PM: Croatia can be admitted to EU on basis of Nice treaty

Croatia could be admitted to the European Union on the basis of the Nice treaty, Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek has said on Monday, rejecting the view of the current EU presidency that the union could only be enlarged after the ratification of the Lisbon treaty. Mr Topolánek said that the document approved in Nice in 2000 counted on inclusion of Bulgaria and Romania, adding that a formal extension of the treaty would also allow for the admission for Croatia.