Polish MPs vote for Croatia EU accession
PR dla Zagranicy
Peter Gentle
14.09.2012 14:01
Poland's lower house of parliament (Sejm) has voted to ratify Croatia's accession to the European Union.
The Sejm lower parliamentary house. Photo: PAP/Tomasz Gzell
Sejm, Friday morning: photo - PAP/Tomasz Gzell
The vote was carried by 431 MPs, with one abstention.
Earlier on Friday morning, 287 MPs, including those from the ruling Civic Platform/Polish Peasants party (PSL), voted against a motion to require a two-thirds majority to carry the resolution: 150 MPs voted for, with no abstentions.
MPs from the Law and Justice (PiS) party wanted the vote to be held in accordance with Article 90 of Poland’s Constitution, which requires a two-thirds majority in parliament, arguing that an expanded EU, which includes the Balkans state would change Poland’s position and weight within the EU as a whole.
The government argued however that a simple majority in the house would be enough to ratify the treaty under Article 89 of the Constitution.
The accession treaty must be signed by President Bronislaw Komorowski before it becomes law.
Poland has championed Croatia’s inclusion into the EU, which, head of the Delegation of the European Union to Croatia, Ambassador Paul Vandoren, said in Zagreb on Thursday, would be completed on time, before 1 July 2013.
Croatia's accession must be voted for by all 27 current EU members. (pg)