Croatia

Republic of Croatia

A frontier of Latinity on the Adriatic, Croatia joined the Union in 2013 and then the euro and Schengen on the same day in 2023.

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Heritage

Diocletian's palace in Split is the largest surviving late Roman complex in the world; Dubrovnik was a merchant republic rivalling Venice. Croatia is the only country where the Latin Mass was long celebrated in a Slavic language, in the Glagolitic alphabet, by papal privilege.

History

Settled in the seventh century on a deeply Romanised coast, the Croats adopted Latin Christianity and formed a kingdom in the tenth century. From 1102 they united with Hungary while keeping their own diet and law.

The Dalmatian coast followed a distinct path: Venice dominated it for centuries, while Ragusa-Dubrovnik remained an independent republic until 1808. The interior formed the Military Frontier, the Habsburg Empire's glacis against the Ottomans.

After 1918 Croatia entered Yugoslavia. The war of independence of 1991-1995 was the longest of the Yugoslav conflicts on its soil. Accession to the Union in 2013, then simultaneous entry into the euro and Schengen on 1 January 2023, completed the country's return to the Western institutional space.

Milestones

305 Antiquity

Diocletian’s Palace

The emperor builds his retirement residence at Split: the modern city grew inside its walls.

925 Middle Ages

Kingdom of Croatia

Tomislav is recognised as king; the country anchors itself in Latin Christendom.

1102 Middle Ages

Union with Hungary

An eight-century personal union, Croatia keeping its diet and its ban.

1358 Middle Ages

Republic of Ragusa

Dubrovnik becomes an independent merchant republic and a diplomatic model.

1991 Contemporary period

Independence of Croatia

The declaration of 25 June opens four years of war on Croatian territory.

2013 European construction

Accession of Croatia to the Union

As the twenty-eighth member state, Croatia is the first Western Balkan country to enter.

2023 European construction

Euro and Schengen

On 1 January Croatia joins the single currency and the free movement area on the same day.

Political landscape

Results of the June 2024 European election and their translation into European Parliament groups.

HDZ — Hrvatska demokratska zajednica 6
SDP — Socijaldemokratska partija Hrvatske 4
DP — Domovinski pokret 1
Most — Most 1

Distribution of European seats

Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats) 6
Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament 4
European Conservatives and Reformists Group 2

Related news

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Institutions National

Opening address by Commissioner Šuica on the “Current Issues in the European Union and the Priorities of the Republic of Croatia” at the Conference of Ambassadors, Consuls General, Consuls and Military Attachés of the Republic of Croatia

European Commission Govor Zagreb, 25 Aug 2026 Poštovane ekscelencije, dame i gospodo, Zadovoljstvo je biti ovdje, među toliko prijatelja i poznanika.…

Debates

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The state in numbers

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Public debt, % of GDP 58.4 % 2.1 % GDP per head (EU = 100) 77.6 0.2 Government spending, % of GDP 48.0 % 1.7 % Total tax burden, % of GDP 38.6 % 1.7 % Prisoners per 100,000 people 128.6 13.1