Croatia can wrap up accession negotiations with the European Union in June and join in 2013 at the earliest or 2014 at the latest, the European Parliament's rapporteur on Croatia, Hannes Swoboda, said in Brussels on Tuesday.
We have a broad consensus on Croatia. Let's try to wrap up the negotiations in June. That's what everyone wants and I think it's possible, Swoboda said in a Foreign Affairs Committee discussion on a draft resolution on Croatia's progress, which was in second reading.
Asked when Croatia could join the Union, Swoboda said that if the negotiations were completed in June, the European Parliament would be able to give its consent for the signing of an accession treaty in October at the earliest.
After the European Parliament gives its consent, member countries can sign the treaty, to be followed by an accession referendum in Croatia, he said, adding that many countries would begin ratifying the treaty after it was ratified by Croatia.
Ratification can begin only in early 2012 and if it is completed in one year, that would be for the Guinness Book of Records, in which case Croatia could join the EU in early 2013. If there are problems with the ratification, Croatia could join in 2014, but in any case, Croatia should be a full member in 2014 and take part in elections for the European Parliament. That's realistic. I always try to be realistic. I don't want to create illusions, Swoboda said.
