Croatia, FYR Macedonia, Albania [print sheet]
Last updated: 21/08/08

Croatia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) were both (along with Bosnia-Hercegovina, Serbia and Montenegro) formed as a result of the break-up of Yugoslavia in the 1990s. Albania has existed as an independent state since 1925. All three countries are found in the Western Balkans region, with Albania and FYROM sharing a border. They are all engaged in membership talks with the EU, although only Croatia has begun formal negotiations over membership.

Croatia and FYROM both declared their independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, although this was not recognised by the EU until the next year. This break-up sparked several wars across the Balkan region. Croatia became involved in a bitter conflict with Serbia, and the Serb population living in Croatia, known as the Croatian War of Independence (1991-95). Fought mainly along ethnic lines, it left thousands dead and a legacy of division that the region is still coming to terms with.

FYROM remained largely at peace in the immediate aftermath of the break-up, but was later severely destabilised by ethnic Albanian radicals taking refuge from the Kosovo War in the late 1990s. The resulting conflict only ended with the intervention of NATO and the signing of the Ohrid Agreement. In this, FYROM's government agreed to devolve some political power to the Albanian minority, in exchange for the group giving up their separatist demands. Albania itself went through a period of great uncertainty following the collapse of Communism in 1992. Manipulated election results and an economic crisis caused widespread riots in 1997, which saw the rule of law collapse momentarily until a government of national unity was built and new elections called. It was also unsettled by the large number of refugees from Kosovo in 1998 and 1999, but managed to stabilise without any great conflict.

All three nations have commenced efforts to become members of the EU. At the Zagreb Summit in 2000, they agreed on a Stabilisation and Association Process with the EU's political leaders. This was reiterated in the Thessaloniki European Council in 2003. Croatia and FYROM are now both considered official candidate countries for EU membership, although only Croatia has actually begun formal negotiations. Albania is currently a 'potential' candidate country, and completed a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU in June 2006.

Croatia, FYROM and Albania are all fledgling democracies. They fall short of the Copenhagen Criteria on certain measures, particularly with regard to the judiciary, public administration, corruption and organised crime.

Croatia began official membership negotiations in October 2006, and is expected to join the EU by 2010. The European Commission has praised it for reforms that have developed stable democratic institutions, respect for the rule of law and a market economy. Croatia was invited to join NATO in April 2008 and the EU promised financial assistance for Croatia during 2007-2009. However, it has yet to implement large parts of the acquis and introduce adequate measures to fight corruption in judicial and public administration. The protection of minority rights also remains an issue.

FYROM was formally recognised as an EU candidate country in 2005, although membership negotiations have been delayed by violence at elections in June 2008 and an on-going dispute with Greece about its name (a region in Greece is also called Macedonia), which led to Greece blocking FYRM's bid to join NATO in March 2008. Tensions between the centre-right VMRO-DPMNE party the country's largest ethnic Albanian party, the DUI, has put a significant brake on reform especially in key areas such as fighting corruption and reforming the police and judiciary. Olli Rehn, the EU Enlargement Commissioner, criticised all parties for 'obstruction and a lack of faith' in February 2007. However a new coalition government was approved in July 2008 led by Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski who "pledged to work day and night to become a member of the EU".

Albania has made progress in strengthening its democratic institutions as part of its SAA, but faces even larger challenges than FYROM in reforming the police, judiciary, fighting corruption and delivering genuine economic reform. However, as a sign of progress, Albania was invited to join NATO in April 2008.

• Croatia has implemented 21,000 pages of the acquis thus far, as part of membership negotiations.
• The EU has donated €6.8 billion in aid to the Western Balkans region since 1991.

‘"Failure to adopt the EU constitution…cannot and must not be a reason for slowing enlargement."  - Stjepan Mesic, Croatian President, December 2006

'[Membership negotiations] will not be a walk in the park'  - Olli Rehn, EU Enlargement Commissioner, November 2006