Meeting of the Accession Conference with Croatia - three more Chapters provisionaly closed
The meeting of the Accession Conference with Croatia at Deputy level was held today in Brussels. In the light of the positions of the Parties, the Conference was able to provisionally close Chapter -9 Financial Services, Chapter 15 - Energy and Chapter 28 - Consumer and Health Protection. This meeting of the Conference represented another crucial step in Croatia's accession process to the EU. The EU underlined that on all these chapters, monitoring of progress in the alignment with and implementation of the acquis would continue throughout the negotiations. The Union will, if necessary, return to these chapters at an appropriate moment.
Details on the specific chapters are provided below:
Chapter 9 - Financial Services
The negotiations on Chapter 9 - Financial Services were opened on 26 June 2007 at the Accession Conference at Ministerial level. At this meeting of the Conference the EU noted that, in order for the chapter to be provisionally closed, Croatia would have, inter alia, to transpose the relevant aquis into Croatian law, in particular on the insurance sector, investments services and securities markets, and to demonstrate continued progress in the enforcement of prudential requirements.
On the basis of the information provided by Croatia and the considerable progress made with preparations in all areas under this chapter, the EU noted that, at this stage, this chapter does not require further negotiations.
The European Union also underlined that it would devote particular attention to monitoring all specific issues mentioned in its common position with a view to ensuring Croatia's administrative capacity to implement the legislation in the field of financial services.
Chapter 15 - Energy
The negotiations on Chapter 15 - Energy were opened on 21 April 2008 at the Accession Conference at Deputy level. At this meeting of the Conference the EU noted that, in order for the chapter to be provisionally closed, Croatia would have, inter alia, to adopt a new mining act, aiming at full alignment with EU acquis regarding the prospection, exploration and production of hydrocarbons; to fully implement EU legislation concerning common rules for the internal market in electricity and natural gas, and on conditions for access to the network for cross-border exchanges in electricity and to demonstrate that it will have by the time of accession the adequate administrative capacity to properly implement and enforce the relevant legislation in all areas related to nuclear safety. The EU and Croatia also considered proposals for transitional arrangements concerning minimum stocks of crude oil and/or petroleum products and conditions for access to the network for cross-border exchanges of electricity.
On the basis of the information provided by Croatia and the considerable progress made with preparations in all areas under this chapter, the EU noted that, at this stage, this chapter does not require further negotiations.
The European Union also underlined that it would devote particular attention to monitoring all specific issues mentioned in its common position with a view to ensuring Croatia's administrative capacity, and in particular its capacity to achieve an increase in its share of renewable energy consumption to 20% in 2020; to complete the administrative changes related to the nuclear safety and radiation protection, as well as with a view to ensuring the completion of the Strategy for management of nuclear waste and spent nuclear fuel.
Chapter 28 - Consumer and Health Protection
The negotiations on Chapter 28 - Consumer and Health Protection were opened on 12 October 2007 at the Accession Conference at Ministerial level. At this meeting of the Conference the EU noted that, in order for the chapter to be provisionally closed, Croatia would have, inter alia, to amend the General Product Safety Act and adopt a new Consumer Protection Act in order to further align its legislation in the field of consumer protection with the acquis; to adopt legislation aiming at transposing the acquis on tissues and cells, especially with regard to reproductive cells and reporting of serious adverse events and reactions and to achieve substantial progress in transposing the EC tobacco control acquis particularly as regards health warnings, ban on misleading product descriptions, ingredients reporting, tobacco sponsorship and tobacco advertising in the information society services.
On the basis of the information provided by Croatia and the considerable progress made with preparations in all areas under this chapter, the EU noted that, at this stage, this chapter does not require further negotiations.
The European Union also underlined that it would devote particular attention to monitoring all specific issues mentioned in its common position with a view to ensuring Croatia's administrative capacity to enforce the adopted legislation and to apply EU technical requirements in the area of public health.
Since the start of the negotiations, twenty eight chapters have been opened, of which fifteen have been provisionally closed. Further Accession Conferences will be planned, as appropriate, in order to take the process forward.
For more information click on: EU - Croatia Negotiations
