Estimates of the dates when Croatia and other countries in the region might enter the European Union were given in a report the Institute drafted on countries in transition.
The Institute estimates that Croatia probably will not join the EU together with Bulgaria and Romania in 2007, and that it is more realistic to expect that 2007 will see the conclusion of entry negotiations and the announcement of the year Croatia will join the Union.
Other countries in the region will have to wait longer to become EU members, according to the Institute. Only Macedonia stands a reasonable chance of joining by 2013, provided that entry talks begin in 2006 or 2007. The membership of Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia-Montenegro will most likely be considered after 2013, but they might sign Stabilisation and Association Agreements by 2007.
As regards the introduction of the euro, the Vienna Institute estimates Bulgaria stands the biggest chance of having the euro replace its national currency as early as 2009. Croatia might replace the kuna with the euro between 2010 and 2012, depending on the year of its EU entry, Southeast European Times said.
It added Croatia had met nearly every Maastricht criterion for the introduction of the euro, that the Institute report said Croatia's economy was on the level of those countries which joined the Union on May 1, and that Croatia was the most developed country in Southeast Europe.