(VIENNA) - Croatia must do more to crack down on corruption and carry out justice-related reforms before it can become the European Union's 28th member, Austria's foreign minister said Tuesday.

"Our Croatian friends know well in which areas they must still do some housecleaning," Ursula Plassnik said at the end of a visit by Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Jandrokovic.

"For example, in the area of battling corruption, in justice matters and in reinforcing public administration, reforms are still necessary."

Plassnik said 2008 could "be a decisive year on the road to Croatia's membership of the European Union."

She assured Vienna's support and spoke of the positive signals given by "Austrian companies' remarkable investment in Croatia" that "prove the confidence that they have in the future" of the country.

Jandrokovic said he was optimistic that Zagreb could complete EU membership negotiations by the end of next year and said he hopes Croatia could join the bloc by 2011.

Croatia started talks on joining the EU in 2005.

Text and Picture Copyright 2008 AFP. All other Copyright 2008 EUbusiness Ltd. All rights reserved. This material is intended solely for personal use. Any other reproduction, publication or redistribution of this material without the written agreement of the copyright owner is strictly forbidden and any breach of copyright will be considered actionable.