Croatia expected to join EU in 2013

Croatia will become a EU member state on July 1 2013, after having concluded the accession talks before this summer.

Zagreb’s optimism is fueled by the expectation that EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele’s report to the EU officials will say that Croatia has made major progress in the chapter on the judiciary and fundamental rights and that the officials will give a green light on closing it, as well as the chapter on market competition.

Most probably the accession talks will close in June or possibly July 2011.