Summary: 19 December 2008, Brussels - The seventh meeting of the Intergovernmental Conference with Croatia at Ministerial level was held today in Brussels, following the start of negotiations on 3 October 2005. The European Union delegation was headed by Bruno Le Maire, France 's State Secretary for European Affairs. The Croatian delegation was led by Gordan Jandroković, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration.
The Conference opened Chapter 5 - Public Procurement and provisionally closed Chapter 7 - Intellectual Property Law, Chapter 10 - Information Society and Media and Chapter 17 - Economic and Monetary Policy, thus advancing further the negotiating process.
The Conference also confirmed at ministerial level the opening of Chapter 1 - Free Movement of Goods and the provisional closure of Chapter 20 - Enterprise and Industrial Policy and Chapter 30 - External Relations- which were previously dealt with by Intergovernmental Conferences at deputy level.
Chapter 5 - Public Procurement
On the basis of the negotiating position of Croatia for this chapter, the Union has closely examined Croatia's general state of preparedness in this area. Taking into account Croatia's present state of preparations - and on the understanding that Croatia will continue to make progress in the alignment with and implementation of the acquis - the EU underlined the main issues regarding the closing benchmarks to be met by Croatia, including the need to demonstrate, through the presentation of a
convincing track record, that it has taken appropriate measures to ensure the proper enforcement and implementation of national legislation at all levels (national, regional and local).
Furthermore the European Union 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, its capacity to complete legal alignment in all sectors under this chapter, as well as further progress in implementation. The Union will closely monitor Croatia's progress in this chapter throughout the negotiations.
Chapter 7 - Intellectual Property Law
The negotiations on Chapter 7 - Intellectual Property Law were opened on 23 March 2007. At this Conference the EU noted that, in order for the chapter to be provisionally closed, Croatia would have to complete the alignment with the Community acquis concerning the community exhaustion of rights and the introduction of supplementary protection certificates, ensure that these rights would be enforced by accession and ensure a sufficient administrative capacity to enforce the rights concerning the
fight against piracy and counterfeit, and provide a satisfactory track record of investigation, prosecutions, and judicial treatment of violations.
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.
Chapter 10 - Information Society and Media
The negotiations on Chapter 10 - Information Society and Media were opened on 26 May 2007. At this Conference the EU noted that, in order for the chapter to be provisionally closed, Croatia would have to align with the acquis concerning electronic communications, electronic commerce, electronic signatures, information security and electronic media, and the Television without Frontiers Directive, to complete the foreseen review of audiovisual media legislation, and to ensure sufficient
administrative capacity to enforce the acquis.
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.
Chapter 17- Economic and Monetary Policy
The negotiations on Chapter 17- Economic and Monetary Policy were opened on 21 December 2006. At this Conference the EU noted that, in order for the chapter to be provisionally closed, Croatia would have to align its legal framework in order to ensure full central bank independence, and to allow the full integration of its central bank into the European System of Central Banks (ESCB).
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 these three chapters with a view to ensuring Croatia's administrative capacity to implement effectively the acquis. The Union will, if necessary, return to these chapters at an appropriate moment.
Since the start of the negotiations, twenty two chapters have been opened, of which seven have been provisionally closed.
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