EU approves 46.8 mln pre-accession programme for Croatia

The programme will focus on strengthening administrative capacity for an efficient justice system and the protection of fundamental rights, the European Commission said in a statement on its website.

The funding will also support Croatia's on-going efforts to build a modern, transparent, and citizen-oriented public service.

Croatia will join the 27-nation bloc in mid-2013.

"Croatia is almost there. I am confident this year's programme will help Croatia reach its last goals in preparing for the entry and become a successful EU Member State", EU enlargement commissioner Stefan Fuele said in the statement.

Since 2007, the EU has made available a total of 998 million euro in financial support to Croatia under pre-accession assistance (IPA). All these funds have now been allocated.

($=0.764 euro)