On December 9th 2011, the President of Croatia, Ivo Josipovic, and the Croatian Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor signed the Treaty of Accession that will allow the country to become the 28th Member State of the European Union. This accession completes the sixth phase of enlargements in the Union.

After the signature of the Treaty of Accession, and further to the ratifications procedures, Croatia will become officially a new Member States by July 1st 2013. This signature closes a process which was launched at the European Council in June 2004 further to the Commission's recommendation to open accession negotiations with Croatia.

At the ceremony of signature of the Treaty of Accession, president of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, highlighted the efforts made by Croatia over the six years of negotiations in order to become part of the European Union. President Van Rompuy also took the occasion to remind that even in this uncertain times, the principles which inspired the European Union are still alive and the common project for prosperity and modernisation of Europe still stands.

Further to the green light given by the Parliament and the Council and the signature of the Treaty of Accession, Croatia will have to continue with the reforms already initiated in order to implement the acquis by July 2013. As pointed out by the European Parliament there are still efforts to be made by Croatian authorities especially in the areas of judicial reforms and fight against corruption and crime. Although many achievements have been completed there are still structural reforms to be made in the economy. Furthermore, EU institutions reminded that Croatia must step up efforts to comply with International Criminal Tribunal recommendations for the former Yugoslavia and to promote the return of refugees.