News archive - Croatia: Commission proposes to close the last "Chapters" in the accession talks
"Today is a historic day for Croatia and for the European Union", President Barroso said in his statement on June 10, 2011, following the European Commission's proposal to the EU Council of Ministers to close the last four chapters in the accession negotiations with Croatia. This paves the way for Croatia to join the EU as the 28th Member State as of July 1, 2013, if this indicative date proposed by the Commission were to be retained by the Council.
Barroso applauded the Croatian authorities and the people of Croatia for their hard work over the last years.
"The Commission has negotiated hard but fair over the last years, applying strict conditionality and making sure that all EU criteria and benchmarks are fulfilled. This firm commitment has paid off: Croatia is now ready to move ahead. EU enlargement is about credibility: Credibility from candidate countries in respecting the criteria and enforcing the required reforms, and credibility on the EU side in moving forward once the agreed conditions have been met", Barroso commented.
Signal to South Eastern Europe
"This important step forward by Croatia towards membership is also a signal to the rest to of South Eastern Europe", Barroso continued. "It shows that enlargement works, that the EU is serious about its commitment, and that structural European reforms in the countries pay off. I therefore hope that Croatia's progress is an inspiration to our other partners to reinvigorate their reform efforts and to deliver to the benefit of their people. This is also in the EU’s self-interest. As I saw again during my two recent visits to the region, a credible enlargement policy remains our most important tool for strengthening mutual stability and prosperity in South Eastern Europe."
Source: Rapid Press Release of June 10, 2011 (http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/11/397&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=de)
- Croatia
- Western Balkans
Entry created by Katarina Rohsmann on June 10, 2011
Modified on June 10, 2011
