Country profile - Societal developments (Croatia)

The first multi-party parliamentary elections were held in 1990 and the Republic of Croatia was declared independent in 1991. But those processes, unfortunately, were accompanied by the aggression on Croatian territory undertaken by Yugoslav National Army and paramilitary Serbian and Montenegrian forces.  The defensive Homeland War (1991-1995) ensued, in which more than 30% of the Croatian territory was occupied. In the 1991-1995 period 5,500 persons emigrated from Croatia to other European countries. The direct material damage caused by the war is estimated at USD 27 billion [5], while indirect damage includes a delayed transition, GDP reduced by approximately 35% with the consequence of missing out the first wave of foreign investment.