BRATISLAVA, February 1, (WEBNOVINY) – Croatia is a step closer to accession to the European Union, after the Slovak Parliament on Wednesday has ratified the accession treaty between EU members and Croatia. Of the 146 deputies present, 145 voted for the ratification when opposition MP Peter Pelegrini (SMER-SD) refrained from voting, later explaining that he has erred. If the ratification process is successful, Croatia is to become the twenty-eighth EU member on July 1, 2013, by which the EU will expand to the western Balkans, too. After Slovenia, Croatia will be the second former Yugoslav country within the EU.
Foreign Affairs Minister Mikulas Dzurinda (SDKU-DS) highlighted the importance of Slovak diplomacy in Croatia’s EU integration. Dzurinda was Slovak Prime Minister in 2003 when Croatia made its EU bid, while together with his Austrian counterpart Wolfgang Schussel they championed starting the accession negotiations on the EU ground. “We were convinced that it is a country which has all it needs to fulfill the requirements, and that it is country that simply belongs to the EU,” he stressed.
SITA