克罗地亚正式加入欧盟 成为第28个成员国

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's a good thing because maybe come more jobs.

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

-I think we will have to become a developed our 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 the 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