Euroskeptizismus in Kroatien: Gesellschaft und Politik im Widerspruch?
Euroscepticism in Croatia: A Rift between Society and Politics?

Summary/Abstract: On its way into the European Union Croatia still faces various hurdles. The most pressing problems vary from the current border dispute with Slovenia to corruption issues. Croatia’s way to accession has been set back numerous times mainly by intergovernmental political differences on the highest level up to the point where a realistic membership date exceeds the year 2010. Yet, at the same time public opinion in Croatia on joining the EU has gone downhill within the last decade. The article tries to explain whether, to what extent and why the population of Croatia is in doubt about the European Union, while at the same time the political elites have been pushing continuously for an accession, seemingly disregarding public opinion on the issue. The level of euroscepticism in Croatia exceeds that of other candidate countries like Macedonia and Turkey by far and is roughly on the same level as the bottom five countries of the EU-27. Euroscepticism in Croatia is driven by unique as well as by already known variables such as lack of knowledge about the EU, insufficient information, fear of economic disadvantages or lack of trust in national as well as supranational institutions. However, probably the most important reason for the high level of euroscepticism in Croatia is the fear of losing national identity as well as sovereignty, which is in part caused or at least strengthened by the independence war in the mid 1990s and its consequences. Croatia’s political elites on the other hand strive for a quick accession to the EU. This socio-political constellation poses a complex situation for the political stakeholders, who have to consider both the public opinion as well as external reform pressures, often resulting in loss of credibility.

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