I am very pleased that all the requirements have been met or will be so soon, Fuele said at a special session of the Croatian government. The story of Croatia is a success story because through the many years of hard work it has managed to reach its goal, he added.

Fuele said that Croatia had been placed under a special monitoring regime and had fulfilled all ten tasks set before it in the previous monitoring report, released last October.

Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic said that this was not the end of the story for Croatia and that Croatia was "a work in progress". He noted that Croatia had undergone an unprecedented screening process which was beneficial and that a lot of work still lay ahead over the next two and a half years in order for Croatia to successfully join the Schengen passport-free area. "It won't be easy, but I'm certain we have the quality and integrity to accomplish it successfully."

Fuele attended the special government session to present the European Commission's final monitoring report on the three most difficult chapters of the acquis communautaire -- Competition Policy, Judiciary and Fundamental Rights, and Justice, Freedom and Security.

"Croatia is generally meeting the commitments and requirements arising from the accession negotiations, in all chapters. Croatia has demonstrated its ability to fulfil all other commitments in good time before accession. Where required, clear work plans are available or about to be finalised for completing the remaining work, including in the fight against corruption, in the months ahead," the report says.

"Croatia's forthcoming accession is the result of 10 years of a rigorous process, which started with its application for membership in 2003. EU membership is an additional incentive to continue reforms in Croatia," according to the document.