Minister Grabar-Kitarović participated in 10th meeting of National EU Accession Forum on subject “Truths and Misconceptions about EU”

In her opening speech, Minister Grabar-Kitarović pointed out that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration is taking a serious approach to the issue of public support for the process of Croatia’s EU accession. Speaking about the numerous activities MFAEI is conducting in educating and informing the citizens about the European integration process, Minister Grabar-Kitarović stressed that that responsibility does not lie solely on the Government, but other communication partners as well, such as media and civil society associations.

The participants were also greeted by Head of the European Commission’s Delegation to Croatia Vincent Degert, who pointed out that in the future, the EC must better communicate the important achievements of the EU, such as peace, democracy, security, economic growth, and common currency. It is precisely these achievements, said Degert, that make the EU more attractive for the countries who are yet to become its members, such as Croatia. Welcoming words by County Head of the Primorsko-goranska County Zlatko Komadina and Mayor of Rijeka Vojko Obersnel were followed by a dynamic discussion in which the participant exchanged their opinions on the subject. Despite the differences in views and suggestions, the Forum’s participants agreed about the need for a more frequent organising of public forums on such issues and the continuation of the dialogue. They also agreed that the EU communication process should be two-way and should, apart from the Croatian Government, see more engagement from the media, civil society associations and other interested groups and individuals able or wishing to contribute to the debate on Croatia’s EU membership.

Apart from Minister Grabar-Kitarović, the Forum saw the presence of numerous representatives of the countries’ state and local government and self-government, political parties, embassies, economic institutions, academic community, civil society, media, and other relevant groups and individuals, as well as university students, high school students, and interested citizens.