Brussels, 29/05/2012 (Agence Europe) - The General Affairs Council, after thoroughly assessing the European Commission's monitoring report of 24 April 2012, noted “with satisfaction” on Tuesday 29 May that, overall, Croatia's preparations for EU membership are “on track” and that Croatia has reached a “considerable degree of alignment with the acquis”.
In its conclusions, the Council calls on Croatia to use the time remaining until accession to step up its efforts in building on the reforms it has implemented and the track records it has developed in the accession negotiations, “notably in the fields of judiciary and fundamental rights, justice, freedom and security, and competition policy”. The Council reiterates the importance it attaches to the close monitoring of Croatia's fulfilment of all the commitments undertaken in the accession negotiations, “including those which must be fulfilled before accession, and to Croatia's continued preparations to fully assume its membership obligations upon accession”.
The Council looks forward to welcoming Croatia as the 28the member of the EU on 1 July 2013. It calls on Commission to continue monitoring Croatia's preparations for accession and looks forward to the comprehensive monitoring report and updated monitoring tables to be presented by the Commission this autumn. After the Council meeting, Commissioner Maros Sefcovic said that all supported Croatia's accession on 1 July of next year. (CG/transl.rt)