The head of the Socialist group in the European Parliament, Hannes Swoboda of Austria, has voiced confidence that Croatia will enter the European Union next year and dismissed comments about Croatia's unreadiness for EU membership as completely unfounded.
First of all, new obstacles should not be created for Croatia. There are some issues which Croatia must solve, and it is feasible. Enthusiasm in Europe for Croatia's entry in mid-2013 should not wane. I am absolutely certain that Croatia will be in in mid-2013, a small portion of work remains to be done, but one should be serious and not set new obstacles, Swoboda said in Brussels on Thursday when asked to comment on statements by some German politicians who doubt Croatia's preparedness for EU membership.
Those assessments are completely unfounded. I think that Croatia has done a good job, we have done a good job and Croatia is welcome to the EU, Swoboda said ahead of a meeting of EU heads of state or government from the Party of European Socialists, which is regularly held before each EU summit.
