The chairman of the Socialist group in the European Parliament and parliamentary rapporteur on Croatia, Hannes Swoboda, said on Monday he expected a smooth process of ratification of Croatia's EU accession treaty, and that he expected Croatian observers in the European Parliament in late February.
I think the ratification process will go smoothly. Everyone was waiting for the outcome of the referendum and the verdict of Croatian citizens. It was seen as a very positive signal and there is no more resistance to the ratification processing going ahead, Swoboda told reporters in Brussels where EU leaders were meeting for an informal summit.
Croatian Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic was attending the summit as an observer for the first time. When asked to assess the first moves by Milanovic as Prime Minister, Swoboda said Milanovic was well-connected and well-known in Brussels and that they were looking forward to good cooperation with him, especially after the successful outcome of the EU entry referendum.
Swoboda said he expected Croatian representatives in the European Parliament at the end of February.
Croatian representatives will have observer status until Croatia formally joins the EU, which is scheduled for 1 July 2013.
