Germany’s Conquest of the Balkans Continues

As the clock struck midnight on July 1, Croatia became the 28th member of the European Union. This makes the first addition to the bloc since the 2007 additions of Bulgaria and Romania.

On Monday morning, EU leaders officially opened an office in Croatia’s capital, Zagreb.

Achieving EU membership status is a historic turning point for this small Balkan nation of 4.2 million people. In 1991, Croatia declared its independence from Yugoslavia, catapulting it into years of carnage. Now everything has changed.

[SOUNDBITE: EU Commission President José Manuel Barroso]

“This morning Croatians have woken up for the first time as citizens of the European Union after a fantastic celebration last night. And as the famous Croatian poet Petar Preradovic once said: ‘In this world only change is constant.’ And Croatia has changed to the better. It is a fundamentally different place than 20 years ago, a proud and confident member of the European family.”

Serbia has also received the European Council’s support as it seeks EU membership.

[SOUNDBITE: European Council President Herman Van Rompuy]

“Today we are also celebrating Croatia’s full membership of the European Union. Together with the opening of accession negotiations with Serbia and a negotiating mandate for the stabilization and association agreement with Kosovo, a new chapter is being opened in this region of Europe. I trust that all the Balkan countries will feel inspired by these momentous steps, leave aside divisions and concentrate on common interests, common values and common laws.”

Other Balkan candidates for membership include Montenegro and Macedonia. In late June, Kosovo also began its first steps toward EU membership.

It was primarily U.S. military power that was used in the break-up of Yugoslavia. In 1999, editor in chief Gerald Flurry warned that the German-led EU would be the ultimate victor of the Balkan wars. “In the Balkan Peninsula,” he said, “it will then be game, set and match to Germany.” Mr. Flurry warned that eventually Germany would be the future administrator of the whole Balkan Peninsula.

For more information, read Germany’s Conquest of the Balkans.