Brussels, 04/05/2012 (Agence Europe) - The head of the European Parliament (EP) delegation to the EU-Croatia Joint Parliamentary Committee, Gunnar Hökmark (EPP, Sweden) said in Zagreb on Friday 4 May that the accession of Croatia to the EU will be the starting point for fresh development in the Balkans. He said that granting Croatia membership of the EU from July 2013 had already given new strength to those in other parts of the Western Balkans who want to leave old conflicts behind.
“Those in Croatia who oppose enlargement seek to hold on to old antagonisms. Those in Europe who are sceptical towards or are against enlargement are forgetting the positive influence the membership process has already had in countries striving to be part of Europe”, Hökmark stated. (CG/transl.rt)