Croatia Hits a Bump in the Road of EU Accession

A couple of months ago we heard the brimming report from the European Commission that Croatia was set to complete its accession negotiations in 2011. But recently the path to Croatia’s EU accession has seemed slightly less certain.

The issue was discussed at the most recent meeting of EU members in Brussels and the meeting found it impossible to set a date to close the book on Croatia’s accession negotiations. At the helm of the blockade on Turkey’s accession, France is also leading a band of countries (including the UK and Holland) in calling for a monitor on Croatia’s reform progress between now and its joining the EU.

The countries want to ensure that the reforms being made are lasting and irreversible, and particularly to ensure that Croatia not be permitted into the passport-free Schengen area too soon, particularly if problems persist with its legal system and migrants. It hopes that pressure will encourage Zagreb “to sustain its efforts”, once negotiations are complete, according to the French minister for European affairs, Laurent Wauquiez. Failure to comply would delay accession.

This is causing worry that Croatia could end up in a state of limbo unable to progress like Turkey. However, these worries are largely exaggerated according to Liam Bailey, property expert and director of Write About Property, he said:

“Croatia is not Turkey, and their situations are about as dissimilar as it gets. Turkey is going against the EU on so many issues, hoping that its being seen as a bridge between East and West, Christianity and Islam, and its new economic prowess will eventually force the EU to bend to its will. To forget the problems it has with EU member Cyprus, to which it has closed ports; far from the zero-problems that the EU expects.

“Meanwhile Croatia has done everything the EU has asked of it, and has gained a lot of support in the EU because of this. Either because France et al will be forced to pipe down or because Croatia will make the concession of agreeing to the requested monitor if it becomes absolutely essential.”

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