Croatia's accession negotiations set to conclude this year

On Croatia:

"I agree that it is possible to complete negotiations this year, but whether they will be completed depends on Croatia," the European Parliament's rapporteur on Croatia, Austrian Socialist MEP Hannes Swoboda, said during a debate on the progress of EU candidate countries ïn Strasbourg.

"There is a need to finalise negotiations with Croatia during 2010," said Swedish EPP (European People's Party) MEP Gunnar Hökmark, chairman of the Parliament's delegation to the EU-Croatia Joint Parliamentary Committee. "Croatia's efforts are not made for us; they are making Croatia a better country and a better society for its citizens," he added.

"If we were to close the door, we would run the risk of facing new problems and new threats to European values. We need to move forward with enlargement based on criteria we fully support in order to achieve a better Europe," he concluded.

"Croatia's accession is the best message we can send to the whole region: that we wish to have it firmly anchored within European structures," said German Christian Democrat (EPP) MEP Bernd Posselt.

"The EU has a great responsibility in making sure that the hope of membership remains a strong incentive for reforms. This is all the more true in countries where the stabilising effect of the EU still plays a major role," he added.

"Croatia has undertaken many reforms, bringing it closer to the conclusion of negotiations. Now it must step up the fight against corruption and reform the judiciary," said Slovenian Liberal MEP Ivo Vajgl.

"The government led by the new Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor must also fully cooperate with the ICTY, respect human rights and protect national and other minorities," he added.

"Croatia should undertake intense efforts to solve open questions with neighbouring countries, especially the open border issues. These steps are vital to Croatia's European future," he concluded.

Green MEP Franziska Katharina Brantner said that her parliamentary group would also like to see Croatia as an EU member as soon as possible, citing the progress the country had made. From the security point of view, it would be an important message to the entire region, she added.

European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) MEP Charles Tannock said that bilateral problems should not slow Croatia's EU entry, pointing out that Italy didn't stop Slovenia's entry over border and minority issues.

He said that Croatia had made great progress in meeting the benchmarks.

On Macedonia:

Slovenian MEP Zoran Thaler, S&D rapporteur on the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, stressed that the opening of accession talks had been recommended and was expected to begin soon.

"We hope that the March EU summit will confirm the start of negotiations. The EU needs to honour its commitments and encourage the country to comply with European principles and values," he said.

Liberal MEP Norica Nicolai (Romania) said: "This report shows a welcome consensus from the Parliament on the way forward for FYROM. Accession negotiations should start this year as recommended by the Commission. The name issue with Greece should not be an impossible obstacle."

On Turkey:

"I welcome the broad public debate in Turkey on a number of important issues such as the rights of minorities, the citizens of Kurdish origin, but also the religious miniorities such as the Alevis," said EPP rapporteur Ria Oomen-Ruijten. "On the other hand, I notice a number of setbacks in the process," she added.

"I regret that where legislation on the Copenhagen political criteria is in place, its implementation is insufficient," she stressed.

"Cyprus is an issue that has bedevilled Turkey's EU membership application," said Liberal MEP Alexander Graf Lambsdorff (Germany).

"The report rightly calls for all parties to do their utmost to reach a negotiated settlement on the division of the island, with the support of the United Nations," he added.