Brussels: Settle the Disputes Yourselves!

Hannes Swoboda, a member of the EU home affairs committee, said Slovenia and Croatia must solve disputes in a peaceful manner.

According to Swoboda, the two countries have not used up all the possibilities to solve outstanding issues and must adopt a joint document on solving border disputes.

The European envoy to Slovenia, Borut Pahor, also voiced his opinion on the issue, saying that there was no document that would solve bilateral issues. 

I suggest an agreement which would solve not only the foreign political actions of Croatia in relation to Slovenia, but also the violation of the 13^th chapter of the legal frame, Pahor said.

According to Chapter 13 of the legal framework of accession negotiations between Croatia and the EU, the European Commission urges Croatia to exercise good neighbourly relations in solving all civil disputes, Slovenia’s Delo writes.

In that sense, an agreement would help Croatia, not only in bilateral issues, but regarding Croatia’s entry into the EU, Pahor said.

He mentioned that the Commission had in item six, called on both countries to solve all issues, avoiding unilateral decisions, including Croatia’s act of proclaiming the Ecological Fisheries Protection Zone.

-- I suggest that both countries focus on moot interests, not local problems, Pahor continued, adding that his role was not to resolve bilateral issues, but offer possible solutions.

Croatia is hindering the possibility of drawing closer

According to Delo, Hannes Swoboda stressed that disputes in Croatia hindered the two countries to draw closer.

He added that he hoped the political parties would focus on solving the moot issues.

People feel cheated in politics, so it should be shown to the public that parties are working on solving the issues, Swoboda said.