EU grants Croatia entry-candidate status

European Union leaders gave Croatia the status of a candidate country for accession today and said the former Yugoslav republic…

European Union leaders gave Croatia the status of a candidate country for accession today and said the former Yugoslav republic should start entry talks early in 2005.

"We are very satisfied because Croatia is going with us into Europe," said European Commission President Mr Romano Prodi.

Zagreb wants to join the EU in 2007, together with Bulgaria and Romania, but many analysts say this is likely to happen two years later.