Croatia signs treaty that will bring it into EU

PanARMENIAN.Net - Croatia on Friday, December 9, signed an accession treaty that will bring it into the European Union in 2013 after ratification by the legislatures of the bloc's 27 member nations, AP reports.

EU president Herman Van Rompuy welcomed the signing of the accession document, saying Croatia will be an "active observer" in all EU forums until it becomes a full member 18 months from now.

"Today is a historic day for Croatia and the EU. Croatia is set to become the 28th state of the union," he told EU leaders at the signing ceremony.

Croatia's entry talks lasted seven years and were held up repeatedly due to territorial disputes with neighboring Slovenia and demands that it arrest remaining war crimes suspects.

"Today Croatia is entering Europe, but more importantly Europe is entering Croatia," Croatian President Ivo Josipovic told the heads of government of all 27 current members, who were attending a summit focused on saving their common currency.

Following a marathon all-night session, most leaders decided to back a new treaty with strict oversight over national budgets, as they tried to convince markets that the euro has a future in the wake of a crippling debt crisis.

Croatia will become the second nation from the former Yugoslavia to join the EU. Slovenia became a member in 2004.

Meanwhile, officials said EU leaders may postpone making Serbia a candidate for the bloc until their next summit in March.

According to a draft resolution, Serbia would have to normalize by then relations with its former province of Kosovo, which declared independence in 2008, said the officials who spoke on usual condition of anonymity.