Croatia Joins the European Union
03-Jul-2013 ZAGREB – The European Union (EU) welcomed a new member as Croatia acceded to the European Union on July 1, 2013, making the total number of EU member states to 28.
Croatia joins the EU 20 years after its splitting from former Yugoslavia in 1991, which marked a historic turning point for the country.
Croatia’s accession to the EU involves legal implications on European Community Trademarks (CTM) and European Community Designs system (CD), as follows:
- European Community Trademarks (CTMs) and European Community Designs (CDs) registered before July 1, 2013 will be protected in Croatia.
- Holders of registered CTMs and CDs are not requested to make any request or to pay fees before the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM).
- Any CTM applied before July 1, 2013 and still under examination will be examined according to the old rules, whether the actual registration takes place after or before the accession.
- Any CTM that has been applied for or registered before July 1, 2013 will not be translated or published in Croatian.
It is worth mentioning that Croatia will become a recognized CTM and CD and applications may be filed in Croatian language.