Croatia: The most recent EU member

The Croats have always felt like Europeans. A national myth refers to the country as a "bulwark of European Christianity." That's why many in Croatia believe that when the country joins the EU as the bloc's 28th member it will be back where it belongs. They no longer want to be known as a Balkan state.

With some 800,000 residents – one-fifth of the country's population – Zagreb is also the largest city in Croatia. Until World War II, Croatia was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Architecturally, Zagreb is modeled on imperial Vienna. Even the old Zagreb – known as 'Purger' – tailored its lifestyle to the Viennese.

The Dalmatian coastal city of Dubrovnik in southern Croatia is the embodiment of Mediterranean culture and flair. For centuries, Dubrovnik was an independent city-state and trading partner that rivaled Venice. The old town of Dubrovnik was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979. Today, tourism is the main source of income for most residents.

Over a period of 70 years, from 1918 to 1991, Croatia was part of Yugoslavia. But the dream of becoming an independent nation remained. On June 25, 1991, the Croatian president at the time, Franjo Tudman, announced the country's secession and independence from Yugoslavia.

Shortly after Croatia declared independence, there was an uprising by the country's Serb minority, and the Serbian army marched into Croatian territory. The war lasted four years. An estimated 22,000 people died, hundreds of thousands were displaced and many homes and buildings were destroyed. A peace treaty was finally signed in December 1995.

During the war, some 700,000 Croats were forced from their homes. Many found refuge in Germany. In the last phase of the war, some 250,000 Serbs fled the country. The Croats returned after the war, but many Serbs still live as refugees in Serbia. They are hoping that Croatia's EU membership will offer them the prospect of returning home.

Landmines are relics of the recent war. In Croatia, about 680 square kilometers of minefields (263 sq. miles) still exist. That is how the country is entering the EU. An estimated 90,000 mines were laid during the war, most of them not recorded. Since the war, more than 500 people have died due to landmine accidents. Their complete removal is planned by 2019.

Insufficient cooperation with the War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague slowed Croatia's admittance into the European Union. Many Croatians were convinced that their own generals were war heroes, not war criminals. It took years of cat-and-mouse games before Croatia handed over General Ante Gotovina. He was eventually acquitted in The Hague – a decision enthusiastically received in Croatia.

In Croatia, many do not view EU membership favorably: Euroskeptics were very vocifereous in the run-up to a referendum on accession. They feared an economic and political edict from Brussels, believing the country would only be exploited. But, a majority of the population voted to join the Union, seeing good prospects for the future.

Croatia's main industry is tourism. The most popular spots include the Adriatic Sea and its coast "with the thousand islands." Croats are convinced that they have "the most beautiful ocean in the world" at their doorstep, choosing to spend their holidays there. They hope that by joining the EU it will bring more tourists to the country.

Other sports, such as handball, water polo and tennis are popular in Croatia, but soccer is the number one game. The Croatian national soccer team is the pride – and torment – of the nation. Officially it is one of the 10 best teams in Europe. In the 1998 World Cup in France, the team placed third.

If you arrange to meet people in Croatia, you do so in one of the many trendy cafes that are dotted around the country. As soon as the weather turns nice, outdoor cafes are full. Popular are cappuccinos and espressos. Everyone wants to see and be seen. Wicker chairs are a 'must' being comfortable and chic.