Croatia became a member of the EU 10 years after applying.

Omissions

• The claim rounds 10 years and 4 months down to '10 years', a simplification acceptable in everyday parliamentary discourse. The precise period from application (21 February 2003) to accession (1 July 2013) is approximately 10.36 years.

Sources

• PrimaryEuropean Commission — Enlargement and Eastern NeighbourhoodCroatia applied for EU membership in 2003 and was in negotiations from 2005 until 2011. (...) The country became the 28th EU member country on 1 July 2013.
• PrimaryMinistry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia (MVEP)Following Croatia's application for membership in the European Union on 21 February 2003 (...) on 1 July 2013 Croatia has become an EU Member State.
• SecondaryEuropean NewsroomCroatia applied for membership on 21 February 2003 (...) After ten years of waiting, joining the EU on 1 July 2013 was one of the most significant events in the country's recent history.