During his official visit to Croatia on Friday German President Joachim Gauck said that Croatia's accession to the European Union would not be jeopardised by Germany but his country would keep a watchful eye on Croatia's efforts to fulfill the remaining tasks prior to accession. He, however, could not specify when the German Bundestag might ratify Croatia's accession treaty.
Keeping in mind the friendly relations between German and Croatia, I cannot say that that project will collapse because of Germany, Gauck said in response to reporters who asked why Germany was not a stronger advocate of Croatia's accession to the Union considering it was a traditional friend.
Our strategy is not to back away from Croatia, but by directing you to meet the remaining membership requirements we wish to help you so that tomorrow in Europe it will be better for you, he said at the Law School where he gave a joint introductory address with Croatian President Ivo Josipovic at a conference on morals and politics.
According to Gauck, Croatia is "unfortunately" entering the Union after Romania and Bulgaria and at a time of economic crisis. Dissent exists in Europe between the north and south with regard to stability policies and the question is whether countries from south Europe were admitted to the community of 27 European countries too soon, Germany's president said on the first day of a two-day official visit to Croatia.
He could not say when the Bundestag would ratify Croatia's accession treaty. Germany is one of seven European parliaments that have still not completed the procedure but President Gauck reassured that German lawmakers were watching closely to see that the final 10 benchmarks listed in the European Commission's monitoring report were met.
Parliamentarians and the government are watchful to see that the tasks are completed prior to accession. Some consider this to be unjust but we must not repeat mistakes from the past, President Gauck said.
