The Netherlands is due to complete the parliamentary procedure of ratification of Croatia's Treaty of Accession to the European Union next month, Croatian Parliament Speaker Josip Leko said on Monday after he held talks with the visiting president of the Dutch Senate, Fred de Graaf.
"The Senate of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is expected to consider the Croatia-EU treaty next month and I hope that the document will be ratified that month," Leko told the press.
The Dutch bicameral parliament's lower chamber ratified Croatia's accession treaty on 5 February. After the upper house does the same, the document on the ratification needs to be signed by the Dutch Queen, which will mark the finalisation of the ratification process.
Leko said that his talks with the Dutch official focused on Croatia's accession to the European Union, set for 1 July, and on the process of the ratification of the Croatia-EU treaty, and in this context the Croatian parliament chief said that he and his guest had agreed that "Croatia is credible in meeting the requirements it is expected to fulfill and that Croatia and the entire society are of the opinion that it is their interest to build a society complementary to societies and values in the EU member-states."
Leko recalled that during Croatia's accession to the EU, the Netherlands had been very helpful through various programmes and he announced the continuation of this friendly cooperation upon Croatia's entry into the EU, notably in agriculture, tourism and shipbuilding.
It is important to continue the process of transformation after the accession to the EU on 1 July, as it will be exceptionally beneficial to the Croatian state and Croatian citizens. I have offered our support also after 1 July. We are looking forward to the continuation of the friendly relations between our countries as we are two small countries and small countries must always stick together to accomplish the set goals, De Graff told the press.
Later in the day, the Dutch official is to be received by Croatian President Ivo Josipovic and Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic.
In the 27-strong bloc, 22 members have so far ratified the Croatia-EU treaty. The process of ratification is under way in the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and Denmark, while Croatia's neighbour Slovenia has not yet started the process in its parliament.
