Brussels, 17/11/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 17 November, members of the parliamentary foreign affairs committee voted to give their support for Croatia's membership of the European Union. There were 65 votes in favour and just one against. “Today's vote means that now the way is free for Croatia to join the EU. We expect a vast majority of the full Parliament to support our decision. This will also be a clear message for the citizens of Croatia”, stressed the Parliament rapporteur on Croatia's candidature, Hannes Swoboda (S&D, Austria), speaking after the vote. The European Parliament will give its stance in plenary session, on 1 December, on Croatia's accession.
In an accompanying non-binding report, also by Swoboda, MEPs encourage Croats to turn out for the referendum on the EU and to vote in favour of the accession treaty.
Acknowledging that Croatia is ready to enter the EU, MEPs nonetheless call on the country to continue with its reform programme, especially in the fields of justice, counter-corruption and the fight against organised crime, and to step up its efforts for the prosecution of those responsible for war crimes, in collaboration with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY). They also trust that Zagreb will continue its structural reforms, encourage employment and continue fiscal improvements in order to improve competitiveness. Croatia's entry to the EU is scheduled for 1 July 2013. (CG/transl.jl)