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Croatia becomes 28th European Union member
Quote:
ZAGREB (AFP) - Croatia began the countdown on Sunday to its entry into the European Union as the bloc's 28th member, with celebrations planned to mark the historic step despite worries over the parlous state of the economy.
"July 1... opens up a completely new perspective, a new world for us," Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic told parliament on Saturday, denying Croatia would be a burden on the EU.
Croatia will become only the second former Yugoslav republic to join the bloc, after Slovenia, following the bloody breakup of the ex-communist federation in the 1990s.
In a symbolic gesture to celebrate membership, Croatia will remove the "Customs" sign at a border crossing with Slovenia at midnight on Sunday.
At the same time, the "EU" sign will be erected at the land border with Serbia, another ex-Yugoslav republic with which the bloc agreed on Friday to open membership talks by January 2014.
The two events will be broadcast live in a Zagreb square, the main site for celebrations expected to be attended by more than 100 European dignitaries.
Heads of state from all six ex-Yugoslav republics will be among the guests, but the leaders of many EU member states including Britain, France and notably Germany will not be present.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel cited a full workload to excuse herself from the event, but both Croatian media and the opposition labelled her decision a "diplomatic slap".
On Sunday evening, some 700 artists including singers, musicians and dancers will stage performances. Croatia's cultural heritage and history of scientific innovation will also be showcased, including the neck tie.
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Is this good or bad? Will we slay or drown? Is it going to be the same? Are we the next Germany or Greece? Or will we just stay irrelevant?
What are your thoughts? 
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