Sealing the deal
June 10, 2011
The European Union on Friday approved Croatia for entry into the bloc by mid-2013, a move which European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso called "a historic day for Croatia and the European Union."
"I would like to congratulate the people of Croatia," he said. "Joining the EU family of nations is first and foremost your success."
Barroso recommended concluding discussions of the remaining four out of 35 areas in which EU hopefuls must conform to EU standards - the political, economic, social and judicial spheres. He called for an official accession date of July 1, 2013.
Croatia's bid must now be considered by the Council of the European Union, the body of member state governments, which will have the final say on when accession talks end. An accession treaty must then be approved by the member states, the European Parliament and Croatian voters.
'Moving away from the past'
Croatia first applied for EU membership in 2003, and the European Commission, the EU's executive body, has been leading accession talks with the country since 2005. Its accession would make it the bloc's 28th member and the second former Yugoslav republic, after Slovenia.
In an interview with AFP news agency, Croatian President Ivo Josipovic said Friday would be "a big day for Croatia."
"In the European context, Croatia can with certainty secure peace, stability, prosperity," he said. "We are moving away from the past."
Zagreb declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991 and fought a war with rebel Serbs until 1995, killing 20,000 people. It celebrates 20 years of independence in two weeks.
Wavering support
Support among Croatians for joining the EU has wavered over the years. Recent polls show about 44.6 percent support membership, while 41.8 percent oppose.
Opposition to joining the union was fomented by the drawn-out accession talks, with many Croatians turned off by demands seen as unjust.
Among the most unpopular has been the demand that Croatia fully cooperate with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague. Two former Croatian generals - seen as national heroes at home - were recently convicted by the court of war crimes.
The government has cited financial benefits, like access to some 3.5 billion euros ($5 billion) in EU structural funds, as an incentive to join.
Josipovic said the criteria for Croatia to join the bloc were "much higher" than for other members, but added that he was "certain that Croatia will enter ready and will be a very successful EU member."
Author: Andrew Bowen (AFP, AP, Reuters)
Editor: Martin Kuebler