Blogging from the Highlands of Scotland
'From fanaticism to barbarism is only one step' - Diderot

Friday 18 June 2004

European Union (EU) - Croatia becomes official candidate for entry

Croatia is now officially a candidate for entry to the European Union, it was announced in Brussels. Speaking of Croatia, the European Commission's President Romano Prodi said:

"We are very satisfied because Croatia is going with us into Europe."

- it is expected that detailed negotiations for Croatia to enter the EU will begin next year and it is possible it may join as a member in 2007 when both Bulgaria and Romania are scheduled to join. There is, as yet, no scheduled date for Turkey (already a candidate country) to join or for detailed negotiations on the matter to begin, although Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, also at the Brussels summit, speculates these may begin as early as March 2005. My main website has a section on the EU here, with a link to the 'enlargement' area here, although Croatia has not yet been added to the EU website - no doubt that will be done very soon, now that the political decision has been taken.

This is good news, although I would like to see a definite date for Turkish entry, and for detailed negotiations to allow this to happen, set as soon as possible.

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