Croatia cleared for EU membership in 2013

Source: BBC

Croatia has been given the go-ahead to become a member of the European Union, and is likely to join in 2013, the European Commission has said.

Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said he would recommend EU nations wrap up talks and prepare to greet Croatia as the 28th member state. Talks on reforming the Croatian judiciary, a very sensitive area, had been successful, Mr Barroso said.

Croatia will be the second ex-Yugoslav country after Slovenia to join.

Mr Barroso described the move as "a signal to the rest of south-eastern Europe". "I... hope that Croatia's progress is an inspiration to our other partners to reinvigorate their reform efforts and to deliver to the benefit of their people."

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13725558

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Croatia's per capita GDP is around $17,600. It has a GINI of 29 compared to the EU's $33,400 - 30 and the US' $47,000 - (terrible) 45. With a small population (4.5 million) and a progressive income distribution, the benefits of EU membership will hopefully raise living standards for Croatians.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croatia

Apparently reforming Croatia's judiciary was a sticking point which took quite a while to resolve.