The darkest moments of war , occupation , mass killings , ethnic cleansing , and autocratic leadership and crony capitalism were all there . '' 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 coastline to support tourism and its state - run economy . The country 's economic strife mirrors the problems of southern European nations .