A low turnout is expected as Croatians vote Sunday for representatives to the European Parliament ahead of official EU accession on 1 July. Croatia on Sunday elects its first members to the European Parliament ahead of officially joining the European Union on July 1, with expected low turnout reflecting only tepid enthusiasm for membership in the bloc. Officials in the former Yugoslav republic, independent since 1991, have insisted that the vote to select the 12 lawmakers is "historic" and a key milestone on a path marked by years of difficult reforms. On the eve of the vote President Ivo Josipovic urged Croatians to cast ballots. "It is extremely important not only on a symbolic level but since we enter the decision-making process in the EU," he said. However, ordinary citizens seem to be more concerned by the sluggish tourism-dependent economy which has not grown since 2009.
