Prodi Downplays Threat to Croatia EU Talks

Brussels, 10 October - Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi on Wednesday downplayed reports that his country could block Croatia's accession negotiations with the EU by saying that the issue of the Croatian fisheries and ecological zone must be resolved jointly by Slovenia, Italy, Croatia and the European Commission. The view was echoed by Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, whom Prodi met in Brussels today.