Croatia will be only the second ex - Yugoslav country to join the EU after Slovenia in 2004 . Croatia relies heavily on its Adriatic coastline to support tourism and its state - run economy . The country 's economic strife mirrors the problems of southern European nations .
Croatia will be only the second ex-Yugoslav country to join the EU after Slovenia in 2004 . Croatia relies heavily on its Adriatic coast to draw tourism and its state-run shipyards . The country 's economic strife echoes the problems hitting southern European nations .