Croatia will be ready to join the EU in 2009 and its membership is not going to be delayed by the EU's current institutional "crisis", Croatian President Stjepan Mesic has said. "I understand European countries, including France, which intend to solve the EU's institutional problems before proceeding to any new accessions ... [But] we will speed up the rhythm of our reforms and be ready in 2009 to join the EU as its 28th member," Mr Mesic told French daily Le Figaro in an interview published on Tuesday (15 July). Dubrovnik - Croatia is hoping to conclude EU talks next year "The current situation will not discourage us," he added. Following Ireland's rejection of the Lisbon treaty last month, some EU leaders - including French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel - have said that no further EU enlargement will take place until the document is ratified. "I will veto any enlargement as long as there will be no new institutions," Mr Sarkozy said again on Tuesday. Asked if he could imagine his country joining the EU without the bloc having dealt with the Irish No, Mr Mesic said: "No, the EU will find a way out of this crisis. If 26 EU states ratify Lisbon [traty]... they will find a solution for the 27th ... The European institutional crisis will be solved."
Croatia will be ready to join the EU in 2009 and its membership is not going to be delayed by the EU's current institutional "crisis", Croatian President Stjepan Mesic has said.
"I understand European countries, including France, which intend to solve the EU's institutional problems before proceeding to any new accessions ... [But] we will speed up the rhythm of our reforms and be ready in 2009 to join the EU as its 28th member," Mr Mesic told French daily Le Figaro in an interview published on Tuesday (15 July).
Dubrovnik - Croatia is hoping to conclude EU talks next year
"The current situation will not discourage us," he added.
Following Ireland's rejection of the Lisbon treaty last month, some EU leaders - including French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel - have said that no further EU enlargement will take place until the document is ratified.
"I will veto any enlargement as long as there will be no new institutions," Mr Sarkozy said again on Tuesday.
Asked if he could imagine his country joining the EU without the bloc having dealt with the Irish No, Mr Mesic said: "No, the EU will find a way out of this crisis. If 26 EU states ratify Lisbon [traty]... they will find a solution for the 27th ... The European institutional crisis will be solved."
