Dear colleagues, it is my pleasure to greet the 12 Croatian observers who took their seats for the first time at a plenary session of the European Parliament, its President Martin Schulz said greeting the Croatian deputies.
The Croatian MPs to sit in the EP as observers are Ingrid Anticevic Marinovic of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Biljana Borzan (SDP), Romana Jerkovic (SDP), Tonino Picula (SDP), Tanja Vrbat (SDP), Jozo Rados of the Croatian People's Party (HNS), Milorad Pupovac of the Independent Democratic Serb Party (SDSS), Andrej Plenkovic of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), Davor Bozinovic (HDZ), Frano Matusic (HDZ), Nikola Vuljanic of the Croatian Labour Party, and Boro Grubisic of the Croatian Democratic Party of Slavonia and Baranja (HDSSB).
This is a very important moment for the European Parliament, an important moment for my colleagues, the first representatives of the Croat people in the European Parliament. We welcome them, this is an important moment for all of us. This is a historic moment, Schulz said once again welcoming the Croatian observers and expressing hope for a fruitful and constructive cooperation
Until its accession to the European Union on 1 July 2013, Croatia will have 12 observers in the European Parliament, and after its accession it will have to organise elections for 12 deputies in the European Parliament.
The EP has two headquarters -- one in Brussels and one in Strasbourg. At least 12 plenary sessions are held in Strasbourg every year. They generally start on Mondays and end on Thursdays. Several more plenary sessions, lasting two days, are held in Brussels every year.
The Croatian MPs will be able to take part in the work of all parliamentary committees, each covering the field of their expertise. During their stay in Brussels, the 12 Croatian deputies will continue to receive salaries from the Croatian Parliament. The EP will cover the expenses of their travel to Brussels and Strasbourg and pay their per diems amounting to EUR 304.