Croatia Membership is a Win−win for Croatia and EU but there are Challenges Ahead

20 years after its fight for independence, Croatia joins the EU on the first of July as the second former Yugoslav republic to join, after a process the EPP Group helped to facilitate. Both Croatia and EU stand to benefit, though Croatia's transition to a modern economy remains a work in transition. By taking in Croatia, the EU is reaching deep into the Balkans, where just 20 years ago a war was raging. With a combination of hard and soft power, the EU has maintained the peace in the last volatile region in Europe. Available material includes an edited package.