Croatia to join the EU

Croatia will receive the go ahead to start negotiations to join the EU on Friday.

According to a draft document due to be adopted by EU leaders in Brussels, the country will be able to start negotiations to join the EU early next year.

A joint statement concludes that Croatia has met the political criteria to join the bloc.

However, some thorny issues remain and the EU is warning that efforts still need to be addressed such as minority rights, refugee returns, reform of the ...