Croatia

European Green Party Co-Chair Reinhard Bütikofer, and Green MEP Davor Škrlec (ORaH) have signed an open letter to Croatian President Ivo Josipović, calling project Plomin C, a thermal power plant, to be stopped before irretrievable economical and ecological damage is done in Croatia.

The European Greens have offered their sympathies to those affected by the recent flooding in the Balkans, calling for the European Union to do all it can to support Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia after the region saw its worst flooding in decades.

At midnight on July 1, Croatia finally became a member of the EU. It was the hardest and longest accession period ever and we are proud of it. We celebrated in the streets in all cities throughout the country. Although the ceremony was remarkable, among common citizens there is no special euphoria or great expectation, because of the current global crisis that has struck Europe. People's expectations are mostly focused on a better domestic legislation that must adhere to EU rules and improved security, which comes with being a part of "one big family".

Local elections were held in Croatia on May 19. The Greens, Zelena Lista, ran in a coalition with two other parties in all 17 districts of Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. This coalition also supported supported Vladimir Ferdelji for mayor of Zagreb. He received 17,33% of the vote, ending third out of nine. The same three-party coalition won 11,14% of the vote for the Zagreb assembly, less than one percent short of a mandate for Zelena Lista.

Croatia held its first elections for the EU Parliament in Croatia on April 14, two and half months before Croatia's formal entrance to the EU. This should have been a moment for celebration. But, the elections were very ill timed and prepared by the government. Several parties decided not to participate and to concentrate on the upcoming local elections in May.