European Forum

Croatia preparing for referendum on EU membership

Croatia is doing its best to meet the last outstanding criteria in order to conclude the marathon accession talks for EU membership. The question remains, however, whether Croatia’s own citizens really want to join the Union. According to results of a survey by Eurobarometer, published a week ago, only 26 percent of Croatian citizens think that their country's membership in the EU would be "a good thing." Croatian scepticism is second only to Iceland, the latest candidate country that started accession talks recently. In Iceland, a paltry 19 percent of citizens consider EU membership a good thing.

The Croatian government, helped by the EU Commission and some EU member states, is working on a public campaign to explain the benefits of Croatia's EU membership. In the end, Croatians will be asked to approve it, in a legally binding referendum. After the latest constitutional changes, aimed partly at facilitating Croatia's entry into the EU, it will be sufficient if more than half of those who actually take part in the referendum vote in favour. Previously, the constitutional quorum required for approval was 50 percent plus one of all registered voters - close to impossible to achieve in Croatia.

First referendum since independence
Anderj Plenkovic, state secretary for EU issues in the Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told international media that, while the Croatian government does not ignore the results of opinion polls, he does not see Euro-scepticism at such a high level. He pointed out at another survey of two months ago, in which 52 percent answered “Yes” to the question "Would you vote for membership in EU?" Forty percent said “No”. Plenkovic said the referendum on EU membership would be a challenging one, due to the fact that it is going to be the first one since Croatia's the independence in 1991. According to Plenkovic, the public campaign will aim to explain three issues to citizens: What is the European Union today? What did Croatia gain during the accession negotiations? What would be the benefits of EU membership?

Some politicians in Croatia are optimistic, saying that public opinion will react positively to positive circumstances. "One has to admit that accession talks for Croatia are more difficult than in previous enlargements. And there is a sense that Croatia is not being treated fairly," said one senior EU diplomat. Past experience shows that a step forward, such as the start of accession talks, was accompanied by a surge in public support for EU membership. For a long time, there was only weak backing for the country's membership in NATO. But when accession to the Western Alliance became a reality in the spring of last year, support grew to more than 60 percent. There was no need for a referendum on joining the alliance, since it requires no transfer of national sovereignty. Most of Croatia's relevant political forces, both in government and in opposition, support EU membership and even consider it as a top national priority.

Sources: WAZ EU Observer