Croatia to Join European Union in 2013

On Friday, Croatia signed a treaty which paves the way for that former Yugoslav country to join the European Union on July 1, 2013. Croatia will become the 28th member country of the European Union and the second (following Slovenia in 2004) former entity of Yugoslavia to join the EU. During the meeting that allowed Croatia's future membership, EU officials also decided to put Serbia's membership on hold until Serbia can settle its disputes with Kosovo, which unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in 2008. All of the former remaining entities of the former Yugoslavia desire EU membership, along with Turkey and Iceland.