EU official warns Croatia to speed up reforms, settle maritime dispute

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ZAGREB, Croatia: A senior European Union official warned Croatia on Thursday to speed up government reforms and end a maritime dispute with its neighbors, or face the prospect of jeopardizing its bid to join the bloc.

Olli Rehn, the EU's chief for enlargement, said Croatia's dispute with EU members Slovenia and Italy over fishing rights in the Adriatic Sea "is now the most urgent issue for Croatia to settle." If not, it will cause serious delays in Croatia's entry into the EU, Rehn told reporters after meeting with Prime Minister Ivo Sanader.