Croatia joining the European Union

Croatia will be the 28th member country of the European Union as of June 1, while  Turkey has still been waiting for full membership toEU. Turkey andCroatia both started negotiation process 8 years ago. Despite economic recession in Croatia comparing with Turkey in terms of economic growth and development, Croatia will become the 28th member country of the European Union as of June 1. Turkey had the candidate country status in 1999 whenCroatia was an 8-year-old country as it declared its independence in 1991 at that time, and the accession negotiations for both countries started in October 2005. Meanwhile, Croatia will not immediately be part of the EU's visa-free Schengen zone or use the euro currency. -Waiting will continue- Hajrudin Somun, a former ambassador of Bosnia-Herzegovina to Turkey said, even though Turkey and Croatia started negotiation process at the same time, Turkey's accession to EU will continue for a longer time.   Somun said, "lack of confidence, doubt and prejudices are the reasons of waiting for a long time for the accession". Turkey and Bosnia-Herzegovina are the two nations waiting longest for accession toEU. Turkey started the road ofEU when it had applied for associate membership of the European Economic Community (EEC) in 1959 in other words 54 years ago, and Turkey has still been waiting for full membership to EU.   -Key dates in Turkey's path towards the EU- June 2013 - the EU opened Chapter 22   February 2013 - France announces that it will officially remove its veto over Chapter 22 Regional Policy and assist in the chapter's opening. The veto on Chapter 17 Economic and Monetary Policy may also be removed in the future. July 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012 - Turkey froze relations with the European Union for the duration of Greek Cypriot administration's rotating presidency May 2012 – Launch of the "Positive Agenda" with Turkey June 2010 – Chapter on Food Safety, Veterinary & Phytosanitary Policy is opened December 2009 – Chapter on Environment is opened June 2009 – Chapter on Taxation is opened December 2008 – Chapters on Free Movement of Capital and Information Society & Media are opened June 2008 - Negotiations are opened on two chapters: Intellectual property and Company law (June 2008). February 2008 - Adoption by the Council of a revised Accession Partnership for Turkey. December 2007 - Negotiations are opened on two chapters: Trans-European Networks and Consumer and health protection June 2007 - Negotiations are opened on two chapters: Financial Control and Statistics. March 2007 - Negotiations are opened on the chapter Enterprise and Industry December 2006 - Due to the Turkish failure to apply to Cyprus the Additional Protocol to the Ankara Agreement, the Council decides that eight relevant chapters will not be opened and no chapter will be provisionally closed until Turkey has fulfilled its commitment. The eight chapters are: Free Movement of Goods, Right of Establishment and Freedom to Provide Services, Financial Services, Agriculture and Rural Development, Fisheries, Transport Policy, Customs Union and External Relations. June 2006 - Negotiations are opened and closed on the chapter Science and Research December 2005 - Adoption by the Council of a revised Accession Partnership for Turkey. October 2005 - Starting of the screening process concerning the analytical examination of the acquits. October 2005 - Adoption by the Council of a Negotiating Framework setting out the principles governing the negotiations followed by the formal opening of accession negotiations with Turkey. June 2005 - The Commission adopts a Communication on the civil-society dialogue between EU and Candidate countries . This communication sets out a general framework on how to create and reinforce links between civil society in the EU and candidate countries. December 2004 - The European Council defines the conditions for the opening of accession negotiations. October 2004 - The Commission presents its Recommendation on Turkey's Progress towards accession along with its paper Issues arising from Turkey's membership perspective. May 2003 - Adoption by the Council of a revised Accession Partnership for Turkey. March 2001 - The Council adopts the Accession Partnership for Turkey. December 1999 - EU Helsinki Council recognizes Turkey as an EU candidate country on an equal footing with other candidate countries. December 1997 - At the Luxembourg European Council, Turkey is declared eligible to become a member of the European Union. 1995 - Turkey- EU Association Council finalizes the agreement creating a customs union betweenTurkey and the EU. April 1987 - Turkey makes an application for full EEC membership. November 1970 - The Additional Protocol and the second financial protocol are signed in Brussels, preparing the ground for the establishment of the customs union. September 1963 - An association agreement (known as the Ankara Agreement) is signed, aiming at bringing Turkey into a Customs Union with the EEC and to eventual membership. A first financial protocol to the initial agreement is also signed. September 1959 - Turkey applies for associate membership of the European Economic Community (EEC).