28/03/2013 (Agence Europe) - Hannes Swoboda congratulates Zagreb on fulfilling all its accession requirements. On 27 March, the leader of the S&D Group at the European Parliament, Hannes Swoboda (Austria), hailed the Croatian government for fulfilling “all the requirements” for joining the European Union on 1 July 2013 (see EUROPE 10815). “However, it is essential that, after the formal accession process ends, the tasks of fighting corruption and strengthening the rule of law will continue”, he stated. He said he hoped that the turnout for the elections of Croatian MEPs on 14 April would be high. (CG/transl.fl)