Serbia ‘Shocked’ Over Croatia’s Stance on Opening EU Chapters
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Serbia reacted angrily to a decision by Croatia to block its early steps toward European Union membership by demanding the government in Belgrade change laws on prosecuting crimes committed during the bloody split of former Yugoslavia.
Croatia refused to support the opening of talks on a so-called negotiating chapter dealing with judiciary and basic rights at a meeting in Brussels on Friday, saying its former Yugoslav federation partner must not be able to prosecute crimes committed in the other republics. The chapter, along with one on justice and freedom, was slated to be the first area of talks in Serbia’s path toward joining the 28-member bloc.