|
Post by boris on Oct 9, 2010 12:40:32 GMT 1
Croatia was firat accepted as a candidate for the EU just over 5 years ago. No other countries negotiated so long (longest so far Romania and Bulgaria 2 1/2 years). This is not fair.
Do you think that Croatia will ever join the Union?
|
|
|
Post by crojoe on Oct 9, 2010 13:51:07 GMT 1
I agree with you Boris that 5 years wait is long, but honestly the likes of Bulgaria and Romania joining should have been be at least 10 years. Both countries are the pits compared to Croatia. The main problem with Croatia I guess is the EU wants to look tough on war crime. It's got nothing to do with corruption or Mafia, as both are in most EU countries, especially the two new members I mentioned above. I'd also say it's got a lot to do with opening their market to outside competition. This is one area where Croatia has dug in. On one hand it's good not to sell up for EU membership, but on the other hand all the HR wealth is in few key players hands, so it wouldn't make a major difference be they Croatian or foreign owned. Once you join the EU you pretty much get up your right to vote and make the rules. I honestly believe being part of the EU will be good for the people, although it will bring more rules (something Croatians will find difficult).
|
|
|
Post by ray51 on Oct 10, 2010 8:37:57 GMT 1
Then again , it appears that the Norwegians and the Swiss have lost precisely Nothing , after having chosen NOT to join the over-rated , bureaucratic , wasteful , cleptomaniac 4th Reich known as EU ( which would gladly have them ) .
|
|
|
Post by crojoe on Oct 10, 2010 8:55:38 GMT 1
True Ray51, but they are light years ahead of Croatia, have a strong economy, great benefit system, plenty of industry besides tourism, a strong banking system, and politicians that seem to do the job they where elected for, or at least enough to keep the people happy. Now, if Croatia took those models and applied them here then maybe, yes maybe in time the system here would be better. But, it looks like it needs outside assistance, a big daddy or brother to steer them ahead, as on their own they would muddle the playing field.
|
|
|
Post by BrankoL on Oct 10, 2010 15:25:48 GMT 1
ROME — The Vatican says Pope Benedict XVI has discussed Croatia's Christian roots and its negotiations to enter the European Union during a meeting with the Balkan country's president.
Benedict met with Croatian President Ivo Josipovic on Saturday and had what the Vatican described a "fruitful exchange of opinions" on regional issues
|
|
|
Post by 3lions on Oct 10, 2010 20:44:14 GMT 1
....wonder what that was about considering the Vatican is not in the EU
|
|
|
Post by ray51 on Oct 12, 2010 8:33:31 GMT 1
...and why should anyone care about Vatican's position on "regional issues" ( such as ? ) ?
|
|
|
Post by Ribaric on Oct 12, 2010 11:20:47 GMT 1
I suspect Ratzinger is taking care of his financial and land holding interests in Croatia, just like the other mafiosi.
|
|
|
Post by mambo on Oct 12, 2010 11:21:40 GMT 1
The EU finally acknowledged that Romania, Bulgaria etc should NOT have been allowed to enter the EU. Both countries had not finished the necessary reforms, but the EU was hoping that the countries would finish it after they joined the EU. In reality both countries raised their middle finger and kept on doing what they had been doing for the last 30 years. The whole idea of the EU is to abandon your old practices and start working with rules and regulations which apply to the whole EU.
If you take an honest look at Croatia you can only come to the conclusion that nothing has changed at all (compared to 10 years ago) and this means there can only be one conclusion.............no matter how long they wait........keep them waiting. First Croatia has to abide by the rules and regulations of the EU and if it takes them 100 years to comply then that is exactly how long it should take.
However, all former East Block countries think that if they drag their feet long enough and then start complaining about the long process the EU will let them in without any reform at all.
And it looks like they are getting away with it.
|
|
|
Post by mrhappy on Oct 12, 2010 16:28:02 GMT 1
Are you 10 years old yet ?
|
|
|
Post by happy on Oct 12, 2010 21:03:30 GMT 1
If you take an honest look at Croatia you can only come to the conclusion that nothing has changed at all The Med as it once was.
|
|
|
Post by newhere on Oct 13, 2010 8:16:01 GMT 1
If you take an honest look at Croatia you can only come to the conclusion that nothing has changed at all The Med as it once was. Hmmm....hey c'mon lets be a teeny bit honest here, it has made some changes Too slowly I might add, but hey! thats better than nothing dont ya think Here in Novi Zagreb, when I came it was a place totally forgotten by Bandic, big massive road cracks everywhere, half finished roads, etc. but in the last year or so...there is more police around but they are not going into the bars (ok they probably do nothing except collect bribes), More roads are being repaired or completed, some childrens playgrounds have been put up, drives are being made to park in the building carparks and not totally hogging the kerb like they used to (thanks to a "spider" patrol) Some laws have been made easier, Inspectors have to wear uniforms (on the trams)...Oh and dont forget the lovely smoking ban and the sudden demise of the "Crisis Tax"! Ok, thats just some things that I have noticed to change, I am not saying the E.U. has made them all to change...but its just coincidence that after so many years of not changing they just suddenly happen to change within a few months of eachother, just when the E.U. happens to put pressure on Croatia to close chapters. (and I am pretty sure that you guys can think of some more changes) Some of those money generating schemes and lrequirements are actually outside of the E.U. legislation
|
|
|
Post by gmh on Oct 13, 2010 8:44:11 GMT 1
Anyone who says Croatia hasn't changed in the last 10 years must walk around with their eyes and ears closed tight. There's been a lot of change, just not as much as needed, and implicated too slowly, but there's change.
Just yesterday Sanader was on the radio babbling desperately in order to convince people of his innocence or or at least convince people that he's no more guilty than anyone else in HDZ. He sounded like a desperate man who knows he only has a few more weeks freedom. We shall see.
|
|
|
Post by capio on Oct 13, 2010 10:21:14 GMT 1
I visited Croatia briefly last week to release myself of my final burden there... some land... Nowhere really ever changes... they changed suits... they buy new cars... they change the man wearing the suit... but it stays the same. It's merely a matter of modernisation that happens everywhere... it's not real...change. The question is one of control... how much control and by proxy outside influence does Croatia feel is worthy of becoming an Eu state.
Joining the Eu is a huge compromise, one that comes with great suffrage... sadly I see no alternative... rulings from Brussels don't alter nationality mentality.
|
|
|
Post by 3lions on Oct 14, 2010 1:48:29 GMT 1
trying not to mention the court system.
|
|