ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) The Croatian government on Thursday proposed urgent changes to a law banning the extradition of suspected criminals so it can avoid possible sanctions from its new partners in the European Union.
The law was adopted just a day before Croatia formally became an EU member onJuly 1 and included a retroactive prohibition on Croatian citizens being extradited, which goes against EU practice.
The EU had threatened sanctions such as suspending funds for Croatia's border controls over the law and Zagreb then promised to amend it as soon as possible.
EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding has said the threat of sanctions will depend on Croatia's moves to effectively change the law and an assessment from EU member states by Oct. 5.
The government's decision on Thursday paves the way for the parliament to formally pass the changes. The date for the parliamentary session wasn't immediately set, but Croatia has promised the changes will take effect by Jan. 1 at the latest.
Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic said that "we have closed this chapter."
The EU's European Arrest Warrant eases the handover of criminals and suspects to other EU countries. Croatia had said that its disputed law was intended to protect veterans of its 1991-95 war for independence from prosecution abroad.
