Croatia

Amongst topics covered in this series of articles are:

Short but rocky road from independence to EU accession: The country regards membership as ‘the exclamation mark on our statehood

Politics: Drive to Europe outweighs party rivalries: There are few differences between the two main parties, reflecting a broad consensus

Economy: Star entrepreneurs but an unreformed state sector: There are big success stories, yet much still needs restructuring

Banks: Lenders are straining at the leash: The central bank is treading a careful path managing demand

Privatisations: Bullets need biting in the shipyards: Free marketeers fear tough decisions may be shirked ahead of elections

Foreign investment: Cash continues to flow in: Progress is being made in creating an investor-friendly business environment

Local investment: a tale of two municipalities: Buzet in Istria and Dvor in Slavonia are at opposite sides of the country, one prospering, one not

Returned refugees: Making up is hard to do: Wounds of the fighting of the 1990s are healing, but there is more to be done

Sport: Overachievers in the field of athletic pursuits: The country’s sports people enjoy success disproportionate to its size

Tourism: Awkwardly straddling low and high ends: Stunning scenery sets the stage for success, but it is hard to strike the right balance