Updated 11.30
Croatia joins the European Union today.
The ex-Yugoslav nation becomes the 28th member state of the EU, more than 10 years after it first applied.
Croatian Prime Minster, Zoran Milanovic, says it's been a long time coming:
European Commission President, Jose Manuel Barroso, welcomed Croatia as the newest member of the European Union, during an address in Zagreb last night:
Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council, spoke at the same event in the early hours of this morning, as Croatians entered the union:
European Central Bank
The European Central Bank has explained the move, which doesn't include membership of the euro, at present.
The authority says, "As of today Hrvatska narodna banka, Croatia’s national central bank, is a member of the European System of Central Banks (ESCB) and its Governor a member of the General Council of the European Central Bank. In addition, experts from Hrvatska narodna banka have member status in ESCB Committees whenever the committees meet in ESCB composition. Since the signing of the Accession Treaty in December 2011, the Governor of and experts from Hrvatska narodna banka had been participating as observers at meetings of the General Council and the ESCB Committees respectively.
Croatia will not adopt the euro immediately but will do so once it has fulfilled the requirements laid down in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. Unlike Denmark and the United Kingdom, Croatia does not have the right to opt out of adopting the single currency."
Ireland's welcome
Minister for European Affairs, Lucinda Creighton says Croatia's accession is an achievement that demonstrates the transformative power of the EU’s enlargement agenda.
Minister Creighton called the development 'remarkable', especially “...considering that the region was in the throes of war 20 years ago. It was my honour to lead the Irish EU Presidency’s enlargement agenda which was a key priority. Croatia is an inspiration for its neighbours in the region and indeed the entire European Community.”
She paid tribute to Deputy Croatian Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Vesna Pusiæ and the Deputy Minister for European Affairs Joško Klisovic, who she worked closely with during Ireland's Presidency of the EU in preparation for the move.
Minister Creighton added, "I am very proud of the role that the Irish Presidency has played in this historic moment and I look forward to continuing to pursue and support the enlargement agenda on behalf of the Government.”
