January’s re-election of president Stjepan Mesic, with two-thirds of the votes, is more proof that the overwhelming majority of Croatia’s 4.4 million people want to see their country become a member of the EU as soon as possible. The government’s task is to create political and economic conditions for accession talks, continue reforms and strengthen the country’s financial balances.
Croatia’s EU accession process accelerated after the death of president Franjo Tudjman in 1999, who was much out of favour with the union. After signing a Stabilisation and Association Agreement in February 2003, the country applied for EU membership, and in June 2004 the European Council decided to accept Croatia as a candidate country. The next decisive date is March 17, when accession talks are due to start.
