Croatia set to join European Union
The former Yugoslav republic of Croatia is set to become the 28th member of the European Union. But analysts say it must tackle corruption and judicial reform to reach all the conditions.
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Croatia has been given the green light to join the European Union six years after first announcing its candidacy. But its path to membership is not completely cleared, according to Natasha Srdoc, the head of the Adriatic Institute for Public Policy.
“Croatian people expected through this negotiation process that Croatia would be able to establish rule of law, an independent judiciary, protection of property rights, and, above all, to get rid of rampant political corruption,” Srdoc told RFI from Rijeka, Croatia. “However, we haven’t seen that happening.”
Croatian President Ivo Josipovic supported the announcement by Jose Manuel Barroso on Friday but hinted that issues on corruption still need to be tackled.
Natasha Sdroc
“I emphasise that our efforts should not cease and that we should continue with responsible and persistent work on reforms and improvement of our citizens' living conditions," he told reporters.
Countries trying to gain access must negotiate 35 chapters, or subjects, which include political reform. Croatia has just completed its 31st chapter, on fisheries.
Srdoc says that some concessions the government made for the EU bid were “really ridiculous” and did a great disservice to fishing and agriculture.
One of the chapters still to be discussed is judicial reform one that is quite problematic, according to Srdoc.
“The problem is that there is a great political influence on the judiciary. We feel it here in Croatia because some cases of property rights and other issues have taken some 20 years to be resolved,” she says, adding that over one million cases are still waiting to be tried.
This disgruntlement is evident in polls, showing that 44.6 per cent support EU membership, while 41.8 per cent are against the move.
Croatia would become the EU’s 28th member and, after Slovenia in 2004, the second former Yugoslav republic to join.
This is also seen as an important step for other eastern European countries who are trying to become EU members.
“It’s very important that the EU does not get cold feet in enlargement. Croatia’s accession never really was much of a matter for debate,” says Rosa Balfour, senior policy analyst with the European Policy Centre. “It wasn’t particularly problematic […] but it’s important to keep momentum going."
EU leaders will officially extend an invitation to Croatia at their summit on 23-24 June.
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