(ZAGREB) - Prime Minister Ivo Sanader said Monday he expected major progress in Croatia's talks on European Union membership once France takes over the bloc's rotating presidency on July 1.

"Croatia is expecting important progress in EU talks during the French presidency" of the EU, a statement quoted Sanader as saying after he met with French Senator Hubert Haenel.

"Such progress has been announced by French officials and Croatia is ready to continue necessary reforms," he added.

Haenel, who heads the Senate delegation to the EU, stressed France "strongly supports Croatia's (EU) candidacy and expects that the (membership) talks will be concluded in line with the announced dynamics."

Croatia is hoping to become the bloc's 28th member by the end of the decade.

The former Yugoslav republic is required to reform its judiciary and public administration sectors in particular.

In its EU membership talks, which started in 2005, Zagreb has to open the remaining 17 of the 35 policy "chapters", or policy areas, which candidate countries must successfully negotiate.

Two more "chapters" are expected to be opened on Tuesday.

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