Economic aspects of the European integration of Croatia in 2000-2003

The article highlights certain economic aspects of the European integration of the Republic of Croatia, which directly or indirectly influenced EU-RH negotiation process on EU membership. The insight into the economic situation in Croatian during the negotiation process was done on the basis of the analysis of main macroeconomic data of over several years after world economic crisis 2008-2009. The article emphasized main problematic issues, that Croatia had been facing on its way to the EU membership, and that very often became more of political than of economic nature. One of those issues was the lack of the Croatian economy`s compliance with the EU membership criteria of open market economy and fair competition for business. Therefore, the destiny of unprofitable state-owned enterprises in the shipbuilding and steel industry were at stake during the entire negotiation process and became as important as issues such as the fight against corruption and cooperation with the ICTY.