ABSTRACT
Since the establishment of an independent Croatian state, the policy of accession to the EU is one of the few having general political consensus among most of the political parties—particularly the leading ones which mainly articulated it—in spite of their differences and rivalry. At the same time, the citizens’ mostly pro-European orientation during that period had its ups and downs, depending on the articulation of pro-European policy in Croatia, and on the perception of the EU based on the activities of its institutions, especially those concerning Croatia. With the accession of Croatia to the EU, a major political and social goal was accomplished. However, it remains questionable how (and how much) the accession process has influenced the consolidation of democracy and social development in Croatia. The problem of the noticeable cleavage between formal and substantive democracy is a serious one; it questions the democratization potential of the EU enlargement policy, and consequently the very meaning of joining the European Union.
