Speed up reforms, anti-graft drive, EU tells Croatia

 "ZAGREB - Croatia must step up reform of its inefficient judiciary and show concrete results in fighting corruption before it completes European Union membership talks, the European Justice Comissioner said on Friday.

'I need to be clear. With negotiations nearing their end, Croatia now needs to speed up reforms. Not only on paper. I want to see concrete results,' Viviane Reding told a conference on judiciary, vowing to be 'vigilant on Croatia's performance'.

Zagreb hopes to conclude talks on 30 out of 33 chapters or policy areas that make up EU law by the end of this year.The remaining three - which it aims to wrap up by next June - include the two most difficult sectors, the judiciary and competition, and Reding said there were "no deadlines, no timeframe for their completion".

"The Commission will judge Croatia on the implementation of reforms, not just the mere passing of laws... We will not accept any half-measures," Reding said.
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