A sign for all the Balkans

Croatia, a country in the Western Balkans, has become a member of the European Union as of July 1st, following a complex accession process that lasted a decade. The achievement was celebrated in Zagreb, Strasbourg and Brussels with a set of initiatives attended by Croatian and European political leaders. “Today is the end of one process, but also the first chapter of another success story”, said the President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso, during a ceremony held in the capital of Croatia. “Across Europe we need to work every day to improve our economies, to strengthen our democracies and to build a better future for ourselves and our children”. A task to which from now on also Croatia is called to give her contribution. The negotiation process. Following the official request of EU adhesion, submitted in 2003, “Croatia has invested considerable effort and fulfilled all the accession criteria needed to bring it into line with EU laws and standards”, stated the European Council Conclusions on Croatia issued past April. “Tangible progress has been achieved in areas such us the rule of law, the fight against corruption, human rights and protection of minorities”, the document pointed out. Aside from the clear benefits to itself and the EU, “Croatia’s accession demonstrates that, when conditions are met, the EU delivers on its commitments in this regard”. The message is also addressed to other Balkan countries, for which EU membership could no longer be a distant goal. In fact, the European Council of June 27-28 has welcomed Croatia’s accession and gave the green light to the opening of negotiations with Serbia and to the stabilization agreement with Kosovo. Macedonia and Montenegro have already obtained a status of candidate Countries, while Bosnia-Herzegovina and Albania have promoted long-lasting cooperation with the EU. Seats and votes. From now on Croatia will be represented by 12 MEPs in Strasbourg (welcomed during the plenary of July 1-4), Croatian will thus become the 24th official language of the EU. Neven Mimica, to whom president Barroso entrusted the responsibility of consumer policy, represents the Country in the Commissioners’ College. “Tearing down the barriers of online trade, ensuring products security and informing consumers of their own rights” are the objectives of his mandate, announced upon his appointment to the post. At the European Council Croatia represents 7 votes on 352, and will avail itself of two diplomatic seats, one in Brussels and the other in Zagreb, inaugurated July 1st.A time for change. What are the consequences on the daily lives of Croatian citizens? First of all import and export procedures will no longer be necessary. In fact, free trade provides for rapid circulation of goods. The tearing down of borders will also promote the free circulation of people. Croatian population sees this as an opportunity for the development of the tourist sector, although bordering countries perceive it as a “threat”. In fact, Slovenia, Austria, Germany and England have applied the moratorium provided for the Croatia’s accession Treaty to limit the access of Croatian citizens to their own job market. A plethora of funds. The future of the country however remains uncertain. The recession began in 2009 is ongoing, while 2012 registered -2.3%. Moreover, in the first semester of 2013 it registered -1.5, and unemployment accounts for 15.8% on a population of 4.2 million. But the Croatian government is confident that “thanks to 13.7 billion euro potentially allocated via EU funding for the period 2014-2020, relevant structural changes will be carried out”, wrote the daily quotidiano Nova List. In particular, special projects are planned to finance the building of hospitals and schools, high-speed train transport and for the promotion of alternative energy sources, just to mention a few. An uphill road. “EU adhesion is not a magical solution to the crisis – pointed out EP president Martin Schulz, – but it will help people overcome their state of poverty and will boost the modernization of the economy”. The point was reiterated by Croatian president Ivo Josipovic: “The crisis is a challenge, an invitation to do better than today”.