The Zagreb daily Jutarnji List writes Thursday that Croatia will conclude EU accession talks before the summer and become a full-fledged member of the union on July 1, 2013.

Announcing today's meeting of permanent representatives of EU member countries in Brussels, the paper says they will hold a debate on concluding Croatia's accession talks, as well as a tentative date when the country could become a full-fledged member.

Zagreb expects that EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele's report to the EU officials will say that Croatia has made major progress in the chapter on the judiciary and fundamental rights, and that they will give a green light to close this chapter and the chapter on market competition.

The European Commission (EC) will base it assessment of the judiciary on a report from the Croatian government, as well as one drawn up by the EC mission which visited the country last week.

Jutarnji List is quoting unnamed EU diplomats who said that everything is pointing toward the talks being closed in June or possibly July.

The closure will not be unconditional, because France has suggested, and many other countries have agreed, that the judiciary be monitored regularly even after talks are over, until Croatia becomes an EU member country.

Whoever is in power will not be able to relax even moment, because this rhythm of combating corruption on all levels needs to be sustained, the daily quoted the diplomats.

According to EC estimates, in its first year in the EU, Croatia will need to pay EUR 609 million into the EU budget, and EUR 647 the following year.