Croatia's Illustrative Pursuit of EU Membership

Bilateral disputes between Slovenia and Croatia, along with growing political instability in Ljubljana, are delaying the ratification of Croatia's accession to the European Union, tentatively scheduled for July. Croatian membership in the bloc is still likely, especially in light of a recent announcement that the two countries may be close to resolving key differences. But the issue highlights how political developments in one EU member state can endanger the entire bloc's foreign policy. Moreover, the tensions between Croatia and Slovenia illustrate obstacles to EU accession common among Western Balkan states.