Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov has welcomed the results of Sunday's Croatian referendum in which approximately 66% of the voters supported the country's EU membership.

"This positive outcome of the referendum is a result of the efforts put by the Croatian society and political leaders on the country's way to join the EU," Borisov said on Monday.

"I am glad that our European family will reach 28 members in 2013, with one more of them being from Southeaster Europe. Croatia's EU membership is an encouraging signal for the countries from the Western Balkans," Borisov declared.

Bulgaria will work to ratify Croatia's accession agreement as soon as possible, the Bulgarian Prime Minister added.

Bulgaria's former Prime Minister Sergey Stanishev also welcomed the Croatian referendum results.

"This is a historical moment for Croatia, as well as good news for Bulgaria and the EU enlargement process," the interim leader of the Party of European Socialists stated. Stanishev added that "it is now up to EU to answer the Croatian expectations."

The accession treaty was signed at the European Council last December and mandates that if it is ratified by all parties, Croatia will become a EU member in July 2013.

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