Croatia could become 28th EU member in 2013

Croatia could become 28th EU member in 2013

2011-06-10 19:07:13 GMT+7 (ICT)

BRUSSELS (BNO NEWS) -- Croatia could become the next European Union (EU) member in 2013, after the EU Commission on Friday proposed to the EU Council of Ministers to wrap up the last chapters in the negotiations.

The Commission asked the EU Council of Ministers to close the last four chapters in the accession negotiations with Croatia, bringing the country one step closer to becoming the 28th Member State as of July 1, 2013, said the President of the EU Commission José Manuel Barroso.

However, the assessment of the pending chapters are known to be the most difficult ones. These chapters relate to competition policy, financial and budgetary provisions, judiciary, and fundamental rights; as well as other issues.

In the first two areas have significant economic and financial implications and have caused difficulties; while in the third group of issues, Zagreb has had a backlog concerning the judicial reform, the fight against corruption, prosecution of war criminals and the provision of assistance to the re-adoption of refugees.

Nonetheless, by the favorable position of the Commission that was adopted on Friday, the Hungarian Presidency has received the necessary mandate to conclude the above chapters with Croatia, with the unanimous support of Member States. Closing accession negotiations with Croatia by June 30 is one of the key priorities of the Hungarian Presidency.

Croatia became a candidate country in 2004 and started accession negotiations in 2005. The fisheries chapter was closed during the last round of Croatia's accession negotiations last Monday in Brussels. According to the agreement, Croatia can temporarily keep its traditional fisheries technology in some areas, and will have to renounce it only after a certain transition period.

Prior to that, in the April 19 negotiations, the topics concerning agriculture, regional policy and structural instruments had also been closed.

Last May, Hungry Prime Minister Viktor Orbán underlined that it would be wrong to delay Croatia's accession to the EU, adding that if no results are achieved, this could keep Balkan countries off the European track.

"We will be risking the region's stability," Orbán said. "If we cannot offer a real perspective, we will lose face," he added, stating that the accession of the country would make European integration palpable for the region, strengthening the stability of the Western Balkans and its commitment to the values of the EU.

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