Now that Croatia is at the threshold of the European Union, there are only a few more things that remain to be done before the end of the so-called monitoring process. Corruption and organized crime remain at the forefront of such things, but they now appear to be within Croatia’s reach. It is only a question of months now. Thus I already relish the moment when the accession process is over and done with. Ah, what a spectacle it will be! Given that the Union has no way of dealing with its full members, for it is not even a respectable club, Croatia will quickly turn the entire process upside down. The myriad of court cases now in full swing will lose steam. The courts will release ever more hardened suspects. Tough laws will be swiftly adapted to the circumstances or abandoned without much ado. Erstwhile criminals will parade in full view. Black uniforms will appear in the main squares of Croatian cities and towns. Bigotry will flourish with an unprecedented vengeance. There will be much grinning and shrugging of shoulders all around. Hey, we have made it! To hell with the silly Union that would have us as a full member, anyway. The spectacle of spectacles, and just behind the proverbial corner.

Addendum I (October 13, 2012)

Norbert Lammert, the president of the German House of Representatives, has called for a temporary halt to the expansion of the European Union. His opinion will appear in print tomorrow, but it is already abroad. There are so many other urgent tasks facing the Union, he said. The accession of Croatia would also have to wait. In the light of bad experiences with Bulgaria and Romania, he said, Croatia is not yet ready for membership. Corruption and organized crime are at the root of such concerns, it goes without saying. Anyhow, I am glad my views are appreciated in the German House of Representatives. The spectacle of spectacles can always wait.

Addendum II (October 15, 2012)

So far, there has been little comment of Norbet Lammert’s opinion on the expansion of the European Union and Croatia’s fate. Not a single major newspaper has picked the story up. Even the Croatian newspapers are playing it down as best they can lest the public opinion turns against Germany. Interestingly, the expansion of the Union seems to be of little interest in the Union itself. Chances are that most Europeans would rather forget about it, too. The likes of Bulgaria and Romania are viewed with horror, and any country from the Balkans is perforce viewed as coming from the same befouled nest. Anyhow, the German House of Representatives still holds all the cards. And I cannot but trust they will play it right.