Minister Grabar-Kitarović received attendees of one-year postgraduate European studies abroad and signed scholarship contracts

In her speech, Minister Grabar-Kitarović pointed out that this is the 10th generation of the Croatian Government scholarship students being educated in the field of law, economy, and multidisciplinary studies, who upon the completion of their studies are being employed in the state administration bodies and the public sectors, on positions concerning the European integration. Such orientation and investment in the education of young people contributes to a quick and successful adaptation of Croatia in the process of the EU accession and achieving full EU membership, said Minister Grabar-Kitarović.

Past experience shows that this challenge appeals to young and dynamic people who are willing to learn new things and, upon the return to their country, contribute to Croatia’s successful EU accession with their knowledge, experience and contacts made abroad, pointed out the Minister.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, on behalf of the Croatian Government and in co-operation with the UK Foreign Office and the University of Sussex, is for the 10th year in a row conducting the Croatian Government’s program of awarding scholarships for one-year postgraduate European studies at universities abroad, launched in 1998, whose basic goal is to strengthen the state administrations administrative capacities. This is meant to increase the number of experts in the field of the European integration, law, economy and multidisciplinary studies, to be employed in the state administration bodies.

As a part of this year’s program, postgraduate European studies for the 2007/2008 academic year will be attended by 24 scholarship students at 10 different European universities (Great Britain – 11 students, Belgium – 5, Germany – 4, and one in France, Ireland, Poland, and Italy respectively). The program was co-financed by Volksbank Zagreb Ltd and Pliva Zagreb Ltd.