(1 Jul 2013) SHOTLIST
++NIGHT SHOTS++
1. Wide of Slovenian/Croatian border, customs officer waving cars through without checking them
2. Close of Croatian customs sign on officer's sleeve
3. Close of Croatian customs officer
4. Wide of ceremony at border, custom officers applauding
5. Mid pan of Croatian customs officers raising EU flag at border
6. Mid of people watching
7. SOUNDBITE: (Croatian) Slavko Linic, Croatian finance minister:
"Here in Bregana we are celebrating entry into the European Union - the entry into a single market with more than 500 (m) million citizens."
8. Close of sign post of EU border, zoom out to Croatian and Slovenian officials standing
9. SOUNDBITE: (Slovenia) Uros Cufer, Slovenian finance minister:
"I can only say one thing, and I am happy about it, Croatia - welcome to European Union."
10. Wide of fireworks at border, tilt down to people watching
11. Mid of fireworks, pan to man holding girl watching
12. Wide of fireworks, tilt down to border crossing, officials and custom officers watching
STORYLINE
Customs posts were removed from Croatia's borders with its European Union neighbour Slovenia early on Monday only moments after Croatia's official entry to the EU.
Celebrations were held at border crossings with Slovenia and Hungary, while EU signs and flags were put on its borders with non-EU states Bosnia, Serbia and Montenegro.
Croatia became the 28th EU member, the bloc's first addition since Bulgaria and Romania joined in 2007.
It is a major milestone some 20 years after the country won independence in a bloody civil war that shook the continent.
Though enthusiasm for the country's achievement has been dampened by the EU's financial turmoil, it is a historic turning point for the small Balkan nation of 4.2 (m) million, which endured years of carnage after declaring independence from the former Yugoslavia in 1991.
A small ceremony with fireworks was held at Bregana, a crossing border between Slovenia and Croatia - two former Yugoslavian republics.
Slovenia is the only other former Yugoslav state that is an EU member - since May 1, 2004.
"Here in Bregana we are celebrating entry into the European Union - the entry into a single market with more than 500 (m) million citizens," said Croatian Finance Minister Slavko Linic while his Slovenian counterpart Uros Cufer welcomed the latest EU member.
Thousands of people waving small EU and Croatian flags joined celebrations across the country, including in Zagreb's main square.
There, artists performed for some 100 visiting foreign leaders until midnight when a large fireworks display and the singing of Beethoven's Ode to Joy - EU's anthem - marked the official entry into the bloc.

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