EU accession

Belgium completes ratification of Croatia's EU treaty

11.04.2013 u 18:56

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Belgium has completed the ratification of Croatia's European Union accession treaty which, after being signed by the foreign minister during the day, will be forwarded to King Albert II for signing, it was said in Zagreb on Thursday.

The process has been completed and I will be glad to sign the document in the next few hours and send it to the king, Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and European Affairs Didier Reynders said after talks with Croatian Foreign Minister Vesna Pusic, who thanked Belgium for the completion of the ratification.

Three more EU countries need to ratify the treaty - the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany.

The Dutch parliament's Senate is expected to do so on April 16, after which it is expected to be signed by the queen, or the king, given that Queen Beatrix will formally step down on April 30, to be succeeded by her son, Prince Willem-Alexander.

Denmark is expected to vote on the ratification on April 30, its parliament's media office told Hina.

Germany is likely to complete the ratification process in mid-June.

The Bundestag will vote in mid-May, probably on May 15, after which the Bundesrat will do so on June 7, after which it will be signed by President Joachim Gauck, the German Embassy said.