The positive results of the referendum in Croatia were expected. 66% of the voters supported the process of integration to the European Union that should take place in July 2013. Croatia will be the 28th member of the European Union.
For ALDA, the Association of Local Democracy Agencies, and for the three Local Democracy Agencies in Croatia (Osijek, Sisak and Verteneglio/Brtonigla) it is a real achievement and success, after 15 years of working actively towards that objective.
Since the launch of the EUs Stabilisation and Association Process, ALDA and the LDAs has worked to promote in Croatia the standards of the European Union in terms of democracy and development of local authorities and civil society.
“The work of the Local Democracy Agencies in Croatia, which have been so precious to the Croatian communities since 1993 in promoting human rights and democracy, will need to be transformed into valuable experienced support for local authorities and NGOs. The LDAs will then be full partners of the Association of Local Democracy Agencies for its future activities in the rest of the Western Balkans where there are still eight Local Democracy Agencies active. We believe that Croatia will be an active member of the European Union and a force for stabilising and developing its neighbours in South Eastern Europe”, says the President of ALDA, Mr. Per Vinther.
