Croatia, Romania and Bulgaria in the EU by 2007: Poland's Kwasniewski

Croatia, Romania and Bulgaria could all be part of the European Union by 2007, Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski said Monday, addressing his Croatian counterpart who is on a two-day visit to the Polish capital. "We believe that the schedule for admitting Croatia could be successfully finalized by 2007, with Romania and Bulgaria right behind," Kwasniewski told a joint conference. Croatian President Stipe Mesic arrived Sunday in the port city of Gdansk in northern Poland and met Kwasniewski for talks at the Polish president's vacation residence on Gdansk Bay's Hel peninsula. "Poland is ready to give political support (to Croatia) and to share its experience in economic and judicial transformation, entry negotiations and the first taste of life in the EU," said Kwasniewski on Monday. The two heads of state will also kick off an economic forum to be attended by Croatian and Polish businessmen. Kwasniewski also voiced his support for Croatia's plans to join NATO, for which a 2006 timetable has been set. Croatia obtained official EU candidate status in June and is hoping to become a full fledged member by spring 2005. Poland, along with 10 other countries, joined the EU on May first and has been a member of NATO since 1999. Before returning to Zagreb, Mesic will also hold talks with the president of the Polish parliament. Source: EUBusiness