Croatia's flagging support to join EU to be tested by vote Not so long ago, Croatia was ebullient at the prospect of becoming the EU's newest member in July this year. Now, with the European Union ailing and Croatia's own economy in recession, that enthusiasm has dimmed -- as a vote this Sunday to elect the country's first deputies to the European Parliament is certain to show. Images illustrating cultural, political and economic life in the Croatian capital Zagreb, eight months before it is set to join the European Union. Images.