Slovene representative in the European Parliament Jelko Kacin said on Tuesday that there is no particular in the rest in the European Union about Slovene-Croatian relations or the upcoming EU expansion, because the countries and the governments mostly deal with the economic crisis and recession.

On Slovene Television show “Odmevi”, Kacin commented the statements of Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader in Strasbourg, who said that Croatia was prepared to agree to the future verdict of an international justice institution on the border dispute with Slovenia, as well as the statement of Sanader an the European Parliament speaker Hans-Gert Poettering, who expressed expectations that Croatia will continue negotiations and soon become a EU member.

Kacin said that Sanader met with Poettering in Strasbourg as the head of the European People`s Party, and not the European Parliament and that Slovenia and Croatia must find a political solution for the border issue, with the help of a mediating group proposed by the European Union.

EU will not consider countries with border dispute in the future

The Slovene politician said that Slovenia and Croatia expects political will and maturity while forming groups of experts which will co-operate with the mediating body.

Speaking of Slovene reservations for the continuation of Croatia`s EU accession negotiations, Kacin said he does not believe the EU will accept countries with border disputes in the future.

He pointed out that the last case occurred in 2004, when “half of Cyprus” was accepted and Brussels would not allow “new members with border and other problems” in the EU.