Croatia applies to join the EU, February 2003

'We don't have illusions - we have to do more' admitted Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan, as he presented his country's application to join the European Union to the President of the Council of the EU, Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis, on 21 February 2003.

Croatia's target date for joining the EU is 2007 - the year in which Bulgaria and Romania are expected to join, having failed to meet the entry criteria for acceding to the Union on 1 May 2004 - when the current 15 EU Member States will be joined by 10 new members: Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, the Slovak Republic, and Slovenia. (Turkey has not yet been given a definite date for starting accession negotiations).

Receiving Croatia's application, Prime Minister Simitis said it created 'a dynamic that opens up new paths for the countries of the Balkan region'. In the context of the current enlargement, the Greek Presidency has made 'the promotion of the EU's relations with the Balkan countries' one of its main priorities. Greece intends holding a 'European conference' involving the Balkan states in April, and is organising a meeting of Balkan countries during the Thessaloniki European Council in June.

According to the Croatian Ministry of European Integration, Croatia's intention to seek membership of the EU received support during a tour undertaken by Prime Minister Racan prior to the application being submitted. Mr Racan himself said: 'Recent significant meetings with most senior officials ... make us believe that our ambitions are justified, well-thought-out and timely'.

Croatia is committed to developing 'an efficient economy, a truly democratic society and the rule of law' said Mr Racan, whose country recognises the principles which underpin the EU: freedom, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law. He admits that, although Croatia has moved a long way in recent years, it still has a long way to go. That view appears to be shared by the European Commission, with officials reported to be concerned over a number of issues, including co-operation with the war crimes tribunal in The Hague and the situation of ethnic Serbs who fled the state during and after the war and who now want to return.

To coincide with the membership application, Croatia's Ministry for European Integration issued a publication about the move to join the EU aimed at the general public. 'Croatia on the Road to the European Union: From Candidacy to Membership', seeks to explain the accession process - starting with the official membership application and moving through to joining the EU.

Although Croatia won independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, it was very much isolated under the rule of President Franjo Tudjman. Since his death in 1999, the country has started to develop links with the rest of Europe.

Croatia - with a population of some 4.4 million people - is a member of a number of international bodies, including the Council of Europe, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the United Nations, and the World Trade Organisation.

The Statesman's Yearbook identifies Croatia's main exports as machinery and transport equipment, clothing, food and live animals, mineral fuels and lubricants, and plastics. Principal imports are machinery and transport equipment, mineral fuels and lubricants, chemicals and foodstuffs. In 1998 its main trading partners were Austria, Germany, Italy and Slovenia.

The BBC reported Mr Racan as saying 'Croatia has changed, but the EU has changed as well. But there is no 'other' Europe, and we want to be in that company and share European values.' Croatia's application will be examined in April by the Council and the European Commission.

Links:

BBC News Online:
	21.02.03:	Croatia moves to join EU
European Sources Online: Financial Times:
Greek Presidency of the Council of the EU:
	Croatia applies for EU membership, Athens 21/02/03
Croatia: Ministry of European Integration:
	Homepage
	President and Premier sign Application for Croatia's EU membership
	Premier submits Croatia's application for EU membership
	Croatia on the Road to the European Union: From Candidacy to Membership
European Sources Online: Topic Guides:
	Information on European countries: Croatia [Hrvatska]

Eric Davies
Researcher
Compiled: Monday, 24 February 2003

The Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan presented his country's formal application to join the European Union on 21 February 2003. Croatia hopes to join with Bulgaria and Romania in 2007.