Finland ratifies Croatia's EU Accession Treaty

HELSINKI, Dec 18 (Hina) - The Finnish parliament on Tuesday ratified by majority vote Croatia's European Union Accession Treaty, with Croatian Parliament Speaker Josip Leko attending

HELSINKI, Dec 18 (Hina) - The Finnish parliament on Tuesday ratified by majority vote Croatia's European Union Accession Treaty, with Croatian Parliament Speaker Josip Leko attending. Finland is the 20th of the EU's 27 countries that should ratify the treaty by 1 July 2013, when Croatia is scheduled to join the Union. The ratification was supported by 131 deputies of the ruling coalition and part of the opposition, while 34 voted against.

The Finnish ratification confirms the very good political relations with Croatia and its support for Croatia's EU accession. Finland played a very active role in the transformation processes in Croatia, participating in the modernisation of the legal system as well as in twinning projects. About 30,000 Finnish tourists visit Croatia each year. Former President Tarja Halonen visited Croatia in September 2009 and former Croatian Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor visited Finland in April 2010. Incumbent Croatian President Ivo Josipović visited Finland in May 2011 and PM Zoran Milanović in May 2012. Croatian Foreign Minister Vesna Pusić visited Helsinki in late November.
 

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