Christian Danielsson, 2007, www.seetv-exchanges.com

Cutaways of C. Danielsson in his office

CROATIA

On Fishery Zone

This is an important issue and this why we are high lightening in our report. It is the issues tat is primarily between Croatiaand neighbours that are fishing in that particular zone. We are making clear that it is important for Croatiato address this issue and address it before the 1^st of January. We should be aware that there was an agreement in 2004 on how this issue should be addressed and that agreement was in force for long time. We are convinced that the Croats will look seriously into this one and that we will have a situation by the beginning of the next year where this issue has been addressed.

I would not like to speculate but it is clear that this is such issue that is likely to have effects on the general climate when it comes to negotiations, if it is not addressed.

Progress towards market economy

It is an indication that Croatia has moved further in addressing issues relating both to structures that are guarantying the functional marketing economy and being able to take on the competition of the internal market. It is a clear sign of the progress that has been made in Croatia.

MACEDONIA

On fighting corruption

What are we pointing to is that there has been progress in fighting corruption; we are also making it clear that the level of corruption in your country is very high and that it is something that needs to be addressed. When it comes to economy it is clear that it is moving forward quite substantially. Figures related to growth and other relevant figures are looking all right. But on the same time we are pointing at the number of important structure problems and one of them is unemployment.

On low employment

The barriers that exist when it comes to individuals getting into the labour market and that needs to be addressed by the concrete action in order to address what we call black economy. There are various ways one can do that – it has to do with taxation and also with corruption, it has to do with other legal instruments that one can use to that effect.

On lack of political dialogue

It is in particular important that the dialogue starts to be efficient between the government and one of the major opposition parties. That dialogue should take form and place within the existing democratic institutions which is the parliament. That is the most important message that we are sending and as long as such dialogue and such willingness to move forward on important issues such as reforms is not there, than of course there is a problem. Now, we have seen the progress over last year in this respect but we have also seen lack of progress and that is why we have put this so high in our report this year.

What is called for is to see that the parliament functions just like a parliament should function in democracy meaning that it should be THE place where political issues are being discussed and where decisions are being taken. That is what is we call for and that dialogue is the responsibility of political parties and players in this respect.