Chronology of important dates in the EU accession process

1st July 2013    
Treaty of accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union enters into force   

9th March 2012   
Croatian Parliament ratified Treaty of accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union   

22nd January 2012   
Referendum on Croatian accession to the European Union   

9th December 2011   
Croatia signed the Treaty of accession to the European Union   

1st December 2011   
European Parliament gave its consent to Croatia’s EU membership   

30th June 2011   
EU closed accession negotiations with Croatia   

12th February 2008    
The Council of the European Union adopted the new Accession Partnership   

18 October 2006   
"Screening" of legislation concluded   

20th October 2005   
"Screening" stage of accession negotiations began   

3rd October 2005   
Accession negotiations launched   

1st February 2005   
Agreement on Stabilization and Association entered into force   

19th January 2005   
National Committee as a special working body tasked to monitor the negotiations on the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union established  

15th October 2004   
Parliamentary Committee for Stabilization and Accession (Croatia – EU Joint Parliamentary Committee) established in the Croatian Parliament   

June 2004   
European Council confirmed Croatia as candidate country   

April 2004   
European Commission issued positive opinion on Croatia’s application for EU membership application

21st February 2003   
Croatia applied for EU membership  

29th October 2001    
Stabilization and Accession Agreement signed

November 2000   
Zagreb Summit launched the Stabilization and Accession Process for five countries of South-Eastern Europe (Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Albania and Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia)   

June 2000   
Croatian Parliament established European Integration Committee