Welcome to Croatia, the 28th Member State of the European Union

Reward for Croatia’s efforts to meet European requirements

Croatia has finally become the 28^th Member State of the European Union. It is a well-deserved reward for all Croatia’s efforts and tangible achievements in the process of alignment with EU legislation in more than two decades. Croatian accession negotiations, opened on 3 October 2005, have been long and arduous. Many technical and political hurdles had to be overcome, including the implementation of a comprehensive reform of the judiciary system and finding a way forward in resolving bilateral issues with neighbours such as Slovenia, which sometimes stalled negotiations for prolonged periods of time.

A community of democracies based on fundamental values of peace, solidarity and tolerance

Croatia brings to Europe its undisputable natural beauty and historic heritage, but, most important of all, Croatia brings its people. Since independence in 1991, Croatian citizens have aspired to be a part of the European Union – a political project based on peace, solidarity and tolerance. The EU has always been a symbol for a better future in Croatia following the communist dictatorship, the hard times of the Independence War from 1991 to 1995 and the economic depression and relative poverty of the 1990s.

On 2 July, an olive tree will be planted on the premises of the European Parliament, under the joint patronage of Croatian EPP and Socialist Members of the European Parliament, to symbolically commemorate Croatia’s entry and send a strong political message: the fundamental values of peace and democracy the EU has been built upon remain equally important today.

Croatia strives for membership of Eurozone and Schengen

Croatia has all the potential to become an asset for the EU. It is a relatively small and stable economy, which developed without significant EU assistance and achieved strong economic growth at the beginning of the 21^st century. Working to meet the requirements of and then joining the Eurozone and the Schengen area of free movement will be the next logical steps for Croatia in its first years of EU membership.

Being part of the Single Market will foster Croatia's dynamic economy

In recent years Croatia was affected by the economic and social crisis, as were all EU Member States, but has so far avoided having to ask for any help to restore macroeconomic balance and is now set on the path to economic recovery. A well-educated and skilled workforce and a large and growing number of dynamic and creative SMEs are an engine for economic growth and can only become more so with the new opportunities offered by the Single Market and EU programmes for education and professional training.

Croatian accession boosts European enlargement process

EU enlargement policy receives a new boost with Croatia’s accession, which sends a clear message to candidates and potential candidates that the most successful EU policy is very much alive: any European country able and willing to meet the criteria can join the EU. Croatia also brings to the EU its own local expertise and knowledge about its neighbouring countries, which can help facilitate their own accession negotiations and lead to the deepening of necessary discussions at the European level.

EPP Group welcomes a new delegation

The EPP Group in the European Parliament receives 5 new Members from Croatia: Dubravka Šuica, Andrej Plenković, Davor Ivo Stier, Ivana Maletić and Zdravka Bušić. From 1 July they will play an active role in the EPP Group and in the European Parliament, helping to shape important EU policies to ensure growth and jobs for our common European future.