With an application presented by prime minister Ivica Racan to Greek prime minister Costas Simitis, current EU president, Croatia formally presented its request to become a member of the European Union on Friday, 21 February. “United Europe is an unprecedented challenge of the new era said the Croat leader and Croatia has a right to participate in this process”. Croatia has thus become the first country of the western Balkan area to present its membership application to the EU. Zagreb already signed an Agreement of stabilization and association with the EU in October 2001. At this point Croatia is called to respect its international commitments and conform to EU standards. Among these, cooperation with the international tribunal in The Hague is considered paramount. “Satisfaction” was expressed by EU Commission president Romano Prodi on hearing of the Croatian application. “It’s an excellent signal he said that points to a future of development, stability, growth and peaceful co-existence for the whole region, an integral part of Europe”. “The EU Prodi stressed is a real Union, not just an area of economic or technical integration”.
