Croatia's accession is no longer an issue for the EU, Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn said Monday, adding that July 1, 2013, could be the date Croatia becomes an EU member.

The accession agreement should be signed this year and then ratified over the next 18 months, he noted ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg.

Croatia will also be discussed during the summit of EU presidents and prime ministers in Brussels on Thursday and Friday. The participants are expected to accept the declaration on Croatia and confirm European Commission's suggested accession date, which is July 1, 2013.