Hungary supports Croatia's EU bid

Hungary’s prime minister today expressed support for Croatia’s bid to become a member of the European Union.

In a phone call to his Croatian counterpart, Ivo Sanader, Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany said his government would back Croatia’s wish for the EU to set a start date for negotiations at next week’s EU summit.

Croatia, one of Hungary’s southern neighbours, would like to begin accession talks with the EU in early 2005.

Sanader will make an official visit to Hungry early next year, at Gyurcsany’s invitation.

The two countries historically have enjoyed good relations. There is a small ethnic Hungarian minority of about 25,000 people in Croatia.