EU here we come

[Mac]

No offence taken.

You know, just watching how events are being shaped now in Croatia (influx of tourists and foreigners looking to set-up in business there, such as myself) surely this will rally the people very quickly to get their act together. By that, I mean their future actions will evolve into developing the infrastructure needed to build and prosper.

No doubt there will always be a rich minority. C'est la vie!

What exactly are the levels of skill shortages ? I understand the unemployment is high but its hard to imagine a serious lack of skilled and semi-skilled people in all areas. For future employers like myself this does not sound promising.

How about the education system.. is it poorly maintained?

Nice touch of Gaelige by the way!
Slan amor.

[Guest]

Regardless of communism era, the only way for them to improve current situation in the country is by joining EU. While in everything there are pros and cons to joining it, big things by joining EU are protection and free market trade. All eastern european countries joining right now and ones getting ready to join have one thing in common that their currency rates lower than western europe. By conversion to euro the wages and everything else is lower than in western europe. Therefore, if europe can produce cheaper goods than "europe" it's historically true that whoever can make it the cheapest does most of certain business. What that would do is move certain companies throughout eastern europe to produce goods there plus those countries will also receive help as being the poorest. For instance, Greece and Spain right now are not in the good position with this expansion happening right now because they are stopping to be the poorest ones.
As for communism era, people can definitely adjust to a new system. There are many well trained and tallented people in Croatia, the problem is finding the job which drives them to immigrate. For instance, China and India have more genuises than rest of the world combined, but the problem is that they work in fields putting crops in instead of doing what they should do.
School system is not very bad, it has too much unuseful stuff that should be kicked out of education programme and put more job related classes and shorten school so that people don't have to go for ages to finish something. Almost like private colleges and universities in US that people have degrees in 2-3 years.

[Guess]

Guest,

You mention a good point - protection the means of which is the tariff, subsidies, the terms of dispute setting and so on. I know not of a country which ranked itself among the developed without previously applying certain protections to develop its vital industries and prepare them to battle in world markets. It's not something that's happening to non-market economies only; though it's prone to creating the parasite firms (lazy) industries in either free-market or closed economies.But every smart government did this. Now Croatia haven't developed a single industry ready for world markets. It will lose in the EU. As far as I know, in such cases, the country can win certain concessions or privileges before entering a regional trade block - you rightly note that the area will be attractive so it can be given something in return - but the EU grants those privileges only to the strongest. It didn't start welcoming the new members before it devised the laws and regulations so that they can secure the leadership and economic growth for their strongest (France, Germany, Spain, ?). They work on this since the idea of expansion began to be seriously mentioned. However I'm not too much into this EU theme now, so I'm open to the opposite arguments... Good luck to Croatia.

Mac,

I agree with Guest here - you'll find bright people for your business in Croatia esp in technical disciplines.
In any case, I wouldn't like to underestimate the Irish difficulties before the recent economic miracle happened there, and I'll try to get some "Modern Ireland" literature to learn more... Slan amor?
Hm, I'm done.

[Guess]

I apologize Guest, for using the name guesst - I won't interfere with your nickname now having registered my own I didn't think of it before...

[Mac]

"Now Croatia haven't developed a single industry ready for world markets. It will lose in the EU."

Guess,

(names are becoming confusing now!) not sure whether I agree there. Around the time of Ireland joining the EEC way back then, Ireland had very little to boast about. Just found an interesting article here:

www.clarechampion.ie/02/apr/cc20020419/fa_deu.shtml
Days of Irish EU "Bonanza" Recalled

By Paddy Smith
A journalist from the BBC World Service was here recently to suss out what the candidate countries for EU membership can expect when - or if - they sign up. He was working on the basis that in this context Ireland, being so dependent on agriculture, has more similarities than differences with the Central and Eastern European countries, even if our own membership debate took place more than 30 years ago....

As you see this actually states what I said earlier re how Ireland had its fare share of difficulties when it came to embracing the now EU. It also shows how 'similar' we are to Croatia You need to remember too that Ireland is an island so, even if agriculture was a strong point at the time (not so now though!) we suffered from the exporting side of things. Which is why then, when I related again earlier to all the subsidies from new school shoes for children to road building that we benefitted (in my opinion by far the most) that there should be no reason that Croatia will do so this time. Okay, granted that there are a few others who have equally great needs but the swing in benefits should not pass overhead. Note example:

"EU Farm Commissioner Franz Fischler said that, with 100 per cent direct aids, an average Hungarian or Czech farmer would "all of a sudden receive more than double the average national wage."

Basically, if Croats by the time they are members cannot manage to jump head into into the honey pot they must really ask themselves what their minsters are doing wrong.

[cronautic dot com]

actually i think croatia's industry isn't that bad.

ina, crude oil processing industry is quite successful in south eastern europe.
pliva is one of the most profitable pharma companies in this part of europe, even taking over other companies in western europe.
duro dakovic has gone through major reconstruction and works with profit. koncar is doing better each year. and so on and so on.
finally it can be stated that the only branches of economy that run bad are those that run bad in whole of europe.
there is no country in western europe in which the shipbuilding industry or metal works are profitable. and of course as all the machine park of large companies such as borovo are still running in serbia, such companies cannot work profitable. so what's so special about croatia, except the economic war loss of 30 billion $ which is recovering slowly...

if croatia is a bit smart, it will invest the money from tourism invest in the transition of their heavy industry.


by the way, even windshields of bentleys are produced in croatia ;-)

[Ireland Croatia]

I'm an American of Irish & Croatian decent. I've visited Ireland a few times and what I experienced was impressive. The whole country was benefitting from the tourist trade and the tourists were happy. I spent my money on excellent lodging, fabulous food, Irish made products like wool, pottery, linen's and much more. I visited many Castles and Hertiage centers. I enjoyed everything the country had to offer. The goods and services I bought and paid for were all provided by the Irish, so many jobs were being performed. ONe really neat thing I noticed in Ireland is they have many schools and opportunities for people to learn trades, not everyone can afford to go to college, so this is a great way to put more people into the job market. Now I would expect the same when I come to Croatia this summer. If Croatia spends their money marketing people to visit their country and provide the tourist with the same level of lodging and food service as the people of Ireland do and provide the tourist with desirable goodies to take home to family and friends. I can't help but think the country will prosper. I know my Grandmother had the gift of Hospitality and so will her fellow country men & women.

[Guess]

Thank you, Mac, for that article and explanations, I may see better now the potential to affect the 'similarities' between Ireland & Croatia. I'm just not too sure about what Crotia has on this negotiating end and how 'similar' we're here to bring about the same 'privileges.' Another thing I don't understand is all those farmers' protests every a while across the EU. Anyway, Croatia does have a huge potential to become a healthy food producer for international market...

Regarding those firms you mention, cronautic dot com, I may be out of date here in the past years; though, I knew some of that. I'd need to check the ownership shares of those companies and what's about to happen here before I comment.

If you're right, I wonder why then so weak/inferior Croatian official stance in all negotiations.

Just about INA - many times there were protests to media regarding its getting out of Croatian hands; and there's a 2002 law on privatization which states that "The Republic of Croatia shall retain the direct ownership over at least 25% plus one share of INA d.d., which shall be privatised in accordance with a separate law upon the admission of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union. " (Class: 310-05/02-01/01, Zagreb, 19 March 2002).

However.... personally I'm more concerned with the conscience of the EU ("the law of our mind") regarding all their distortions and pressure in view of the Croatian war for freedom. Back to Ireland, Ireland's war for freedom has been acknowledged and respected (not so many or any big distortions about it as in Croatian case?). Ireland moved foreward (only Northern Ireland which is still part of the U.K. brings about complexity and political insecurity/instability) while there's a complete bias regarding Croatian independence. I wonder what's that to serve for to the EU?? Is it a method of weakening Croatian negotiating position; or defeating all ethics or morality... Even in business, there's a trend ongoing since late 1980s to bring (back) some ethics into business operation, at least in North America, while the EU's political business is about to lose its soul completely? Just seeing the condions they place for economic cooperation with the EU. Something's wrong there. Maybe Croatian best option is to cooperate with the EU countries without formal membership unless they change their approach...

[Guess]

Ireland Croatia, may I ask you what was the most attractive place in Ireland for you? Should I be lucky to go there one day!

[guest]

Its very difficult to say the most attractive place in Ireland because its all beautiful. What are you looking for in a vacation? Like do you like the mountains? the ocean? to visit castels and monuments? just relax? I'll share with you what I know about Ireland, just give me a hint on what you like. After this summer I'll be able to share with you about Croatia as well. Have you been to Croatia? Do you live there? What do you like about the country? I'm excited because I'll be traveling along the coast and I just love beaches and that kind of thing. Happy traveling.

[Mac]

Just don't forget the North!!!

[Guess]

Thanks for your tips! I love the mountains, the ocean, visiting castels and monuments, relaxing, the North, all things Irish

Happy vacation in Croatia to you guest Enjoy all things Croatian!