Croatia

Since the year 2000, Croatia has consistently continued on its path towards the European Union. In January 2002 Croatia thus signed the Stabilisation and Association Agreement negotiated with the EU. Croatia’s stable domestic policy situation, the constant improvement of the country’s macro-economic data and broad cooperation with the Hague Tribunal paved the way for opening accession negotiations on 3 October 2005.

In October 2009, a settlement of the border conflict between Croatia and Slovenia was achieved, after the accession negotiations had been blocked for a year. Considering this development and improvements in the areas of agriculture, competition policy, judiciary / fundamental rights and the fight against corruption, a successful conclusion of the accession negotiations with Croatia are within reach.

On 1 April 2009, Croatia became a member of NATO.