I'm Croatian born and raised. My family members helped start up the HDZ and were VERY active for Croatian independance in all aspects. (HDZ is the Croatian version of the Republican Party, even have US Republican Staffers help on election campaigns) My father is a political refugee. Run or die in prison. I think I'm qualified to answer this question of Croatia and the EU.
General public Croatians do not want to be a part of the EU. Its basically a coalition of "biznismen" former communist crooks, the intelligensia, and the left wing of the country who want the EU. They especially don't want in when they would have to turn in people who helped free the republic from tyranical communist rule such as Gotovina. That is not acceptable to them. Plain and Simple. They will not sell their soul for EU membership. Also a problem is the fact that EU values are not Croatian values. Small example: Gun Laws. In Croatia we learned the hard way that an unarmed populance is ripe for invasion, terrorism, etc. Therefore gun rights are enshrined in Croatian Law (and I think the Croatian Constitution too) the same as in the US which also learned the hard way the benefits of an armed populace 225 years ago. I would love to see someone try to take away a Croats gun.
There are many reasons to oppose EU membership.
Now if only George Bush would actually do something for his coalition of the willing Croatia was a part of we could get somewhere. Payback would be nice. A nice trade agreement o r major blue chip investment which is lacking in Croatia would be nice.
Croatia can either deal with it's war criminals, or watch its economy stagnate.
You'll remember our recent statement regarding our alliances with Nations who's human rights records were wanting, and how we were going to avoid those alliances if possible in future?
The future is now, as far as Croatia is concerned, and we're really not interested in subsidizing holdouts to the EU.
So I'd advise you to straighten out your relations back in the old country as to their choices, and the consequences of those choices - Croatia is no longer our ally of convenience in the region, and we're not cutting the Croats any more slack.
Good post...I am Croatian as well.