Croatia is not ready yet for membership of the European Union, a Dutch newspaper quoted European Affairs Minister Frans Timmermans as saying today.
Dutch broadsheet NRC Handelsbladreported that Mr Timmermans said he "completely disagreed" with EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn after the EU Commission said last month that Croatia could wrap up entry talks next year if it steps up its preparations.
Like Serbia, Croatia had to completely cooperate with the United Nations war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague, the paper quoted Mr Timmermans as telling parliament.
"What we have seen recently in that respect is a cause for concern," Mr Timmermans said.
Any existing EU member can block a candidate country from joining the union.
