Parliament looks set to ratify the accession treaty between Croatia and the EU member-states, thus becoming the fifth country to give its blessing for this west Balkan state to join the EU in July 2013.
The House yesterday starting debating a resolution sponsored by Deputy Prime Minister Tonio Borg and seconded by opposition foreign affairs spokesman George Vella. The Croatian ambassador to Malta, Tomislav Vidosevic, was present for part of the debate.
Dr Borg said that Malta was investing in friendship with the Balkan states and had supported Croatia and Montenegro in their negotiations for the candidate status. It supported Serbia in its efforts to enter into the stabilisation and association agreement. It was supporting Albania and Bosnia Herzegovina.
Croatia’s adhesion was good news for the region, he said. The fact that a west Balkan country had passed all tests proved that other countries in the region were ready for membership. The region was important for peace in Europe and Croatia was leading the way of the integration of these countries in the EU.
Dr Borg noted positively the Croatian’s Parliament declaration to promote European values in South East Europe.
The European Parliament had also approved Croatia’s adhesion treaty but made strong appeals to the country.
It appealed to Croatia to increase its efforts to prosecute war criminals, encourage the return of refugees, ensure the independence of the judiciary and fight against corruption and organised crime. It also appealed to Croatia to embark on more structural economic reforms, to consolidate competitiveness and to give a new breath to the labour market.
Minister Borg said that although there was a low turnout of 43 per cent in Croatia’s referendum for membership, two thirds of electors voted in favour while 62 per cent of Croatian MPs voted in favour of membership.
He hoped that Malta’s investment of friendship with the west Balkan states would give results. He added that the EU process in the region would lead to integration in other areas as EU membership meant “pooling and not losing” sovereignty status.
The Foreign Minister also spoke about the other Balkan states’ bid for EU membership. Malta was helping Montenegro in its negotiations because it was a small country and could face similar problems that Malta faced in its EU negotiations. Malta had also welcomed Serbia’s European perspective and had made it clear to the Serbian government that it recognised Kosovo as an independent state. Dr Borg said that he could not see the west Balkan states in the EU without Serbia because of its economic and military strength. He hoped that the country would be given candidate status soon.
The EU foreign representative Catherine Ashton had persuaded Serbia and Kosovo to make life easier for ordinary people leading to regional cooperation, the removal of visas and free movement of people and goods.
Malta was also ready to invest in Bosnia Herzegovina as long as ethnic problems were cleared. This country was waiting for the ratification of the stabilisation and association agreement.