Mixed views on Croatia's entry into EU

CNN's Nina dos Santos reports on how Croatians feel about the country entry into the European Union.

克罗地亚实现“欧洲梦”。克罗地亚（Kroatien）于当地时间7月1日正式加入欧盟，成为欧盟的第28个成员国。欧洲的政治家们“纷纷向这个亚得里亚海畔的小国表示祝贺，同时也敦促其进行更深层的改革”。 克罗地亚是继斯洛文尼亚（Slowenien）之后，第二个加入欧盟的前南斯拉夫（Jugoslawien）的国家。

从与欧盟签订《稳定与联系协议》起，克罗地亚入盟之路历经12年。2005年10月，克罗地亚开始与欧盟举行入盟谈判。2011年12月，欧盟议会批准克罗地亚入盟条约。去年年初，克罗地亚就加入欧盟举行全民公决，超过半数的投票者赞成加入欧盟。

Croatia is ready and fired up for a new economic era, now an EU member, this former Balkan battleground hopes to be on the path to prosperity, though not everyone believes that journey will be easy.

I think it would be good because we’ll maybe come more jobs.

We’ll be one community, and the young can go abroad studying.

I think we’re not to become a developed economy enough for such a big step.

Here in the Croatia capital, locals appear to have mixed opinions about what EU accession really means. On the one side, some say that it’ll be good to boost trade, particularly in the tourism sector. But on the other hand, a lot of people are openly questioning whether this country has come to party 10 years too late.

Croatia’s coming to the EU at a time when the block is facing some of its biggest economic challenges, with a persistent debt crisis in the euro zone and deep divisions between rich and poor member states.

Croatia should be a part of the EU 10 years ago, definitely, 5, 10 years ago, because those were all born the times that were good, and young people are also very pessimistic in this.

I think it’s not a good time to join the union, but we will see.

With 20% unemployment and more than 4 years of recession, many have had little reason for optimism. And now as this young national at the Adriatic Sea takes its place in the EU. While celebrations are muted, there are some who take heart and hope better days lie ahead.

Nina dos Santo, CNN, Zagreb