Following the positive outcome of the referendum on Croatia's accession to the EU, Cllr. Mrs Linda Gillham, Member of Runnymede Borough Council and Co-President of the CoR-Croatia Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) and the EA President Jerzy Zająkała have expressed their deep satisfaction.

Despite the widespread pessimism on the economic crisis, the vote of the Croatian people gives us much hope, said Cllr. Mrs Linda Gillham.

"Croatians still see the EU as the most effective response to problems and misgivings: the people have voted for a better future, and, at the same time, they have paid tribute to the tremendous efforts that his government and Croatian local and regional authorities have done in modernising  the country and informing the citizens about the benefit of being part of the EU.

As chair of the CoR-Croatia JCC, I could only but witness the high degree of competence and commitment of my Croatian colleagues and I look forward to welcoming them as observers in the CoR.

The decision of Croatian citizens is of great significance, added the EA President Jerzy Zająkała. "With this vote the people of Croatia have turned a page on the history of their country. They have said yes to European integration, with the conviction that the EU would bring peace, stability and prosperity in their region to our mutual benefit.