LUXEMBOURG, Apr 27, 2009 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- European Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn urged here on Monday quick responses from both Slovenia and Croatia to his proposal for resolving a border dispute between the two countries, which has caused further delays for Croatia's accession to the European Union.

"It has now reached a crucial moment for both countries and the EU. We have done 42 kilometers of the Marathon, and have reached the stadium. It's important that we don't give up and keep the momentum going ... I expect positive responses shortly from the two countries to my proposal," Rehn told reporters upon arrival for the EU foreign ministers' meeting.

Rehn has proposed that borders on the sea and land between the two former Yugoslav republics be determined by an international court made up of five judges chosen by the two sides.

Croatia has reportedly welcomed the proposal, with its Freign Affairs Minister Gordan Jandrokovic having called it "a good basis for finding an acceptable solution," but Slovenia's position remains unknown.

The EU foreign ministers will discuss on Monday future prospects for negotiations with Croatia on its accession to the EU following the postponement of an intergovernmental conference (IGC) due to an unresolved border dispute between Slovenia and Croatia. Accession negotiations between the EU and Croatia were launched in October 2005.

Croatia and Slovenia have not been able to completely draw their land and sea borders since their independence from the former Yugoslavia in 1991. The border dispute centers on a stretch of border at the Slovenian coastal town of Piran and access rights to the Adriatic Sea.

Slovenia, an EU member since 2004, partially blocked Croatia's previous round of accession negotiations with the EU in December.