I am very sad about this situation. I worked together with the Croatian government for years to close Chapter 23 and enable Croatia's accession to the European Union, Reding told reporters in Namur, the capital of the Belgian province of Wallonia.

Reding, the European commissioner for the judiciary and fundamental rights, said the last reforms Croatia had made before the accession related to the judiciary.

Croatia succeeded, I personally signed that and am happy that I was able to do so. I said Croatia should be treated as all other member countries, there should be no monitoring mechanism as in the case of Bulgaria and Romania. I fought for that, she said.

And what happened? Three days before accession, Croatia changed a law that was never on the negotiating table. That law was good and in accordance with European rules. Just before accession, Croatia unilaterally changed its position. I am very sad and disappointed, Reding said.

She voiced confidence that this problem could be solved as soon as possible and in good faith.

Asked if she would put this issue on the agenda of the next college of commissioners and what measures she would propose, Reding did not give a direct answer.

Under the accession treaty, the Commission must make sure that an acceding country is applying the rules to which it committed. The entire Commission will see to it and the Commission president and I will use all our powers if necessary, she said.