Croatia takes two more steps towards EU membership
(BRUSSELS) - Croatia on Friday took another step towards its goal of EU membership, opening talks on two more of the policy areas which must be successfully negotiated prior to joining.
After the official opening of the accession talks on the environment and fisheries, Croatia has only five of the 35 policy chapters to open, buoying hopes in Zagreb of a swift completion.
However there are still substantial hurdles ahead.
The chapter on judicial powers has long been blocked, with the Europeans -- notably the Dutch -- feeling Croatia has not sufficiently cooperated with The Hague-based international war crimes court for the former Yugoslavia.
However the court recently said it would not oppose the opening of the chapter.
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