The government stated it was surprised at the mention of possible measures against Croatia because such action could be considered only in the event of serious shortcomings in the implementation of the acquis communautaire.

Croatia is implementing the European Arrest Warrant, the government said in its letter.

We have also sent you a clearly defined timeline in which the legislative amendments will be drafted, enacted by Parliament and brought into force. Therefore, for the purpose of alignment with the acquis, we have taken all the steps which we have deemed necessary and which you have requested of us, the letter says.

The government said in the letter that Slovenia and the Czech Republic had also imposed time limits on the application of the EAW even though they had not agreed such limits during accession negotiations, but had not been punished for that.

Reding said in Brussels on Wednesday she had sent a new letter to the Croatian government requesting swift and smooth amendment of the EAW law.

Croatia passed the law in late June, limiting the application of the EAW to crimes committed after August 2002.