The Head of the European Union Delegation to Croatia, Ambassador Paul Vandoren, on Monday said he expected that difficulties between Croatia and Slovenia would be overcome on time prior to Croatia's entry to the EU on July 1.
Slovenia may have a problem but we have to believe that it will be resolved before 1 July this year, Vandoren told reporters in Split where he was attending the handover of two vessels for Croatian maritime police which were part of a European Commission IPA 2008 project for Croatia.
Vandoren said Croatia was very ambitious and wanted to enter the Schengen regime as soon as possible.
Croatia has shown its resoluteness to respect deadlines and I am certain that Schengen criteria will be met in the shortest term possible, he said.
Interior Minister Ranko Ostojic told reporters that Croatia's objective was to enter the Schengen region within two years of joining the European Union.
As a member of the EU Croatia will have at its disposal funds to prepare the country to enforce Schengen legal acquis.
In addition Croatia will supply funding to further equip border police on the sea and land and would be ready for surveillance of the Schengen borders within two years, Ostojic said.
"Of the 90 border crossings, we currently meet Schengen criteria at 14 and we will endeavour to facilitate the remaining in preparation for the Schengen border", he said.
