The German government on Wednesday proposed a bill on the Accession Treaty between Croatia and the European Union, providing conditions for its timely ratification in the Bundestag, the government said in a statement, adding that Germany has to pass another similar law on the alignment of appropriate legal provisions.
The German government recalled the referendum at which Croatian citizens supported EU accession and the Accession Treaty ratification process, which has been completed in ten EU countries and Croatia.
The statement said that after achieving independence, Croatia had built a state with the biggest effort.
After applying for EU membership, Croatia steered its development in accordance with the Union's standards, the statement said, adding that the European Commission had requested additional reform before accession in the competition policy, the judiciary and internal affairs.
Germany will closely monitor the implementation of those reforms, the government said, noting that the Commission would submit its last progress report for Croatia next spring.
If it is established then that Croatia has carried out the remaining reforms, the ratification process can be completed in spring 2013, said the statement.
The government said the law Germany had to pass to align its legal standards with the Croatia-EU Accession Treaty was being drawn up and was expected to be passed in the autumn.
In conclusion, the government said the excellent ties between Germany and Croatia rested on centuries of cultural influence and the many Croats living in Germany, adding that the two countries' relations were also based on the many German tourists visiting Croatia and on intense trade.
