2013 enlargement of the European Union#Negotiation progress

{{EU history}}

{{Politics of Croatia}}

Accession requirements included: judicial reform to strengthen the independence, accountability, impartiality, professionalism and efficiency of the judiciary; a crackdown on corruption and organised crime (this resulted in the conviction of former Prime Minister Ivo Sanader for taking bribes); strengthen the protection of minorities; settle outstanding refugee return issues; improve the protection of human rights.{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/pdf/hp/interim_report_hr_ch23_en.pdf |title=INTERIM REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL AND THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ON REFORMS IN CROATIA IN THE FIELD OF JUDICIARY AND FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS (NEGOTIATION CHAPTER 23) |access-date=30 June 2013}}

Croatia had to extradite several of its citizens to the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY), a United Nations body, an issue that was often contentious in domestic politics. Croatia's relations with the ICTY had continually been cited by the EU officials as something that required further improvement. Ratification of the EU Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Croatia had been stalled because of this.

The European Council, after its summit of 20 December 2004, set the following 17 March as the date to start entry negotiations, provided that Croatia continued to co-operate fully with the ICTY. On 16 March 2005, the day before talks were to begin, the EU postponed the commencement of negotiations, because the ICTY prosecution assessed the Croatian efforts to capture the fugitive general Ante Gotovina (indicted by the ICTY for war crimes and crimes against humanity, but at large since 2001) as neither timely nor sufficient.

On 7 December 2005, the Spanish police finally arrested Ante Gotovina with the help of the Croatian government on the Spanish island of Tenerife, located in the Canary Islands. He was brought to The Hague to be tried for war crimes. With the arrest of Ante Gotovina this issue was resolved, and entry negotiations began anew, after the certification of ICTY chief prosecutor Carla Del Ponte that Croatia now fully cooperated with the ICTY.

In April 2011, Croatian generals Gotovina and Markač were given extended prison sentences at the ICTY, which was widely perceived as unjust in the Croatian public. This caused a marked increase in opposition to the accession because, in the past, some countries like the Netherlands,{{cite news|url=http://www.euractiv.com/enlargement/croatia-sees-breakthrough-eu-tal-news-495240|title=Croatia sees breakthrough in EU talks|date=21 June 2010|work=EurActiv |access-date=14 June 2012}} conditioned their support for the Croatia's accession process with the continued Croatian co-operation with the ICTY.

On 16 November 2012, the ICTY Appeals Chamber acquitted generals Gotovina and Markač and ordered their immediate release.{{cite news|url=http://www.icty.org/sid/11145|title=Appeals Chamber Acquits and Orders Release of Ante Gotovina and Mladen Markač|date=16 November 2012|work=ICTY |access-date=16 November 2012}}

{{Main|Croatia–Slovenia border disputes}}

Croatia has had long-standing border issues with Slovenia, especially over the Piran Bay boundary. Between December 2008 and September–October 2009, Slovenia blocked Croatia's EU accession over these border issues. On 6 June 2010, Slovenia voted to accept the ruling of United Nations arbitrators on the dispute, removing this obstacle.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/10248037.stm|title=Slovenia backs Croatia border deal in referendum vote |work=BBC News|access-date=7 June 2010|date=6 June 2010}}

Croatia has border disputes with Serbia{{Citation needed|date=March 2022}}, Bosnia and Herzegovina{{Citation needed|date=March 2022}}, and Montenegro, but these countries are not European Union members and cannot directly block the accession process. In December 2008, Croatia and Montenegro agreed that the outstanding sea border issue between the two countries should be settled before an international court whose decision would be accepted in advance by the parliaments of the two countries.{{cite web|url=http://www.vlada.hr/en/naslovnica/novosti_i_najave/2008/ozujak/predsjednik_vlade_s_predsjednikom_vlade_crne_gore |title=Croatia, Montenegro agree sea border issue should be settled before international court |date=12 March 2008 |publisher=Croatian Government |access-date=27 December 2009 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090717010811/http://www.vlada.hr/en/naslovnica/novosti_i_najave/2008/ozujak/predsjednik_vlade_s_predsjednikom_vlade_crne_gore |archive-date=17 July 2009 }}

{{unreferenced section|date=January 2022}}

Free acquisition of real estate by foreigners is a sensitive issue in Croatia. This matter particularly concerns Italians, especially in Istria. While it has some ties with Italy, the events surrounding World War II, when Istria changed hands between the Kingdom of Italy and the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, remain pertinent. Numerous Italian politicians expressed their discontent concerning the inability of Italians to purchase land in Croatia, considering it discriminatory treatment and stating that the issue should be resolved as soon as possible.

Croatia subsequently denied any discrimination, and said that Croatian legislation provided for the same treatment of all EU citizens concerning land ownership. In mid-2006, Croatia and Italy came to an agreement allowing Italian citizens to purchase land in Croatia and Croatian citizens to purchase land in Italy. Other EU members had to resolve similar issues before their accession to the EU. Examples of this include Slovenia, Slovakia, Poland, and especially Malta.

Croatia was required to stop subsidising its shipbuilding industry, resulting in privatisations, closures and reduced production capacity. Following the events of the 1990s (dissolution of Yugoslavia and Croatian independence) and cheaper shipbuilding emerging on the Asian markets, Croatia's shipbuilding industry was not profitable with massive losses, resulting in government subsidies over the twenty years until privatisation talllying €3.75 billion.{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/little-enthusiasm-for-eu-at-croatia-s-sinking-shipyards-1.1443894|title=Little enthusiasm for EU at Croatia's sinking shipyards|work=Irish Times|access-date=30 June 2013|date=27 June 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-13-565_en.htm|title=State aid: Commission approves changes to restructuring plan of Croatian shipyard 3.Maj|date=19 June 2013|access-date=30 June 2013|work=European Commission}}

Croatia applied for EU membership in 2003, and the European Commission recommended making it an official candidate in early 2004. Candidate country status was granted to Croatia by the European Council (the EU's heads of state and/or government) in mid-2004, but the date for the beginning of entry negotiations, while originally set for March 2005, was put off. In early March 2005, Croatia was formally warned by the EU that its failure to arrest the war crimes suspect Ante Gotovina would jeopardise the country's chances of starting the accession talks, in spite of Croatia insisting it was doing everything it could to find and arrest the fugitive{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4310191.stm|title=EU warns Croatia over talks date|work=BBC News|access-date=31 January 2015 | date=2 March 2005}} and claiming that Gotovina was no longer in Croatia.{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4486753.stm|title=Croatia's EU hopes dashed again|work=BBC News|access-date=31 January 2015 | date=26 April 2005}} In fact, the talks started in October 2005, shortly before Gotovina's arrest in Spain, which occurred in early December that year and was hailed by the EU as an important turning point for the whole region, as it turned "the page from the nationalist past to a European future".{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4513174.stm|title=EU hails Croat fugitive's arrest |work=BBC News|access-date=31 January 2015 | date=9 December 2005}}

Before the start of negotiations with Croatia, the acquis was divided into 35 chapters, 4 more than the usual 31; the new chapters, previously part of the agricultural policy, are areas expected to be troublesome, as they were with the other applicants. Following the opening of accession negotiations on 3 October 2005, the process of screening 35 acquis chapters with Croatia was completed on 18 October 2006.{{cite web |url=http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/candidate-countries/croatia/eu_croatia_relations_en.htm |title=Ec.europa.eu |work=Europa (web portal) |access-date=7 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120102123647/http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/candidate-countries/croatia/eu_croatia_relations_en.htm |archive-date=2 January 2012 |url-status = dead|df=dmy-all }} Between December 2008 and October 2009, Slovenia blocked negotiations in 13 acquis chapters because of a border dispute with Croatia.{{Cite news|url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/slovenia-agrees-breakthrough-in-croatia-s-eu-talks/ |title=Slovenia agrees breakthrough in Croatia's EU talks |website=EURACTIV |access-date=9 June 2018 |date=11 September 2009}} In September 2009 it was announced that Slovenia would remove restraints on Croatia's negotiations with the EU without prejudice to the international mediation on the border dispute.{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8250441.stm|title=Slovenia unblocks Croatian EU bid|work=BBC News|access-date=12 September 2009 | date=11 September 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090915172816/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8250441.stm| archive-date= 15 September 2009 |url-status = live}}

Originally Croatia had been aiming for a 2007 accession date, which would have broken Slovakia's record of 2.5 years of negotiations to complete the process. However, negotiations turned out to be tougher than expected. On 5 November 2008, the European Commission's annual progress report on Croatia's candidacy was published. Olli Rehn stated that the country should aim to complete accession negotiations by the end of 2009, with membership following by 2011 at the latest.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/nov/05/croatia-eu|title=Croatia given timetable for EU entry|last=Traynor|first=Ian|date=5 November 2008|work=The Guardian|access-date=5 November 2008|location=London}} In 2009 it was also reported that Iceland may be fast-tracked into the European Union,{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/jan/30/iceland-join-eu|title=Iceland to be fast-tracked into the EU

|last=Traynor|first=Ian|date=30 January 2009|work=The Guardian|access-date=30 January 2009|location=London|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090131213900/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/30/iceland-join-eu|archive-date=31 January 2009 |url-status = live}} and Rehn said that "the EU prefers two countries joining at the same time rather than individually. If Iceland applies shortly and the negotiations are rapid, Croatia and Iceland could join the EU in parallel". The last non-acquis hurdle to membership, the maritime border dispute with Slovenia, was overcome in November 2009.

Croatia ultimately finished its accession negotiations on 30 June 2011,[http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/11/397 Statement by President Barroso on Croatia – Commission proposes to close the last "Chapters" in the accession talks] European Commission, 10 June 2011 and signed the Treaty of Accession 2011 in Brussels on 9 December 2011; followed by approval of it by a national referendum on 22 January 2012 and completing their ratification process on 4 April 2012. Entry into force and accession of Croatia to the EU took place on 1 July 2013, as all 27 EU members and Croatia have ratified the treaty before this date.{{cite web|url=http://www.consilium.europa.eu/policies/agreements/search-the-agreements-database?command=details&id=&lang=en&aid=2011051&doclang=EN%22|title=Treaty concerning the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union|publisher=European Council}}{{cite web|url=http://www.delhrv.ec.europa.eu/?lang=en&content=3935|title=Treaty of Croatia's Accession to the European Union – Ratification Process|publisher=EU delegation to Croatia|access-date=2 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522035729/http://www.delhrv.ec.europa.eu/?lang=en&content=3935|archive-date=22 May 2013|url-status = dead|df=dmy-all}}

The accession took place at a time of economic difficulty with Croatia in a fifth year of recession with 21% unemployment, and amid the European sovereign-debt crisis.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-croatia-eu-idUSBRE95T04P20130630|date=30 June 2013|access-date=30 June 2013|title=Mired in recession, ex-Yugoslav Croatia joins troubled EU|work=Reuters}}

As Croatia joined the EU, it exited the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA).

Croatia became a member on 1 July 2013, but some areas of cooperation in the European Union were scheduled to apply to Croatia at a later date. These were:

• Passports of the European Union (the Croatian passport still does not follow the EU common passport design with burgundy coloured covers)
• Enlargement of the European Economic Area is a separate process. Croatia is a fully participating member as of 19 February 2025.
• Croatia has adopted the euro as its national currency in 2023. The Croatian Parliament passed legislation enacting a national framework for transitioning to the euro on 13 May 2022. Starting in September 2022 prices started to be displayed in both euro and kuna; euros became legal tender for all transactions on 1 January 2023; kuna remained in concurrent circulation until 14 January 2023.{{Cite journal |last=Falagiarda |first=Matteo |last2=Gartner |first2=Christine |date=2023-01-12 |title=Croatia adopts the euro |url=https://www.ecb.europa.eu/pub/economic-bulletin/focus/2023/html/ecb.ebbox202208_02~15fd36600a.en.html |language=en}}
• The country joined the Schengen Area in 2023. On 1 January 2023, Croatia removed border controls with neighboring members Slovenia and Hungary.{{Cite web |date=2023-03-26 |title=Croatia lifts air borders for Schengen zone countries |url=https://www.euronews.com/2023/03/26/croatia-joins-europes-schengen-area-the-worlds-largest-free-travel-zone |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=euronews |language=en}}

Before accession to the European Union, Croatia was categorised as an Annex II country, which meant that Croatian citizens could stay in the Schengen Area without a visa for up to 90 days in a 180-day period. Croatian citizens were also able to stay without a visa in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ireland and Romania for up to 90 days in each country, as well as in the United Kingdom for up to 6 months.

The general rule was that non-EU citizens had to use a passport to enter EU member states. However, there was an exception to the Schengen Agreement rules for Croatian citizens. Based on the pre-Schengen bilateral agreements between Croatia and neighbouring EU countries (Italy, Hungary and Slovenia), Croatian citizens were allowed to cross the border with only a Croatian national identity card (a passport was not obligatory).See Schengen and Slovenia / Third-country nationals at {{cite web|url=http://www.mnz.gov.si/en/pogosta_vprasanja/faq_about_schengen/ |title=Republic of Slovenia: Ministry of the Interior: FAQ about Schengen |access-date=2 March 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080203024747/http://www.mnz.gov.si/en/pogosta_vprasanja/faq_about_schengen/ |archive-date=3 February 2008 |url-status = dead|df=dmy }} Many people living near the border crossed it several times a day (some work across the border, or own land on the other side of the border), especially on the border with Slovenia, which was unmarked for centuries as Croatia and Slovenia were both part of the Habsburg Empire (1527–1918) and Yugoslavia (1918–1991). Prior to Croatia's accession to the EU on 1 July 2013, an interim solution, which received permission from the European Commission, was found: every Croatian citizen was allowed to cross the Schengen border into Hungary, Italy or Slovenia with an ID card and a special border card that was issued by Croatian police at border exit control. The police authorities of Hungary, Italy or Slovenia would then stamp the special border card both on entry and exit. Croatian citizens, however, were not allowed to enter any other Schengen Agreement countries without a valid passport, although they were allowed to travel between Hungary, Italy and Slovenia.

These arrangements were discontinued on 1 July 2013 when Croatia became an EU member state. Since then, Croatian citizens have been able to enter any EU member state using only an ID card.

{{Further|Citizens’ Rights Directive|Freedom of movement for workers in the European Union}}

On 1 July 2013, Croatian nationals became European Union citizens and acquired the right to move and reside freely in other EU member states, as well as in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. On the same day, 14 EU member states (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia and Sweden) allowed Croatian nationals to work without restrictions in their country. However, 13 other EU member states imposed transitional restrictions on Croatian nationals wishing to access their labour markets.{{cite web|url=http://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/work/abroad/work-permits/index_en.htm|title=Work permits|website=Your Europe - Citizens|access-date=5 September 2017}} Annex V of the Treaty concerning the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union allows member states to apply national measures regulating Croatian nationals’ access to their labour markets for a period of up to five years, and in case of serious disturbance to their labour markets or the threat thereof, and after notifying the commission, for a further two years (i.e. up to a maximum of seven years in total).

Croatian nationals who on 1 July 2013 had already resided in an EU member state for a continuous period of at least 5 years acquired the right of permanent residence (meaning that they could work without any restrictions in their host EU member state), as long as during their continuous residence of 5 years they were a worker, self-employed person, self-sufficient person, student or family member accompanying or joining an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen.cf Judgement of the European Court of Justice of 21 December 2011, Joined Cases C‑424/10 and C‑425/10, Ziolkowski, Szeja and Others v Land Berlin: [http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:62010CJ0424:EN:HTML Judgement] & [http://curia.europa.eu/jcms/upload/docs/application/pdf/2011-12/cp110141en.pdf Press release]. The ECJ held that periods of residence completed by a national of a non-Member State before the accession of that State to the EU must be taken into account when calculating the five year qualifying period for permanent residence, provided that the conditions laid down in Article 7(1) of Directive 2004/38/EC are satisfied.

On 1 July 2013, non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens who were family members of a Croatian national and accompanying or joining him/her also acquired the right to move and reside freely in other EU member states.

On 1 July 2020, restrictions were lifted in the last remaining member state (Austria), giving Croatian citizens right to work in all EU and EEA member states.

{{further|Visa policy of the European Union}}

In the run up to accession to the European Union, Croatia aligned its visa policy with that of the European Union. As a result of the new visa regime, some third-country nationals (such as Russian and Turkish nationals) who were previously temporarily exempt from having to obtain a visa to visit Croatia were now subject to a visa requirement. However, to mitigate the effect of the re-imposition of a visa regime on tourist numbers, the Croatian government has introduced a 'facilitated entry of aliens' procedure, exempting travellers who have a Schengen visa or residence permit from having to obtain an additional Croatian visa to visit Croatia until 31 December 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.mvep.hr/en/consular-information/visas/visa-requirements-overview/|title=MVEP • Visa requirements overview|website=www.mvep.hr|access-date=5 September 2017}} In addition, the Croatian government has extended the working hours and capacity of its foreign missions in countries such as Russia and Ukraine to ensure that applications for Croatian visas are processed more efficiently.{{cite web|url=http://www.mvep.hr/en/info-servis/press-releases/visa-regime,14950.html|title=MVEP • Press Release|website=www.mvep.hr|access-date=5 September 2017}}

{{Main|Visa requirements for Croatian citizens}}

Upon Croatia's accession to the European Union on 1 July 2013, several countries and territories outside the European Union aligned the visa requirements imposed on Croatian citizens with those imposed on other EU citizens. For example, on 1 July 2013, Hong Kong extended the visa-free period of stay for Croatian citizens from 14 days to 90 days in line with the visa-free period of stay granted to other EU citizens,{{cite web|url=http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201306/28/P201306280461.htm|title=Visa-free visit period extended for nationals of Croatia|website=www.info.gov.hk|access-date=5 September 2017}} whilst New Zealand introduced a 90-day visa exemption for Croatian citizens.{{Cite web |url=http://www.immigration.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/25A93FE3-5999-45CD-915A-19D72A7264F7/0/AmendementCircular201308.pdf |title=AMENDMENTS TO THE IMMIGRATION NEW ZEALAND OPERATIONAL MANUAL: JULY RELEASE |access-date=3 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130909044456/http://www.immigration.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/25A93FE3-5999-45CD-915A-19D72A7264F7/0/AmendementCircular201308.pdf |archive-date=9 September 2013 |url-status = dead|df=dmy-all }} It is likely that these countries and territories amended their visa policy for Croatian citizens because of the European Union's visa reciprocity mechanism.

During June 2011 Croatia began with implementation of the projects and reforms required to join the Schengen Area by 2015.{{cite web |url=http://www.vecernji.hr/vijesti/karamarko-granicni-nadzor-prema-eu-ukidamo-2015-clanak-248519|title=Karamarko: Granični nadzor prema EU ukidamo 2015.|trans-title=Karamarko: Border control towards the EU shall be abolished in 2015|language=hr|author=Stojan de Prato|date=4 February 2011|publisher=Večernji list|access-date=25 June 2011}} By joining the Schengen Area, border checks will be eliminated at the land border with Hungary and Slovenia, as well as at airports and ports for flights and ships to/from Schengen member states, thus facilitating the freer movement of persons between Croatia and the rest of the Schengen Area.

The influx of refugees and migrants from Greece through North Macedonia and Serbia to Croatia and then to current Schengen member states like Slovenia, Austria and Hungary, as part of the 2015 European migrant crisis, led some to question whether there will be the political consensus necessary for further enlargement of the Schengen Area.{{cite web |url=http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/western-balkans-expect-new-refugee-wave-09-14-2015 |title=Balkans Await More Refugees as Germany Exits Schengen |website=Balkan Insight |date=2015-09-14}}{{cite web |url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/09/refugees-seeking-routes-border-closures-150916045558970.html |title=Refugees cross Croatia border in search of new route |website=Al Jazeera |date=2015-09-16}}{{cite web |url=http://www.euronews.com/2015/09/16/migrants-begin-to-arrive-in-croatia-in-new-route-to-the-schengen-zone/ |title=Migrants begin to arrive in Croatia in new route to the Schengen Zone |date=2015-09-16 |access-date=2015-09-17 |website=Euronews}}{{cite web |url=http://online.vasabladet.fi/Artikel/Visa/76470 |title=Kroatien fortsätter att transportera flyktingar till Ungern |language=sv |newspaper=Vasabladet |date=2015-09-19}} In September 2015, Hungary threatened to veto Croatia's accession to the Schengen Area after it allowed migrants to transit the country into Hungary.{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN0RJ0EU20150919 |title=Hungary could block Croatia's Schengen accession: aide to PM |date=2015-09-19 |access-date=2015-09-20 |publisher=Reuters |editor=Clelia Oziel |author=Thomas Escritt}} Slovenia also suggested it could veto Croatia's accession to the Schengen Area as a result of its border dispute,{{cite web |url=https://www.total-croatia-news.com/politics/27756-slovenia-ready-to-block-croatia-s-entry-into-schengen |title=Slovenia Ready to Block Croatia's Entry to Schengen |date=2018-04-25 |access-date=2018-07-22}} though it ultimately did not.

On 8 December 2022, the ministers of justice and home affairs representing their EU countries, called the Justice and Home Affairs Council, which is one of the configurations of the Council of the European Union, made the final decision to admit Croatia to the bloc. This went in to effect on 1 January 2023, which meant that checks on persons at internal land and sea borders between Croatia and the other countries in the Schengen area were lifted. Checks at internal air borders, meaning airports, were lifted on 26 March 2023, given the need for this to coincide with the dates of IATA summer/winter time schedule. From 1 January 2023, Croatia started issuing Schengen visas and be able to make full use of the Schengen Information System.{{cite press release |url=https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2022/12/08/schengen-area-council-decides-to-lift-border-controls-with-croatia/ |title=Schengen area: Council decides to lift border controls with Croatia |work=Council of the European Union |date=2022-12-08 |access-date=2022-12-08}}

Croatia's accession to the EU obliges them to apply for membership in the European Economic Area (EEA).{{cite web|url=http://www.efta.int/eea/eea-agreement.aspx|title=EEA Agreement|access-date=2013-07-07|publisher=European Free Trade Association}} The Croatian government submitted their application on 13 September 2012,{{cite web|url=http://daily.tportal.hr/214482/Croatian-gov-t-files-for-Croatia-s-entry-into-EEA.html |title=Croatian gov't files for Croatia's entry into EEA |date=2012-09-13 |access-date=2013-07-07 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224114835/http://daily.tportal.hr/214482/Croatian-gov-t-files-for-Croatia-s-entry-into-EEA.html |archive-date=24 December 2013 }} and membership negotiations started 15 March 2013 with the aim to enlarge both the EU and the EEA on the same date, 1 July 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.regjeringen.no/nb/sub/europaportalen/aktuelt.html?contentid=717881&id=467564|title=Aktuelle saker om europapolitikk|date=16 April 2007|website=Regjeringen.no|access-date=5 September 2017}} However, this was not achieved.{{cite web|url=http://www.udi.no/Nyheter/2013/Kroatia-inn-i-EU/|title= Kroatia inn i EU|language=no|date=2013-07-02|publisher=Norwegian Directorate of Immigration|access-date=2013-07-07}}{{cite web|url=http://www.norwegianembassy.hr/News_and_events/Norway-congratulates-Croatia-on-EU-membership/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130708062924/http://www.norwegianembassy.hr/News_and_events/Norway-congratulates-Croatia-on-EU-membership/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2013-07-08|title=Norway congratulates Croatia on EU membership|date=2013-07-02|access-date=2013-07-07|publisher=The Royal Norwegian Embassy in Zagreb}} On 11 April 2014, the EU and its member states (including Croatia), Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein signed an agreement concerning the accession of Croatia to the EEA. It provisionally applied until it officially entered into force on 19 February 2025.{{cite web |url=http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/documents-publications/agreements-conventions/agreement/?aid=2014013 |title=Agreement details |publisher=Council of the European Union |access-date=24 February 2025}}

{{see also|Croatian European Union membership referendum, 2012#Opinion polls}}

Croatian public opinion was divided on EU accession. Opinion polling for the EU referendum showed the population was mostly in favour of joining. Public support ranged from a high of 80% to lows of 26–38%.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12111568|title=Croatians waver over European Union membership|date=9 January 2011|work=BBC News|access-date=10 January 2011| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110110024400/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12111568|archive-date=10 January 2011 |url-status = live}} Political analyst Višeslav Raos cited the economic problems within the EU among the factors: "[Croatians] know that the European Union is not a remedy to all economic and social problems. So the EU itself is in a sort of crisis, and that reflects on Croatia's accession." The government announced an information campaign to reverse the drop in support.

A referendum was held in Croatia on 22 January 2012 on joining the European Union, and the result was 66% approval to join, though the turnout was low at 43.51%.{{cite news|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16670298|title=Croatia EU referendum: Voters back membership|work=BBC News|date=22 January 2012|access-date=22 January 2012}}

{{unreferenced section|date=December 2023}}

==See also==

• Croatia in the European Union
• Yugoslavia–European Communities relations
• Croatia and the euro
• 1973 enlargement of the European Communities
• 1981 enlargement of the European Communities
• 1986 enlargement of the European Communities
• 1995 enlargement of the European Union
• 2004 enlargement of the European Union
• 2007 enlargement of the European Union

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{cite journal

| last = Jović

| first = Dejan

|date=April 2006

| title = Croatia and the European Union: a long delayed journey

| journal = Journal of Southern Europe and the Balkans

| volume = 8

| issue = 1

| pages = 85–103

| doi = 10.1080/14613190600595598

| hdl = 1893/869

| s2cid = 154328938

| hdl-access = free

}}

• Tolksdorf, Dominik (April 2013). [http://www.aicgs.org/issue/croatia-on-the-verge-of-joining-the-european-union-outlook-after-the-release-of-the-latest-eu-monitoring-report/ Croatia on the Verge of Joining the European Union: Outlook after the release of the latest EU monitoring report.] Washington, DC: American Institute for Contemporary German Studies.

• [http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/countries/detailed-country-information/croatia/index_en.htm Official EU-website concerning enlargement]
• [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11283616 BBC News: inside Europe: EU enlargement]

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