Croatia: EU Accession

Mr. Bain
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for West Bromwich East of 7 January 2010, Official Report, column 565W, on Croatia: EC enlargement, what assessment he has made of the effect of the election of Ivo Josipovic as President of Croatia on that country's progress in its EU accession negotiations, with particular reference to efforts towards reform in the areas of judiciary and fundamental rights.

Chris Bryant
President Josipovic was elected for a five-year term on 11 January 2010. His election campaign focussed on tackling corruption, support for European norms and the rule of law.

In his inauguration speech as Head of State he set out the following vision:

"It was with a vision of a European, prosperous Croatia that I embarked on the electoral process. My key motivation was that of justice, the moral and legal foundation of a better society. We have established a state, but justice and fairness are the values yet to be materialized in their full scope."

I am confident that President Josipovic will encourage the Government of Croatia to continue vigorous efforts to meet the criteria for EU accession, particularly in the areas of tackling corruption and strengthening the judiciary and respect for fundamental rights.