RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, On July 1, 2013, Croatia will officially join the European Union; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of this landmark event by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and
WHEREAS, In 2003, Croatia officially applied for membership in the European Union; and
WHEREAS, The European Union admits new member states that meet certain stringent criteria; and
WHEREAS, The first criterion is "stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities;" and
WHEREAS, The second set of criteria includes "a functioning market economy and the capacity to cope with competition and market forces within the Union;" and
WHEREAS, The third set mandates "the candidate's ability to take on the obligations of membership including adherence to the aims of political, economic and monetary union;" and
WHEREAS, In the past ten years, Croatia has worked hard to meet these criteria, and its entry to the European Union will be finalized on July 1, 2013; and
WHEREAS, On July 1, 2013, Chicago's Croatian Consul General, Dr. Jelena Grcic Polic, will host an event celebrating the admission of Croatia as the twenty-eighth member of the European Union; and
WHEREAS, Chicago is the proud home to a vibrant Croatian community that has made significant contributions to the growth and success of our city over the years; now therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and the members of the Chicago City Council, assembled this twenty-sixth day of June, 2013, do hereby congratulate Croatia on its formal accession to the European Union; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Consul General of Croatia in Chicago in recognition of this historic event.