History of Croatia since 1995
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| This article is part of the History of Croatia series. |
| Before the Croats |
| Medieval Croatian state |
| Kingdom of Croatia |
| Union with Hungary |
| Habsburg Empire |
| First Yugoslavia |
| Independent State of Croatia |
| Second Yugoslavia |
| War in Croatia |
| Croatia since 1995 |
The modern period in Croatian history begins in 1990 with the country's change of political and economic system as well as achieving independence from Yugoslavia in 1991.
Croatia became a member of the Council of Europe on November 6, 1996. 1996 and 1997 were a period of post-war recovery and improving economic conditions.
The remaining part of former Krajina, areas adjacent to FR Yugoslavia, negotiated a peaceful reintegration process with the Croatian Government. The so-called Erdut Agreement made the area a temporary protectorate of the UN Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium. The area was formally re-integrated into Croatia on January 15th, 1998.
Tuđman died in 1999 and in the early 2000 parliamentary elections the nationalist HDZ government was replaced by a center-left coalition, with Ivica Račan as prime minister. At the same time, presidential elections were held which were won by a moderate, Stjepan Mesić.
The country rebounded from a mild recession in 1998/1999 and achieved notable economic growth during the following years. The unemployment rate would continue to rise until 2001 when it finally started falling. Return of refugees accelerated as many homes were rebuilt by the government; most Croats had already returned (except for some in Vukovar), whereas only a third of the Serbs had done so, impeded by unfavorable property laws as well as ethnic and economic issues.
Croatia became a World Trade Organization (WTO) member on November 30, 2000. The country signed an association agreement with the European Union in October 2001, and applied for membership in February/March 2003.
In late 2003, new parliamentary elections were held and a reformed HDZ party won under leadership of Ivo Sanader, who became prime minister. After some delay caused by controversy over extradition of army generals to the ICTY, in 2004 the European Commission finally issued a recommendation that the accession negotiations with Croatia should begin. Its report on Croatia described it as a modern democratic society with a competent economy and the ability to take on further obligations, provided it continued the reform process.
The country was given EU applicant status on June 18, 2004 and a negotiations framework was set up in March 2005. Actual negotiations began after the capture of general Ante Gotovina in December 2005, which resolved outstanding issues with the ICTY in the Hague.
Further issues notwithstanding, the Croatian government and the European Union expect Croatia to become a member of the EU either together or soon after Romania and Bulgaria, i.e. between 2007 and 2009.
