EU calls off Croatian accession talks

PRAGUE, Czech Republic, June 25 (UPI) -- The Czech presidency of the European Union called off intergovernmental accession talks with Croatia based on border disputes with Slovenia.

"Despite substantial efforts to facilitate a solution to the country's border dispute with Slovenia, Croatia's accession talks remain blocked and no new chapters can be formally opened or closed," the Czech presidency said.

Olli Rehn, the EU commissioner for enlargement, had led efforts to resolve the simmering border issues between Croatia and Slovenia but has been unable to make any progress.

Both countries have failed in attempts to demarcate land and sea borders following their independence from the former Yugoslavia in 1991.

EU member state Slovenia, for its part, blocked December negotiations aimed at Croatian accession.

The Czech presidency said the border dispute is exclusively a bilateral issue.

"The presidency deeply regrets the fact that despite numerous attempts by the presidency and the European Commission to help find a way forward the negotiations have not progressed," it said.

The meeting was scheduled for June 26.