Croatia signs accession treaty to become EU member in 2013, even as eurozone battles crisis
By Associated Press, Updated: Saturday, December 10, 8:36 AM
BRUSSELS — Croatia on Friday signed a treaty to join the European Union in 2013, a bittersweet milestone as the bloc prepares to take on a sluggish economy it will have to drag along at the time of its worst crisis ever.
Meanwhile, EU leaders said they were postponing a decision about whether to make Serbia a candidate for membership, a disappointment for the Western-leaning government, which has been trying to put the country’s years as a pariah state behind it.
The EU hailed Croatia’s signing as a historic day for the ex-communist country, but the Croatian government’s decade-long effort could turn out to have been a giant waste of time if the union’s 27 countries fail to solve a financial crisis that threatens to unravel the 53-year-old project to integrate the continent.
The union is battling to avoid being dragged down by members struggling with giant debts. Croatia’s expected entry in 18 months will not help matters: It has been hit hard by the global downturn and has been taking longer than its Balkan neighbors to come out of recession. It has been hoping EU membership will help boost its economy.
The country of 4.2 million is dealing with unemployment at around 17 percent and a budget gap projected at 6.2 percent of gross domestic product. The newly ousted conservative government had been reluctant to undertake serious structural and fiscal reform and fully curb corruption. Its credit rating was reduced a year ago by Standard & Poor’s, which cited a “deteriorated fiscal position and continuously weak” external financing.
The signing came following a marathon all-night session at an emergency summit at which most EU leaders decided to back a new treaty with strict oversight over national budgets, trying to convince markets that the euro has a future. Germany and France were unable to persuade Britain to agree to the treaty changes as it refused to give up some powers.
“It’s very, very odd for someone to join a club the night after the worst bust-up in that club’s history,” said Nigel Farage, a staunchly anti-EU British member of the European Parliament.
EU president Herman Van Rompuy said Croatia will be an “active observer” in all EU forums until it becomes a full member 18 months from now. Its membership must still be ratified by the legislatures of the bloc’s member nations.
Croatia’s entry talks lasted seven years and were held up repeatedly due to territorial disputes with neighboring Slovenia and demands that it arrest remaining war crimes suspects.
“Today Croatia is entering Europe, but more importantly Europe is entering Croatia,” Croatian President Ivo Josipovic told the heads of EU governments. He said Croatia’s progress showed that the EU was determined to eventually accept all Balkan countries into the bloc.
Croatia will become the second nation from the former Yugoslavia to join the EU after Slovenia, which became a member in 2004. All other countries that emerged from the Yugoslav federation — Bosnia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia, as well as neighboring Albania — are also seeking membership.
BRUSSELS — Croatia on Friday signed a treaty to join the European Union in 2013, a bittersweet milestone as the bloc prepares to take on a sluggish economy it will have to drag along at the time of its worst crisis ever.
Meanwhile, EU leaders said they were postponing a decision about whether to make Serbia a candidate for membership, a disappointment for the Western-leaning government, which has been trying to put the country’s years as a pariah state behind it.
The EU hailed Croatia’s signing as a historic day for the ex-communist country, but the Croatian government’s decade-long effort could turn out to have been a giant waste of time if the union’s 27 countries fail to solve a financial crisis that threatens to unravel the 53-year-old project to integrate the continent.
The union is battling to avoid being dragged down by members struggling with giant debts. Croatia’s expected entry in 18 months will not help matters: It has been hit hard by the global downturn and has been taking longer than its Balkan neighbors to come out of recession. It has been hoping EU membership will help boost its economy.
The country of 4.2 million is dealing with unemployment at around 17 percent and a budget gap projected at 6.2 percent of gross domestic product. The newly ousted conservative government had been reluctant to undertake serious structural and fiscal reform and fully curb corruption. Its credit rating was reduced a year ago by Standard & Poor’s, which cited a “deteriorated fiscal position and continuously weak” external financing.
The signing came following a marathon all-night session at an emergency summit at which most EU leaders decided to back a new treaty with strict oversight over national budgets, trying to convince markets that the euro has a future. Germany and France were unable to persuade Britain to agree to the treaty changes as it refused to give up some powers.
“It’s very, very odd for someone to join a club the night after the worst bust-up in that club’s history,” said Nigel Farage, a staunchly anti-EU British member of the European Parliament.
EU president Herman Van Rompuy said Croatia will be an “active observer” in all EU forums until it becomes a full member 18 months from now. Its membership must still be ratified by the legislatures of the bloc’s member nations.
Croatia’s entry talks lasted seven years and were held up repeatedly due to territorial disputes with neighboring Slovenia and demands that it arrest remaining war crimes suspects.
“Today Croatia is entering Europe, but more importantly Europe is entering Croatia,” Croatian President Ivo Josipovic told the heads of EU governments. He said Croatia’s progress showed that the EU was determined to eventually accept all Balkan countries into the bloc.
Croatia will become the second nation from the former Yugoslavia to join the EU after Slovenia, which became a member in 2004. All other countries that emerged from the Yugoslav federation — Bosnia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia, as well as neighboring Albania — are also seeking membership.
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