FT Wednesday - Croatia analysis

[kesterj]

Today's FT devotes the analysis ( "Big Page") to Croatia - and its challenges as it stands on the verge of joining the EU.

Of course, this does not tell you the best bits of beach in Korcula, but if you want a 15 min read giving a comprehensive economic-political overview of the country - and a good read at the same time - I would say it would be difficult to better this.
(I'd be happy to hear contrary views. I expect the Economist and other weeklies will do something this week - so there should be some comparisons.)

It is already on line, if you can access it (need to register) here

www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/d0b8e790-d800-11e2-9495-00144feab7de.html

(If you happen to get the paper, there is also a "CEE Automotive and Manufacturing, Special Report" with pieces on Poland to Slovenia.)

bests, Kester

[Carol]

"More importantly, many EU governments and citizens are wary of admitting another weak southern European economy whose biggest industry is tourism. Croatia has had four consecutive years of recession, surpassed in the EU only by Greece."

"Germany’s Bild newspaper last month dubbed Croatia a country of “debt, corruption and unemployment”, set to be the EU’s “next billion-euro grave”."

"For their part, Croats watching the EU’s stumbling attempts to contain the eurozone crisis wonder if they are joining “just in time for the funeral”, jokes Zarko Puhovski, a former political philosophy professor at Zagreb University."

[Carol]

"Membership might entail a short-term hit. Turkish and Russian visitors will, from July 1, require visas, a potential blow to the tourist trade even if most visitors come from the EU.
More importantly, Croatia will lose its privileged access to non-EU Balkan markets such as Bosnia, Serbia and Montenegro, where business links have revived in the past decade. Jobs could be lost as Croatian factories relocate across the border to, say, Bosnia, to escape customs duties."

[crojoe]

Jun 26, 2013 17:44:19 GMT 1 Carol said:

"Membership might entail a short-term hit. Turkish and Russian visitors will, from July 1, require visas, a potential blow to the tourist trade even if most visitors come from the EU.
More importantly, Croatia will lose its privileged access to non-EU Balkan markets such as Bosnia, Serbia and Montenegro, where business links have revived in the past decade. Jobs could be lost as Croatian factories relocate across the border to, say, Bosnia, to escape customs duties."

Doesn't take being an FT reporter to figure out whats up in Croatia financially, although behind the scenes in the halls of Croatian power it is murky. Looks like some are consolidating their power, grabbing at prized businesses before the gates open.