By Henrietta Billings - 17th June 2004
EU leaders agreed on Friday that Croatia can begin accession talks with the European Union early next year.
The Council conclusions formally adopted by heads of state on Friday concludes that Zagreb has met the political criteria to join the EU, and will be able to begin negotiations next year.
"It is decided that Croatia is a candidate country for membership and that the accession process should be launched."
"The European Council decided to convene a bilateral intergovernmental conference with Croatia early in 2005 in order to begin negotiations."
In April, the European Commission recommended Croatia be granted candidate EU status, although some outstanding issues remain.
The return of ethnic Serbs who fled the country during the 1991-95 Serbo-Croatian war, the reform of the judiciary and cooperation with the UN International Criminal Tribunal in The Hague are all pre-conditions for EU membership.
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