Green light for Croatia's EU membership

Plaid MEP Jill Evans has welcomed today's European Parliament vote which gives the green light for Croatia to join the European Union in 2013.

The Plaid MEP voted in favour of the legislation which was passed by a large majority.

Speaking from Brussels after the vote, the Plaid MEP commented:

"We will welcome Croatia as the European Union's twenty eighth member in 2013. Croatia is an example of how a small, independent European nation can achieve its full potential as a member of the European Union.

"Independence in Europe will give Croatia full access to the European single market, helping boost trade.

"Full EU membership means real power and influence when key decisions are made at European level.

"Research I published earlier this year showed that Wales could have been almost forty per cent wealthier had we joined the EU as an independent nation some twenty years ago. I hope to see Wales taking its seat at Europe's top table in the coming years."

Today's vote in the European Parliament paves the way for governments of Europe's twenty seven member states to approve Croatia's EU accession treaty at their December summit in Brussels. The approval of parliaments in the twenty seven member states will also be required.