(BRUSSELS) - The European Union issued a last-minute warning to Croatia Sunday over the imminent implementation of a protected Adriatic fishing zone, saying it could put a spoke in Zagreb's EU aspirations.

The Croatian parliament proclaimed the protected fishing and ecological zone covering an area of some 57,000 square kilometres (22,800 square miles), which is due to come into effect on January 1.

Its goal is to protect Adriatic Sea fishing stocks which Croatia says are being depleted by Italy's larger fishing fleet.

EU enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn said in a statement that refusing to open up the fisheries and ecological zone to all member states would lead to "negative" consequences.

"We trust that Croatia will act accordingly and not apply any aspect of the ecological and fisheries zone to EU member states as of January 1, 2008," said Rehn.

"It is essential that a solution is found to this issue immediately once a new government has been formed in Croatia, in order to avoid negative consequences for the country's EU accession process.

"Accession negotiations with Croatia are expected to enter a decisive phase in 2008, provided this issue is successfully resolved and that a positive momentum on EU-related reforms and benchmarks is maintained."

The situation is even more delicate as the January 1 deadline fast approaches while the country is in the process of forming a new government after November 25 elections.

Prime Minister-designate Ivo Sanader has yet to discuss the issue with his main coalition partner, the Peasants Party, which strongly advocates the enforcement of the zone.

Italy's annual catch is some 200,000 tonnes compared with Croatia's 20,000 tonnes and Slovenia's 2,000, according to Croatian figures which put the cost to Zagreb of the Italian fishing alone at up to 300 million euros (430 million dollars) each year.

Striving for EU candidacy in 2004, Croatia agreed to allow exemptions for EU countries -- notably its neighbors Italy and Slovenia -- until a fishing accord is finalised with Brussels.

Meanwhile, Rome and Ljubljana proclaimed ecological zones themselves, while Zagreb decided to activate its own on January 1, 2008.

Croatia hopes to join the EU by 2010.

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