The Government of the Republic of Croatia reports that as the EU chair in the next six months, Finland will advocate that negotiation with Croatia be continued at a balanced pace. The report cites Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Toumioja speaking in Brussels on Thursday."We don't have specific problems with Croatia and negotiations will be continued in at a balanced pace," Minister Tuomioja told a news conference at which he spoke about the priorities of the Finland's presidency of the EU.
Finland has always been opened to enlargement and we have always insisted on an objective assessment of the fulfillment of criteria for each country individually, the Finnish official said. He said his country would advocate that negotiations with Croatia on the chapter on education and culture be opened in July, before the summer recess.
