Croatia: the path is clear for EU membership

European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs votes on Croatia for the last time.

Croatia is on its way to joining the European Union as planned on 1 July 2013, the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament confirmed today.

"The Committee has confirmed that Croatia has overcome all obstacles with flying colours and is now at the finish line", said the EPP Group's Shadow Rapporteur, Bernd Posselt MEP, who worked for decades to enable the country to join the EU.

The Committee on Foreign Affairs asked the remaining three EU Member States, including Germany, to follow the example of the other 24 Member States and ratify the Accession Treaty of Croatia to the EU as soon as possible. Croatia has an adequate institutional and legal framework to fight corruption and needs to continue its efforts on judicial reform.

"The target date of 1 July for Croatia's accession is fixed. Croatia has done its homework. There must be no artificial barriers now", Bernd Posselt concluded. At his request, the Committee confirmed that the European Parliament gave its binding 'yes' to Croatia six months ago and underlined that all 27 EU Heads of State and Government have already signed the Accession Treaty.