Strasbourg, 18/04/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 18 April, MEPs expressed their pleasure at being able to welcome Croatia to the EU on 1 July as its 28th member. They said they were “confident in the strength and maturity of the democracy and social market economy in Croatia, of its accession to European values, and its ability to fulfil the accession obligations”. Adopting the report of Libor Roucek (S&D, Czech Republic) by a large majority (529 votes to 36, with 39 abstentions), MEPs state that Zagreb is on the way to satisfying the final criteria necessary for its accession. The European Parliament also calls on the member states that have not yet done so (Germany and Denmark), to ratify the EU accession treaty. The Parliament regrets Croatia's low turnout at the European elections on 14 April.
Hailing Croatia's notable progress, MEPs call on the Croatian government and parliament to resolve all outstanding issues before 1 July 2013 and to continue other crucial reforms. Zagreb should therefore continue to improve its judicial system and to pursue its fight against corruption. MEPs also call on the authorities to stay watchful on ensuring full respect for human rights and to fight against all forms of discrimination and intolerance against minorities. The Parliament wants the authorities to promote freedom of expression, including the freedom and pluralism of the media. MEPs urge Croatia to continue its structural reforms, to preserve the stability of its banking sector and to continue its policy of budgetary consolidation.
The Parliament urges Croatia to play an active role in regional cooperation and in the stabilisation and European integration of the countries of the Western Balkans, and it underlines that Croatia's experience is useful to other candidates and encourages Croatia to share this with them. (CG/transl.fl)