Croatia likely to enter EU in 2010
19 September 2008
Croatia is likely to enter the European Union (EU) in 2010, as its EU membership negotiations are to be completed by the end of 2009, said EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn. Croatia's EU membership negotiations are proceeding successfully, he added.
The Czech Republic will hold the EU Presidency in the first half of 2009.
Czech deputy prime minister for EU affairs Alexandr Vondra said that “the western Balkan countries will be very important for the Czech presidency,” adding that “they will be one of the countries foreign political priorities.”
However, the EU can not yet proceed with the addition of another member to the bloc, until the Lisbon Treaty is ratified by all its 27 members.
Rehn said that the European Commission would publish a report on the state of enlargement in autumn, which will be the basis for the EU December summit.