Daul: Croatia's EU accession could boost security

Croatia's accession into the EU will help boost security and stability in the south-east of the continent, according to EPP-ED leader Joseph Daul.

Writing in The Parliament Magazine, he argues that Croatia is the only country that can expect to join the EU in the short term.

Although the EPP-ED group supports Croatia's membership bid, Daul insists that the country must meet the accession criteria - without exception.

Read the full text of the article below:

The European project was conceived on the hopes of peace, prosperity and the joining of forces towards a common goal. It was enlargement that contributed to peace and stability throughout the continent and consolidated common principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law, as well as the market economy.

The story of enlargement is the story of Europe itself. And it is the EU’s most successful policy.

The EU plans to take the next step with Croatia. We have a responsibility to ourselves to continue to consolidate the European space and create a better future for the people of Europe. The timely accession of Croatia will set an example for other countries hoping to join, and significantly contribute to the stability and security in the south-east of our continent. With Croatia we must be aware that we are sending a message to other countries in the region that reforms do pay off.

The EPP-ED group has supported Croatia in its bid to become the EU’s 28th member state – conditional on its compliance with the accession criteria – since the start of negotiations.

In its annual strategy document unveiled on 5 November last year, the European commission gave Croatia an indicative timetable to conclude accession negotiations by the end of this year, provided it met all the conditions. The roadmap was a result not only of Croatia’s track record, but was also based on a reasonable expectation that the goal of concluding negotiations can be achieved in the given timeframe.

But the border dispute with Slovenia, essentially bilateral in nature, has moved up to the top of the agenda. As a union based on dialogue, we must try hard to find a lasting solution to this dispute.

I encourage Croatia to continue with preparations for EU accession, in order to keep within the timeframe. I am still confident that the 2009 target date is not in jeopardy; however, there is little time to be lost. And there are encouraging signs: the wholehearted vote in the Slovenian parliament to ratify the Nato-Croatia accession treaty is a positive development.

Croatia is a country that has moved far along in the process of joining and it is the only country that can expect to join the EU in the short term. It is clear that there are challenges ahead and reforms to be undertaken, not least the reform of the shipbuilding industry, the judiciary and the fight against corruption. And we will not make any exceptions for Croatia; although, I find it difficult to suggest that the country is not keeping up with the reforms when our own agenda-setting mechanism, the negotiations process, is stalled.

But we should not make an exception of Croatia. We must not forget the fundamental premise on which the EU was built: the hope of peace.

The latest issue of the Parliament Magazine is now available in the digital online archive

Read an article from Hannes Swoboda, parliament's rapporteur on Croatia, who argues that border disputes between Croatia and neighbouring Slovenia must not impede the country's progress in joining the EU

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