Croatia held referenda on the EU accession yesterday, 22. January 2012 and supported it's entrance into the European Union with 66% of voters voting in favour of the accession. Having in mind that it is only a second national referendum since 1991 when Croatia voted for the independence from Yugoslavia, this date has a historical dimension and importance for Croatia. After an almost 10 year long process of accession and negotiations, Croatian citizens decided for its European future.

 

Vedrana Gujić, LYMEC political officer says: I’m extremely happy and proud of the results. Since the very beginning of the process, we’ve known that Croatia belongs to the European Union. The results of the referendum show that the citizens also embraced the whole process of accession and European ideals and values. In the years-long experience with accession, where we’ve passed trough all that is good and bad in the European Union, Croatia became fully prepared and ready to contribute to the future developments of the Union as its 28th member state.”

 

LYMEC President Alexander Plahr comments: “I congratulate the people of Croatia for their successful path to the accession. The debate in Croatia also highlighted what is wrong in the EU: farming subsidies, bailout funds, bureaucracy. After the convincing Croatian yes vote yesterday, European elites must now not simply say ‘this referendum is a confirmation for the EU’ and go back to normal but instead check where they can actually improve the Union. Croatia will be a great 28th member of the EU - but this EU we urgently need to reform to make it more democratic, competitive and accountable - together with our new Croatian federal compatriots!”