Croatia in EU not before 2013 or 2014

Croatia is unlikely to become a member of the European Union before the end of 2013 or beginning of 2014, the European Parliament rapporteur for Croatia Hannes Swoboda has said.Even if Croatia manages to finish membership negotiations by June this year, Swoboda believes that much time would be needed for all 27 states to ratify the accession agreement.Swoboda delivered his opinion at the meeting of the EU's Committee on Foreign Affairs where he presented his report on Croatia's progress.Although he praised the Croatian government's efforts in implementing reforms and had expressed his belief that the country would finish negotiations by the middle of this year, Swoboda is of the opinion that the process of the ratification would last at least two years.

Source: Croatian Times Online News