will let you know, but there is no decision as yet, so I cannot confirm this, Bailly said when asked if Commission Vice President Viviane Reding would put the issue of possible sanctions against Croatia on the agenda of the next meeting.

Asked if the Commission found acceptable a Croatian government bill under which the amended EAW legislation would go into force on July 15 next year, Bailly said the Commission had not seen the bill and reiterated Reding's statement that she expected Croatia to swiftly align its legislation to the acquis.

Vice President Reding said in her last letter to the Croatian government that we want a swift application of EU laws. The word 'swift' is not tied to any specific deadline, but it clearly means in all languages that it should be done as soon as possible, said the spokesman.

Citing unidentified Commission sources, Reuters said the issue of sanctions against Croatia would probably be on the agenda of the Commission's meeting on Wednesday.

Reding has requested Croatia to change its EAW legislation, which was passed a few days before Croatia joined the EU on July 1, saying several times that the European Commission has the necessary instruments to make sure that Croatia does it. She cited Article 39 in the accession treaty, which envisages "appropriate measures," one of which could be the suspension of EU funding.