30/06/2011  News from European Commission – Enlargement:
EU Member States decided on 30 June to close accession negotiations with Croatia, which should allow for the signature of the Accession Treaty by the end of the year. Following the ratification procedure in all Member States and Croatia, accession is foreseen for 1 July 2013. This decision marks a successful end to six-years of negotiations during which Croatia has been asked not only to adopt new laws and regulations to comply with EU standards, but also to implement them, thus proving the reforms have taken an irreversible course of action. It was agreed by Member States that the Commission will closely monitor up to the date of accession Croatia’s fulfilment of the commitments undertaken in the negotiations and its continued preparations to assume the responsibilities of EU membership upon accession.