The government's working group to prepare the country's application for membership to the EU on Wednesday held its first meeting under the co-chairmanship of Foreign Minister Tonino Picula and European Integration Minister Neven Mimica, according to a statement issued by the foreign ministry. The working group considered possibilities for submitting a membership application to the EU next year.

Participants in the session defined tasks to be completed by diplomats and state officials with the aim of preparing the membership application. The current foreign policy situation was discussed and the results achieved in the implementation of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA). It is expected that in December Croatia would present to Brussels a document that contains a survey of the progress in implementing the obligations of the SAA since Zagreb and the EU signed it.

(NewsBase 29.xi.02)