Verdrag over toetreding Kroatië tot EU getekend (en)

‘Welcome to the EU,’ said Prime Minister Donald Tusk i to the representatives of Croatia at the ceremony marking the signing of the Treaty.

‘Welcome to the EU,’ said Prime Minister Donald Tusk to the representatives of Croatia at the ceremony marking the signing of the Croatia’s EU accession treaty. The treaty was signed on behalf of Croatia by President Ivo Josipovic and Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor, on behalf of the EU by the President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy i, Prime Minister Donald Tusk and representatives of other EU Member States.

‘We have behind us an exhausting discussion at a crucial moment for the history of the Union. We are looking for a way out of the crisis, which has been so severely felt all over the world, particularly in the euro area, and yet the decision of Croatia and the hopes and dreams of other countries applying to join the EU shows that the EU has a profound significance,’ Donald Tusk said.

The Head of the Polish government remarked that those who remember when they themselves entered the EU were well aware what a moving moment it was for the leaders of the country and its citizens. ‘Croats are entitled to be greatly satisfied, because their way into Europe was more difficult than many of today's EU members,’ he added.

‘It's a day of joy for Croatia and the European Union,’ said European Council President Herman Van Rompuy in congratulating the leaders of Croatia for their courage in striving for membership. ‘The EU acts as a powerful magnet for peaceful change in our surroundings,’ stressed the European Council President.

‘The success of Croatia is a success for Europe and its peace policy, which is the strongest foundation for a united Europe,’ said Croatian President Ivo Josipovic at the ceremony. Croatia applied for EU membership in 2003; formal negotiations began in October 2005 and ended on 30th June 2011. The country will enter the EU on 1st July 2013 after completion of the ratification process in all Member States and Croatia.

To mark Croatia’s signing of the EU Accession Treaty, the Polish Presidency i launched an unusual project which involved filming a welcome speech in which everyone could participate. The single speech, compiled from a variety of different recordings, constitutes a symbolic gift from Poland to the representatives of Croatia. The name of the project, Dobrodošli, comes from the Croatian word for welcome.

data publikacji: 09-12-2011