Welcome, Croatia
Daniel Korski 12:28pm
Croatia's EU referendum was overwhelming — more than two-thirds of voters favoured the young state's accession to the European Union. This is an important moment.
For it shows that another part of Yugoslavia is intent on leaving its violent past behind and move into the European mainstream. Croatia and its newly-elected government still faces many problems
— corruption, judicial favouritism and xenophobia among them — but the journey to a milder and more moderate society can now continue.
When Croatia accedes to the EU, probably next year, it will be an example to those states in the Balkans, like Bosnia, Albania and Serbia, that wish to join the EU but not undertake the hard, reformist work that's required. No doubt politicians in these countries will claim, as they did when Slovenia joined the EU, that Croatia was always different; Catholic, protected by Germany and physically closer to Europe.
But this criticism misses the mark. For when Croatia's army drove thousands of Serbs from their homes in Operation Storm — a mission for which several people have been convicted in The Hague — the country did not look very European. It looked decidedly Balkan. Since then, however, progressively cleaner governments have sought to change Croatia's society with the help of allies such as Britain. That work is now paying off and a similar effort can work for Serbia, Bosnia and Albania too.
For many Britons, Croatia's choice may seem quixotic, especially at this time when the EU faces such challenges. But the referendum bears reflecting on. It shows that, particularly on Europe's periphery, the EU is still a harbour from a violent history.
Previous
Ian Walker
January 23rd, 2012 12:45pm Report this comment"corruption, judicial favouritism and xenophobia"
Or "Italy, Germany and France" to use the correct EU terminology
Axstane
January 23rd, 2012 12:47pm Report this commentAnother lemming then. Mind you at the beginning there are all those lovely freebies to be paid for by the Nordic members of the EU. What a boom they will enjoy! What a crash they will experience!
Heartless Curmudgeon
January 23rd, 2012 12:54pm Report this commentOh dear.
Another lamb to the slaughter, - or rather to be alternately stuffed then bled by the parasitical EUSSR.
David B
January 23rd, 2012 12:55pm Report this commentThe EU at its best. Driving countries into change for the better. Same the EU does not look at itself and go through the same process
Austin Barry
January 23rd, 2012 1:03pm Report this comment“It shows that, particularly on Europe's periphery, the EU is still a harbour from a violent history.”
Indeed, look at Northern Ireland an EU member since 1973.
Er, no, better not.
Focus, Korski, focus...
Arthur
January 23rd, 2012 1:19pm Report this commentDoesn't it demonstrate the lack of confidence in their own institutions and ability to manage the future? The Croats fought a war to gain independence, but they now seem to believe that Germany and France could run things better than they could. How sad.
toco
January 23rd, 2012 1:20pm Report this commentAnother Rumania looking for handouts-every day and in every way the EU continues to implode.
Mr. Bubbles
January 23rd, 2012 1:33pm Report this commentI suggest we force them to vote again until they give the right answer. That's how we do things in Europe isn't it, Daniel?
RogerG
January 23rd, 2012 1:33pm Report this comment'Overwhelming' is (deliberately?) misleading. According to the BBC, the turnout was only 44%, of whom 66% voted in favour. In other words, less than 30% of the electorate expressed a positive vote.
I imagine that a lot of Croatians are understandably sceptical of the benefits of boarding a sinking ship.
Halcyondaze
January 23rd, 2012 1:40pm Report this commentAh Korski again - everybody's favourite!
The ship is sinking so sure, let's let Croatia jump on board too. The results will be threefold: more Croatians over here, more of our money over there, and then total Croatian collapse.
PLEASE sign the EU referendum e-petition today and join UKIP. It will make Korski's day.
Robert Christopher
January 23rd, 2012 1:44pm Report this commentThey will have to learn from the Irish, Spanish and Greeks how to cope with all the new jobs that are going to be generated.
TrevorsDen
January 23rd, 2012 1:50pm Report this comment'corruption, judicial favouritism and xenophobia' ... and we are letting them in? I suppose they will not be out of place.
But another country with the begging bowl will not please Ireland.
And indeed will not be much of a help to Scotland if they have their way.
Vulture
January 23rd, 2012 1:59pm Report this commentCroatia is a nasty little fascist statelet, born in blood with a history of racial genocide to make the Nazis blush.
The EU is a horrible un-democratic conspiracy galloping towards the biggest economic car crash in European history.
I'd say they make a very good fit.
In2minds
January 23rd, 2012 2:06pm Report this comment@RogerG - "deliberately misleading" - Indeed, but then that's the EU and its sycophants for you.
Danko
January 23rd, 2012 2:07pm Report this commentOverwhelming, surely you must be pulling our leg here Korski?
Russell
January 23rd, 2012 2:09pm Report this commentAutomatic right of entry to the UK and endless benefits?
I sincerely hope Cameron & Co. scrapped labours 'golden ticket' entry for all plan.
MaxSceptic
January 23rd, 2012 2:28pm Report this commentScrew the Croatians, when do we get a say about whether or not we want to be in the club (payout division)?
Augustus
January 23rd, 2012 2:33pm Report this commentCroatia is a poor country. They're in the worst economic crisis since 1990, unemployment is at 17.5%, they are corrupt and desperate. How is this going to enhance the EU?
cuffleyburgers
January 23rd, 2012 2:58pm Report this commentAn overwhelming majority - hmm, yes well, 3 out of the 5 people who hadn't got anything better to do that day, and allowed themselves to be swayed by the dodgy phrasing of the question - something like "do you want endless free lunches paid by the germans or decades of grinding poverty and anther war?"
Fergus Pickering
January 23rd, 2012 3:23pm Report this commentThe EU will be bigger.
Cynic
January 23rd, 2012 3:53pm Report this comment"Croatia's EU referendum was overwhelming — more than two-thirds of voters favoured the young state's accession to the European Union." Hardly a surprise since they no doubt expect to be net recipients of largesse (and our bill will no doubt be hiked to pay for it). When will they be adopting the oh-so-successful euro?
Cynic
January 23rd, 2012 3:54pm Report this comment"It shows that, particularly on Europe's periphery, the EU is still a harbour from a violent history." More like a gravy train.
michael
January 23rd, 2012 4:40pm Report this comment"they are corrupt and desperate. How is this going to enhance the EU?"... Birds of a feather...
For Shame
January 23rd, 2012 4:44pm Report this commentVulture - you took the words right out of my mouth.
Korski's darlings did a damn sight more than just Op Storm. Their ravages in Central Bosnia were disgusting and illegal acts. That Bosnia is left to spin in the wind while this unrepentant and self-pitying nation gets welcomed in the club by their Nazi-era allies (obviously some ties lived beyond Hitler's rule) is wrong headed, unfair and a stain on European history.
Edward Sutherland
January 23rd, 2012 4:56pm Report this commentWelcome to the mad house, Croatia. But, unlike most lunatics, you've agreed to incarcerate yourselves voluntarily.
Kittler
January 23rd, 2012 4:57pm Report this commentIs the UK Government or any other, going to veto this and if not why not?
dorothy wilson
January 23rd, 2012 5:19pm Report this commentOf course the referendum was overwhelming. They want the handouts. Simple!
Boudicca
January 23rd, 2012 6:00pm Report this commentKorski omits to mentinon that only 42% of the electorate bothered to vote.
The actual percentage of Croatians who voted in favour of EU membership was only 28%. That is hardly a ringing endorsement, but of course the EU will hail it as a sensational result. And of course, the Croatian people will never get another chance to vote - in case they change their mind.
Jackson
January 23rd, 2012 6:21pm Report this commentHow nice for the Croatians. The UK can expect another major influx to increase our indiginous unemployment rate and wages levels. But more power to the EU Autocrats.
Douglas Carter
January 23rd, 2012 7:43pm Report this commentDaniel Korski - from the first to (at time of writing) last in the replies, are comments replete with entirely fair sentiments.
The overwhelming majority of Croatians voted no such way - only those who turned out to vote, of whom were less than fifty percent of all registered Croatian voters.
Membership of the EU is not a panacaea for poor Government, xenophobia and corruption - sometimes it actually seems to be a pre-requisite. On this occasion, I'd say it was obligatory on yourself to bring yourself back to this delusional, self-satisfied essay and smell the coffee.
bojimbo
January 23rd, 2012 9:07pm Report this commentMore immigrants , then .
Alexandrovich
January 23rd, 2012 9:15pm Report this commentAre you telling me that I've wasted my time learning polish?
WIlliam Blakes Ghost
January 23rd, 2012 10:39pm Report this commentAnother eastern European nation to turn the EU into a more ridiculous version of the Eurovision Song Contest andf that poor little twerp Korski laps it up! How sad.....
Kennybhoy
January 24th, 2012 6:11am Report this commentVulture on January 23rd, 2012 1:59pm.
Thirded.
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