Croatia has joined the EU, becoming its 28th member. It has been over two decades since it split away from Yugoslavia in order to secure its independence.
Amidst widespread celebrations, Croatia's president Josipovic said, it was "a great and joyful day for our homeland".
"This the day when we open a new chapter in the thick book of our history."
Meanwhile, the president of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso embraced the cheering crowds, stating: "Welcome to the European Union!"
Earlier, addressing EU heads, Josipovic had said:
"The accession of Croatia to the European Union is confirmation that each one of us belongs to the European democratic and cultural set of values."