Britain has given the greenlight to Croatia to join the European Union after years of intensive talks by ratifying the countryâ„¢s accession treaty to the bloc.
British Foreign Office said London has sent the ratification documents to the Italian governmentâ„¢s depositary authority for the Treaty of Rome.
The ratification, ahead of Croatian President Ivo Josipovic’s visit to Britain later this week, means Croatia will become the 28th EU members from July 1, 2013 if other EU members also deposit their ratification documents with the Italian authority before that date.
Å“The final step was taken this morning by our Ambassador in Rome who deposited the Instrument of Ratification with the Italian government. The UK now looks forward to welcoming Croatia as the 28th EU Member State on 1 July 2013,” British Foreign Secretary William Hague said.
Croatia began its EU accession talks in October 2005 and finished accession negotiations on June 30, 2011.
All 27 EU members states are expected to conclude their ratification of Croatiaâ„¢s accession by eh end of June paving the way for the country to join the EU on July 1.
AMR/HE
This article originally appeared on : Press TV