Ireland, which is to take over the European Union Presidency in the first half of 2013, is confident that the process of ratifying Croatia's Treaty of Accession with the European Union should go smoothly and believes that possible problems with Slovenia should be resolved bilaterally and must not obstruct the accession process, Irish Minister of State for European Affairs Lucinda Creighton said in Brussels on Monday.
We are confident that the ratification process will proceed smoothly and that Croatia will enter the bloc on 1 July 2013. We will closely cooperate with Croatian colleagues with whom we have excellent relations so as to avoid possible difficulties during our six-month EU chair, said Creighton who, together with Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Eamon Gilmore, presented the priorities of Irish EU presidency.
Asked about possible difficulties in the ratification of Croatia's EU accession treaty in Slovenia, Creighton said bilateral issues must not obstruct the process.
Ireland is taking over the EU chair on 1 Jan 2013.
