(Hina) - A small country as Croatia can have influence in the European Union but must be well-prepared, know its interests and how to present them, which is why it is very important that Croatian citizens vote in the European Parliament election on May 25, Foreign and European Affairs Minister Vesna Pusić said on Friday.
Speaking at the central celebration of Europe Day in Zagreb, she said it was important that in this case individuals could be chosen, and not just slates. "We can choose people from any slate based on our assessment of their world view, their values, their hard work, their intelligence, their knowledge and experience."
Pusić added that it was not unimportant who passed the laws by which we lived.
She said this was the first real EP election in Croatia and that those elected would represent Croatia over the next five years, as well as Croatian ideas, not necessarily Croatian institutions, but all Croatian citizens.
The head of the EP Information Office in Croatia, Violeta Simeonova Staničić, recalled that the EP election would be held in all 28 EU member states on May 25, enabling more than 400 million European citizens, including Croatians, to cast their votes.
"There's no right or wrong choice. It's only important that people choose in which direction their representatives will run the EU. Use your power, go to the polls and decide who will run Europe," she said.
Pusić thanked all EU member states for the support they extended Croatia during its membership negotiations, saying the best way to thank them was for Croatia to help its neighbours with European prospects.
Asked by the press what citizens felt was most different from the time before Croatia joined the EU, Pusić said she believed it was the abolishment of customs. She hoped that by July 1, 2015 Croatia would meet all the requirements for the abolishment of the border police, which she said would also be tangible and recognisable. "Customs are recognisable to citizens, notably to companies," she said, adding that exports to the EU had jumped more than 20 per cent.
The Europe Day celebration was organised by the EP Information Office and the European Commission Representation. Among those who spoke was Greek Ambassador Eleni Gerokostopoulou, whose country is the current EU president.