EDEO: welkom Kroatië! (en)
1 July 2013 landmarks Croatia's accession to the European Union - the 28th EU member country - good news for Croatia, the EU and the remaining aspirant countries in the Western Balkans!
Croatia, situated in the Western Balkans on the Adriatic Sea, has been an independent country since 1991. Over the last decade, after its application to join the EU on 21 February 2003 in Athens, Croatia has accomplished all the reforms needed to bring it in line with EU laws and standards to enable it to join the EU in 2013.
Following successful negotiations from 2005 until 2011, on 9 December 2011 leaders from the EU and Croatia signed the Accession Treaty. At a referendum held on 22 January 2012, 66.27% of Croatian voters supported Croatia's accession to the EU. With 136 "Yes" votes, Croatian Parliament unanimously ratified on 9 March the Accession Treaty of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union.
To become an EU member, the country has taken decisive steps to strengthen democracy, the rule of law, human rights and protection of minorities. The judiciary is now more independent, accountable and professional. It has a functioning market economy, which will offer new opportunities for European business and industry as part of a single EU market, with easier mobility for all.
Throughout the interim period until accession, Croatia as an acceding country already had active observer status in the European Institutions, which allowed it to become familiar with the working methods of the EU institutions and to be involved in the decision-making process.
The European Commission Monitoring Report, March 2013 holds that "Croatia has demonstrated its ability to fulfil all … commitments in good time before accession. EU membership offers many and substantial opportunities for Croatia and the EU. These opportunities now need to be used, so that Croatia’s participation in the EU will be a success - to the benefit of Croatia itself, of the Western Balkans region, and of the EU as a whole."
Links: