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2013 enlargement of the European Union

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Accession of Croatia to the European Union
StatusCandidate
Application
Screened & negotiations commence
Chapters closed27[1]
Memberships & Treaties
Association Agreement
Economic and monetary policy
Travel
Energy
Foreign and military policy
Human rights and international courts
International Court of Justice (ICJ)
Impact (27+1)
Population446,828,803
Area4,233,262 km2
1,634,472 mi2
HDI0.896
GDP (PPP)$25.399 trillion
GDP per capita (PPP)$56,928
GDP$17.818 trillion
GDP per capita$39,940
Gini30.0
Official Languages24

Croatia applied for European Union membership in 2003, and the European Commission recommended making it an official candidate in early 2004. Candidate country status was granted to Croatia by the European Council in mid-2004. The entry negotiations, while originally set for March 2005, began in October that year together with the screening process.

The accession process of Croatia was derailed several times due to the Irish rejection of the Treaty of Lisbon in a referendum, and then later by the insistence of Slovenia that the two countries' border issues are dealt with prior to Croatia's accession into the EU.

Despite the logistical problems, the accession of Croatia is strongly supported by current EU member states.

Issues of dispute

Politics of Croatia
Coat of arms
Constitution
Executive
Legislative
Judiciary
Political parties in Sabor
Elections and referendums
Recent elections

Recent referendums

Administrative divisions
Foreign relations

ICTY cooperation

The flag of Croatia and the European flag, on the building of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European integration, in Zagreb

Croatia has had to extradite several of its citizens to the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY), an issue that was often contentious in domestic politics.

Croatia's relations with the court had continuously been cited by the EU officials as something that required further improvement. Ratification of the EU Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Croatia had been stalled because of this.

The European Council, after its summit of 20 December 2004, set the following 17 March as the date to start entry negotiations, provided that Croatia continued to cooperate fully with the ICTY. On 16 March 2005 – the day before talks were to begin – the EU postponed the commencement of negotiations, because the ICTY prosecution assessed the Croatian efforts to capture the fugitive general Ante Gotovina (indicted by the ICTY for war crimes and crimes against humanity, but at large since 2001) as neither timely nor sufficient.

On 7 December 2005 Spanish Police finally arrested Ante Gotovina with the help of the Spanish and Croatian government on the Spanish island of Tenerife, located in the Canary Islands. He was brought to The Hague to be tried for war crimes. With the arrest of Ante Gotovina this issue seems to be now resolved, and entry negotiations have begun anew, after the certification of ICTY chief prosecutor Carla Del Ponte that Croatia now fully cooperates with the ICTY.

Border disagreements

See also: Foreign relations of Croatia § Slovenia

Croatia must also contend with long-standing border issues with Slovenia. Good trade relations have precluded this up to December 2008 when Slovenia's blockade of Croatia's EU accession stalled the negotiating process for 10 months. In September 2009, it was announced that Slovenia would remove restraints on Croatia's negotiations with the EU without prejudice to the international mediation on the border dispute.[2] However, as of April 2010, Slovenia is still blocking opening of Chapter 31 (Foreign, Security & Defence Policy). As of June 2010, Slovenia has voted to accept the ruling of international arbitrators on the dispute, removing this obstacle.[3] Croatia has border disputes with Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Montenegro, but these countries are not European Union members and cannot directly block the accession process. In December 2008 Croatia and Montenegro agreed that the outstanding sea border issue between the two countries should be settled before an international court whose decision would be accepted in advance by the parliaments of the two countries.[4]

Land ownership

See also: Foreign relations of Croatia § Italy

Free acquisition of real estate by foreigners is a sensitive issue in Croatia. This matter particularly concerns Italians, especially in Istria. While it has strong cultural and historic ties with Italy, the events surrounding World War II, when Istria changed hands between the Kingdom of Italy and the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, are more pertinent to the current issues. Numerous Italian politicians have expressed their discontent concerning the current inability of Italians to purchase land in Croatia, considering it discriminatory treatment, and stating that this issue should be resolved as soon as possible.

Croatia denies discrimination, indicating that Croatian legislation provides for the same treatment of all EU citizens concerning this issue. In mid-2006 Croatia and Italy agreed, and now Italian citizens may purchase land in Croatia, and Croatian citizens may purchase land in Italy. The same kind of measures, concerning this issue, have been employed by many new EU member countries before their own accession to the EU. Examples of this include Slovenia, Slovakia, Poland, and especially Malta.

Negotiation progress

Acquis chapter Current situation Screening Started Screening Completed Chapter Frozen Chapter Unfrozen Chapter Opened Chapter Closed
1. Free Movement of Goods Generally aligned with the acquis 16.1.2006 24.2.2006 - - 25.7.2008 19.4.2010
2. Freedom of Movement For Workers Generally aligned with the acquis 19.7.2006 11.9.2006 - - 17.6.2008 2.10.2009
3. Right of Establishment & Freedom To Provide Services Generally aligned with the acquis 21.11.2005 20.12.2005 - - 26.6.2007 21.12.2009
4. Free Movement of Capital Generally aligned with the acquis 25.11.2005 22.12.2005 12.2008 10.2009 2.10.2009 5.11.2010
5. Public Procurement Generally aligned with the acquis 7.11.2005 28.11.2005 - - 19.12.2008 30.6.2010
6. Company Law Generally aligned with the acquis 21.6.2006 20.7.2006 12.2008 10.2009 26.6.2007 2.10.2009
7. Intellectual Property Law Generally aligned with the acquis 6.2.2006 3.3.2006 - - 29.3.2007 19.12.2008
8. Competition Policy Considerable efforts needed 8.11.2005 2.12.2005 - - 30.6.2010 -
9. Financial Services Generally aligned with the acquis 29.3.2006 3.5.2006 - - 26.6.2007 27.11.2009
10. Information Society & Media Generally aligned with the acquis 12.6.2006 14.7.2006 - - 26.7.2007 19.12.2008
11. Agriculture & Rural Development Considerable efforts needed 5.12.2005 26.1.2006 12.2008 10.2009 2.10.2009 -
12. Food Safety, Veterinary & Phytosanitary Policy Generally aligned with the acquis 9.3.2006 28.4.2006 12.2008 10.2009 2.10.2009 27.7.2010
13. Fisheries Further efforts needed 24.2.2006 31.3.2006 12.2008 2.2010 19.2.2010 -
14. Transport Policy Generally aligned with the acquis 26.6.2006 28.9.2006 - - 21.4.2008 5.11.2010
15. Energy Generally aligned with the acquis 15.5.2006 16.6.2006 - - 21.4.2008 27.11.2009
16. Taxation Generally aligned with the acquis 6.6.2006 12.7.2006 12.2008 10.2009 2.10.2009 30.6.2010
17. Economic & Monetary Policy Generally aligned with the acquis 16.2.2006 23.3.2006 - - 21.12.2006 19.12.2008
18. Statistics Generally aligned with the acquis 19.6.2006 18.7.2006 12.2008 10.2009 26.6.2007 2.10.2009
19. Social Policy & Employment Generally aligned with the acquis 8.2.2006 22.3.2006 - - 17.6.2008 21.12.2009
20. Enterprise & Industrial Policy Generally aligned with the acquis 27.3.2006 5.5.2006 - - 21.12.2006 25.7.2008
21. Trans-European Networks Generally aligned with the acquis 30.6.2006 29.9.2006 12.2008 10.2009 19.12.2007 2.10.2009
22. Regional Policy & Coordination of Structural Instruments Considerable efforts needed 11.9.2006 10.10.2006 12.2008 10.2009 2.10.2009 -
23. Judiciary & Fundamental Rights Considerable efforts needed 6.9.2006 13.10.2006 - - 30.6.2010 -
24. Justice, Freedom & Security Generally aligned with the acquis 23.1.2006 15.2.2006 12.2008 10.2009 2.10.2009 22.12.2010
25. Science & Research Generally aligned with the acquis 20.10.2005 14.11.2005 - - 12.6.2006 12.6.2006
26. Education & Culture Generally aligned with the acquis 26.10.2005 16.11.2005 - - 11.12.2006 11.12.2006
27. Environment Generally aligned with the acquis 3.4.2006 2.6.2006 12.2008 2.2010 19.2.2010 22.12.2010
28. Consumer & Health Protection Generally aligned with the acquis 8.6.2006 11.7.2006 - - 12.10.2007 27.11.2009
29. Customs Union Generally aligned with the acquis 31.1.2006 14.3.2006 12.2008 10.2009 21.12.2006 2.10.2009
30. External Relations Generally aligned with the acquis 10.7.2006 13.9.2006 - - 12.10.2007 30.10.2008
31. Foreign, Security & Defence Policy Generally aligned with the acquis 14.9.2006 6.10.2006 12.2008 4.2010 30.6.2010 22.12.2010
32. Financial Control Generally aligned with the acquis 18.5.2006 30.6.2006 - - 26.6.2007 27.7.2010
33. Financial & Budgetary Provisions Generally aligned with the acquis 6.9.2006 4.10.2006 - - 19.12.2007 -
34. Institutions Nothing to adopt - - - - - 5.11.2010
35. Other Issues Nothing to adopt - - - - - -
Progress 33 out of 33[5] 28 out of 35[6]

Timeline

Date Event
4 March 1998 Ministry of European Integration formed within the Croatian Government.[7]
29 October 2001 Croatia signs the Stabilisation and Association Agreement.
21 February 2003 Formal application for membership submitted.
9 October 2003 Croatia submits answers to the Commission's Questionnaire.
20 April 2004 European Commission replies to the answers with a positive opinion (Avis).
18 June 2004 Croatia receives official candidate status.
20 December 2004 European Council sets the date for the entry negotiations to begin 17 March 2005.
1 February 2005 SAA comes into force.
16 March 2005 Negotiations postponed.
3 October 2005 The beginning of negotiations.
20 October 2005 Beginning of the screening process.
12 June 2006 1 chapter is opened & closed: Science & Research.
28 June 2006 2 chapters are opened: Competition Policy and Customs Union.
20 July 2006 1 chapter is opened: Social Policy & Employment.
11 December 2006 1 chapter is opened & closed: Education & Culture.
29 March 2007 1 chapter is opened: Intellectual Property Law.
26 June 2007 6 chapters are opened: Company Law, Financial Control, Financial Services, Information Society & Media, Right of Establishment & Freedom To Provide Services, and Statistics.
12 October 2007 2 chapters are opened: Consumer & Health Protection and External Relations.
20 December 2007 2 chapters are opened: Trans-European Networks and Financial & Budgetary Provisions.
21 April 2008 2 chapters are opened: Energy and Transport Policy.
17 June 2008 2 chapters are opened: Freedom of Movement For Workers and Social Policy & Employment.
25 July 2008 1 chapter is opened: Free Movement of Goods. 1 chapter is closed: Enterprise & Industrial Policy.
30 October 2008 1 chapter is closed: External Relations.
19 December 2008 1 chapter is opened: Public Procurement. 3 chapters are closed: Economic & Monetary Policy, Information Society & Media, and Intellectual Property Law.
23 April 2009 EU calls off talks with Croatia due to the latter having a border dispute with Slovenia over the Bay of Piran.
11 September 2009 Slovenia agrees on an immediate ending of its blockade of Croatia's EU accession & further negotiation of the Gulf of Piran border dispute between the 2 countries.
2 October 2009 Croatia closed 5 chapters & opened 6. Chapters that were closed: Company Law, Customs Union, Freedom of Movement of Workers, Statistics, and Trans-European Networks.
27 November 2009 3 chapters are closed: Consumer & Health Protection, Energy, and Financial Services.
21 December 2009 2 chapters are closed: Right of Establishment & Freedom To Provide Services and Social Policy & Employment.
19 February 2010 2 chapters are opened: Environment & Fisheries.
19 April 2010 1 chapter is closed: Free Movement of Goods.
30 June 2010 2 chapters are closed: Taxation and Public Procurement. 3 chapters are opened: Foreign, Security & Defence Policy, Judiciary & Fundamental Rights, and Competition Policy.
27 July 2010 2 chapters are closed: Food Safety, Veterinary & Phytosanitary Policy and Financial Control.
5 November 2010 3 chapters are closed: Institutions, Transport Policy and Free Movement of Capital.
22 December 2010 3 chapters are closed: 24. Justice, Freedom & Security, 27. Environment and 31. Foreign, Security & Defence Policy.

Possible accession dates

Originally, Croatia had been aiming for a 2007 accession date—such an accomplishment would have broken Slovakia's record of 2.5 years of negotiations to complete the process. It has been remarked by former-Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn that the EU does expect a similar speed from Croatia.

On 25 April 2007, the European Parliament congratulated Croatia for making "rapid progress" towards membership, but stated that "it must make further efforts in areas such as cooperation with the ICTY, reform of the judiciary and the transition to a market economy".[8] Leaders and Members of the European Parliament also stressed the need for a new institutional framework (fulfilled by the Treaty of Lisbon) for the EU by 2008 in order to accommodate Croatia, although it would be the next country to join with Lisbon in force.[9][10]

On 5 November 2008, the European Commission's annual progress report on Croatia's candidacy was published. Rehn stated that the country should complete accession negotiations by the end of 2009, with membership following by 2011 at the latest.[11] In 2009 it was reported that Iceland may be fast-tracked into the European Union.[12] Rehn said that "the EU prefers two countries joining at the same time rather than individually. If Iceland applies shortly and the negotiations are rapid, Croatia and Iceland could join the EU in parallel," probably in 2011. The last non-acquis hurdle to membership, the maritime border dispute with Slovenia, was overcome in November 2009. In 2009 Croatia hoped to finish negotiations in 2010 although in April 2010 diplomats warned it would probably miss that goal, in part due to tougher EU rules.[13] Croatia now plans to finish the negotiations in the first half of 2011.

Public opinion

Croatian public opinion is broadly in favour of EU accession. An opinion poll conducted by Ipsos Plus and published in December 2010 indicated that 76 per cent of those polled would vote in a referendum on the subject and that 64 per cent of this group would vote "yes" to membership. 29 per cent would vote "no" and seven per cent were undecided.[14]

See also

References

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference DELEU was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Slovenia unblocks Croatian EU bid". BBC News. 11 September 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-12.
  3. ^ "Slovenia backs Croatia border deal in referendum vote". BBC News. 6 June 2010. Retrieved 2010-06-07.
  4. ^ "Croatia, Montenegro agree sea border issue should be settled before international court". Government of Croatia. March 12, 2008. Retrieved 2009-12-27.
  5. ^ Excluding Chapters 34 (Institutions) and 35 (Other Issues) since these are not legislation chapters.
  6. ^ In this case Chapters 34 and 35 are taken into account as also if they had not been provisionally opened, they have to be closed the same
  7. ^ "Vlada: 6 / predsjednik Vlade: Mr. sc. Zlatko Mateša". Hidran.hidra.hr. Retrieved 2010-06-11.
  8. ^ European Parliament, Croatia: Good progress towards accession and some issues remain, 25 April 2007. Retrieved 27 April 2007.
  9. ^ "Croatia could conclude EU talks in 2009 - Austria and Czech premiers". Forbes.com. Retrieved 2010-06-11.
  10. ^ Euractiv.com - Croatia will not join EU before 2010 - accessed on June 12, 2006.
  11. ^ Traynor, Ian (2008-11-05). "Croatia given timetable for EU entry". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2008-11-05.
  12. ^ Traynor, Ian (2009-01-30). "Iceland to be fast-tracked into the EU". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2009-01-30.
  13. ^ Augustin Palokaj (2010-05-02). "/ Croatia likely to miss 2010 target". Waz.euobserver.com. Retrieved 2010-06-11.
  14. ^ "Croatian support for EU membership grows: poll". EUbusiness.com. 2 December 2010. Retrieved 13 December 2010.

Further reading

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