A majority of Croats have voted in favour of joining the European Union, the country’s state referendum commission said yesterday.

Officials said that with about 30 per cent of the ballot calculated, about 67 per cent of those who took part in the referendum today answered “yes” to the question: “Do you support the membership of the Republic of Croatia in the European Union?”

About 32 per cent were against, while the rest of the ballots were invalid. About 42 per cent of eligible voters took part in the referendum, illustrating voters’ apathy toward the 27-nation EU.

Croatia signed an EU accession treaty last year and will become its 28th member in July 2013 after all the EU states ratify the deal.

Despite the serious economic crisis within the 27-nation bloc, Croatian opinion polls have suggested around 60 per cent support for EU entry and all the major political parties in favour of the move.

But opponents fear a loss of sovereignty and national identity and wonder what the union can offer as it battles with its own debt crisis.

A “yes” vote yesterday would pave the way for Croatia to formally join the bloc in 2013.

“This is a big day for Croatia,” Croatian President Ivo Josipovic told reporters after he cast his vote, anticipating voter would back membership. I’m looking forward to the whole Europe becoming my home.”

Mr Josipovic said that July 1, 2013 when Croatia should join the bloc, would “mark a turning point for the better in Croatia’s history”.

Zagreb’s EU membership is seen as a definitive break from the volatile Balkan region and vital for consolidating peace and economic recovery in the ex-Yugoslav republic. “Croatia says ‘yes’,” a confident Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic said after voting.

He dismissed fears from the anti-EU camp that Croatia, which has a population of 4.2 million, would be too small to make any impact in the 27-member bloc.