Historic day for Croatia and the region
09 December 2011 News
Today is a historic day for Croatia and for all Western Balkan countries. I am confident that Croatia will continue to follow with the same zeal its European path and the commitments to its tasks in the negotiation process. The signing of the Accession Treaty is the end of a complex process in which the EU has demonstrated its ability to reform whole societies.
Successive political decisions and efforts made by the Croatian people in the past decade, deserve strong recognition and today’s event is a reward. Croatia’s path to the EU began in 2005, and since then the country has carried out key reforms, guaranteeing the rule of law, human rights and a functioning market economy.
With the signing, Croatia has gained the status of an active observer in most decision-making forums in the EU. During this period, our co-operation will acquire new dimensions on key European issues.
We hope that the process of ratification of the Treaty will be completed successfully, to which we shall make our contribution, and we look forward to July 1 2013 when the European Union will have 28 Member States. On this date, Bulgaria will get one more partner in the region with which we have a traditional friendship, and with which - I am sure - we will work successfully for the accession of all our neighbours to the EU.