Europe on the horizon

The news has been official for some time already: Croatia will be the 28th state of the European Union. The fateful day is July 1st, but Croatians will perceive a closer Europe starting Sunday April 14, when they are called to elect twelve representatives to the European Parliament. The new MEPs will hold office for just one year: on May 22-25 2014 all European countries will elect their new representatives. The green light to Croatia’s adhesion is the result of a complex, decade-long process. The EU Commission communicated the country’s entry into the ‘common home’ in a report submitted March 26 to Zagreb’s government by the European Commissioner for EU Enlargement Stefan Füle. The Commission acknowledges the efforts made in the fight on organized crime and for the consolidation of the judicial system. Croatia is asked to keep up its efforts with equal alert, so as not to make the same mistakes incurred in the case of Bulgaria and Romania.The main obstacles. The mistakes made with Romania and Bulgaria have often been taken as examples in order to thwart Croatia’s adhesion, notably by the same member States that are yet to endorse the ratification of the adhesion treaty. These are: Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark. But for a long period Slovenia was the tough nut to crack. In fact, two major controversies – economic&financial and economic&political – were raised between the two States. Finally, over the past weeks a new agreement put an end to the territorial dispute regarding Ljubljanska Banka. A new page was turned, paving the way to mutual cooperation between the two countries. Reviving the economy. The Commission’s report underlines that Croatia has undertaken urgent structural reforms for economy recovery, aimed at boosting competitiveness and growth. It equally points out that there is a long way to go. The report welcomes Croatia’s voluntary participation in this year’s "European semester" (a cycle of economic and fiscal policy coordination) which the Commission believes will constitute a favourable opportunity for the development of a structural reforms program in the country. Stefan Füle highlighted that Croatia must not only keep up "continued structural reforms. The country must also boost the competitiveness of its economic sector". Citizens’ viewpoint. Europe has always been viewed as a goal by Croatian citizens, as confirmed in the referendum held January 22 2011, when 66.7% voted in favor of EU adhesion. Moreover, Croatia’s enthusiasm for Brussels reached a higher peak in 2003, that marked the beginning of accession negotiations, when popular support amounted to 80%. Figures plummeted because of the economic crisis and of the debts of eurozone countries. A recent national survey shows that public support to the EU amounts to less than 50%. The Serbs living in the country (132 thousand people, 4,5% of the overall population) welcome EU accession, which they consider a guarantee in the respect of their rights.The candidates. Surveys show that only three electoral lists have a chance of gaining more votes than the 5% threshold needed for the allocation of seats. These are: the Social Democratic party (SDP), the government-majority party that leads an alliance with the Croatian Democratic Union (HNS) and the Croatian Party of Pensioners (HSU); HDZ, the main right-wing opposition party, that runs in a list with the Party of Rights and another Pensioner Party (BUZ); and finally, the Croatian Labour Party led by Dragutin Lesar, funded after a split-up from the People’s Party. Lists based on welfare and social issues or local and smaller groups will hardly gain more than the 5%, as the newly-formed ‘Pirates’ Party. Women must represent at least 40% of all candidates. For the first time Croatian citizens will be able to express a preferential vote, even though candidates must earn at least 10% of the suffrages to their parties. For the first time, the Country has an updated electoral roll. Upcoming challenges. Croatia has thus reached its objective. The final report will be presented during the next plenary session at the European Parliament (April 15-18). With Croatia’s accession also the Assembly in Strasbourg will undergo some changes. Its 754 MEPs will become 766 when their Croatian colleagues will join them, but since the Lisbon Treaty stipulates no more that 751 MEPs, 15 seats will be eliminated. The amendment will be enforced during the 2014-2019 legislature, when 12 member States will give up a seat (including Croatia), while Germany is set to give up the remaining three, dropping from 99 to 96 MEPs.