 Slovenia's Anton Rop says Croatia's actions are not very European |
Slovenia has threatened to oppose Croatian membership of the European Union after a number of its citizens were held in a disputed border area. The group, including an opposition party leader were detained by Croatian border police, near Secovlje, after refusing to show identity cards.
After an emergency meeting, Slovenia's Prime Minister Anton Rop said it showed Croatia was not fit to join the EU.
Slovenia joined the EU in May 2004 and Croatia is hoping to join in 2007.
Intolerable
After an emergency meeting of the Slovene cabinet, Prime Minister Anton Rop said it showed Croatia was not fit to join the EU.
Slovenia joined the EU in May 2004 and Croatia is hoping to join in 2007.
The activists detained in the incident say they were visiting a party member who lives on the narrow strip of disputed land. Mr Rop told Radio Slovenia: "In our opinion, such incidents, which are intolerable in the international sphere, mean that Slovenia can no longer - for the time being - support Croatia's accession to the EU.
"We will start relevant procedures against Croatia and we have also started procedures against the perpetrators who arrested the Slovene citizens (at the Croatian border).
"They will be persecuted by the Slovene courts."
Slovenia has recalled its ambassador for consultation. Croatia says it will not tolerate any more border incidents.
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