Athens, 30 June 2011
Foreign Minister Stavros Lambrinidis made the following statement on the completion today of Croatia’s accession negotiations with the EU:
“After five and a half years of tireless efforts, the accession negotiations with Croatia were completed today. We now look forward to welcoming Croatia to the European Union – as the 28th member state – in July 2013.
This event, which is historic for both Croatia and the EU, comes at a time when Europe is facing major challenges and difficult choices. The success of the enlargement policy points us towards the future, reaffirming the far-reaching influence of the European idea and the resonance of the fundamental principles on which the European endeavour rests.
Greece plays a leading role as a supporter of EU enlargement. The transformation of Southeast Europe into a space of peace, stability, prosperity and development remains our strategic goal.
In completing the accession negotiations with Croatia, the EU is sending a strong message to the other candidate countries and potential candidate countries.
The message being sent to Turkey is that the EU honors its promises in full when candidate countries meet the obligations they have undertaken.
The message for the other countries of the Western Balkans is that accession to the EU is a tangible and achievable goal. It is the incentive and reward for the efforts that each of these countries needs to make to meet the criteria and prerequisites the Union has set. And this is the essence of our ‘Agenda 2014’ initiative, which will be the focus of Greece’s EU Presidency that year. Croatia’s accession can impart increased momentum to the process and prompt the other countries of the Western Balkans to step up their reforms, regional cooperation and consolidation of and respect for good neighbourly relations, which are essential prerequisites for their European perspective. Greece has supported and assisted their efforts ardently, and will continue to do so.”