Štefan Füle on the 2012 comprehensive monitoring report on Croatia

Štefan Füle – European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy

European Parliament, plenary debate / Strasbourg

Strasbourg, 17-4-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — President, Honourable Members,

It is a great honour for me to participate in today’s debate on Croatia. I also welcome your support for the Commission’s work on Croatia, as confirmed by the report we will debate here today.

I would like to express my warm gratitude to the Rapporteur, Mr Libor Rouček, for his draft resolution. The resolution acknowledges Croatia’s progress to-date, and calls on the country to continue its efforts.

This also reflects the Conclusions of our recent Spring Monitoring Report, which was adopted on 26 March. Croatia is generally meeting the commitments and requirements arising from the accession negotiations, in all chapters. It has demonstrated its ability to fulfil all other commitments in good time before accession.

The focus of the last Monitoring Report, in accordance with the Accession Treaty, is on:

Competition;
Judiciary and Fundamental Rights; and
Justice, Freedom and Security.
At the same time, we look in particular at the priority actions from the October Comprehensive Monitoring Report – and I am pleased to note that all of them have been completed.

Let me give you some examples:

The privatisation contract for the Brodosplit shipyard was signed;
Measures were implemented to increase the efficiency of the judiciary; and
The Conflict of Interest Commission was established and started its work.
The Commission is therefore confident that Croatia will be ready for membership on 1 July 2013.

Croatia’s active observer status will come to an end. The work to turn membership into a success will start.

Croatia arrives at a moment when the European Union is experiencing its most serious economic and financial crisis. Many decisions have been taken to overcome the crisis over the last few years and Croatia can now provide its contribution to the resolution.

European Union membership presents many challenges, but also creates many opportunities. The structural funds and the participation in the internal market offer important opportunities to get the Croatian economy out of its current recession.

Croatia will also set to achieve two new strategic goals: joining Schengen, and adopting the euro. For the latter, Croatia will need to enhance the competitiveness of its economy, continuing the structural reforms it has started.

President, Honourable Members,

As you can see, our Report reflects to a great extent the issues you raise in your Resolution. I look forward to its adoption by the Plenary. I also look forward to welcoming Croatia to the European Union on 1 July 2013.

Thank you.

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