Rules on the Free Movement and Accession of Croatia to the EU

Abstract

Rules on the free movement of goods, people, services and capital are essential for the establishment of the European internal market. In the article main elements of these rules are described with an emphasis on the case law of the European Court of Justice which played quintessential role in assuring the implementation of these rules in the member states. Although Croatia is still not a member of the European Union, rules on the free movement are relevant for Croatia in the process of its accession the European Union. It can be argued that in a certain way Croatia is already a part of the internal market since Community provisions in the field of competition and state aid are to be applied by domestic authorities pursuant to the Interim Agreement on Trade and Trade-Related Issues. In addition, the account is given of the rules on movement of goods, persons, services and capital between the European Union and Croatia pursuant to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement.

Keywords: common market, free movement, European Union, accession, goods, services, establishment, workers