UK To Block Croatia?

British MPs, judging by the recent debate in the House, are very skeptical when it comes to Croatia’s readiness for membership in the European Union.

The British do not believe that the trial of former Prime Minister Ivo Sanader is proof that Croatia has advanced in the fight against corruption and organised crime, nor the statement from the chief prosecutor of The Hague, Serge Brammertz, that Croatia is cooperating with the tribunal, has seemed to be convincing.

For those reasons, Britain plans to wait in regards to the ratification of Croatia’s accession treaty with the EU and wants to extend monitoring even after Croatia is given membership status, writes daily paper Vecernji list.

“Regarding the charges against the former Croatian Prime Minister (Sanader) for corruption, we noticed that it does not necessarily mean progress (comparing it with developments of a similar nature in the Ukraine),” it was reported.

British Minister for Europe, David Lidington writes that Croatia is continuing to fully cooperate with the International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia (ICTY), adding that it is a positive sign, however it does not mean it is complete.

Croatia’s president Ivo Josipovic denied that Croatia’s forthcoming EU entry was in jeopardy. “Our entry into the EU is not in question and we must fulfil the tasks that are in front of us,” said Josipovic.