NOTE: The EU Accession treaty is available in .PDF format and in Croatian and English at the bottom of this article under attachments. You can also download copies of the treaty on the Croatian Government's website at: http://www.vlada.hr/hr/naslovnica/novosti_i_najave/2011/rujan/ugovor_o_pristupanju_rh_euPolish prime minister Donald Tusk officially delivered Croatia's EU accession treaty text to the head of the Croatian government, prime minister Jadranka Kosor, at a ceremony in Zagreb on September 17 2011.
Poland currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU.
"The great effort of the Croatians, and your government will pay off in the future. I say this as a Pole, who, like my compatriots, has been benefiting for years from the fact that Europe is united, and we are a part of it," Tusk said after the ceremony, as quoted by the Polish EU presidency website.
Kosor said: "We are now one step closer to the European Union, to being a member in it.
"We still have a few things to do before we sign the treaty, but the most important issues have already been done. This international agreement is 300 pages and is certainly one of the most important treaties and documents that Croatia has ever signed," Kosor said.
The website quoted Tusk as saying: "These are signs of hope for the whole of Europe.
"Today, when so many politicians are doubting the future of Europe, your effort, your courage, the fact that you are becoming full participants in Europe, is also a great injection of optimism, energy and strength to those who believe in the meaning of Europe. Croatia and its prime minister are showing that Europe makes sense for the people, for nations and for the great historical, cultural and civilisational community to which we all belong and to which we are returning after years of absence," Tusk said.
The accession treaty will be signed in December 2011. Croatia is scheduled to become an EU member on July 1 2013 after the treaty is ratified by all EU member states and Croatia itself.
Source:
http://www.sofiaecho.com/2011/09/18/1158633_eu-accession-treaty-officially-handed-to-croatian-pm-kosor
Formatted for CROWN by Marko Puljić 
