At the Croatian National Theatre, “Rendez-Vous: French Festival in Croatia” was announced, held between May and September around Croatia. The festival will promote, among other things, cultural, sport, gastronomic events and diplomacy. Assistant Foreign Minister Hrvoje Marušić, on behalf of the MFEA as the festival co-organizer, said that Croatia was extremely pleased to host the continuation of the successful festival of Croatian culture, "Croatie, la voici", which was held in France in 2012. “Croatia’s EU membership also means new investments in culture, which is supported by the French officials as well,” Marušić said, adding he was certain the public would enjoy the programme.
Projects like these, he said, show that Croatia’s EU membership created better opportunities for presenting the national identity, with the EU as an added value. Furthermore, in these economically and socially challenges times, it is important to see culture as something that can contribute to economy as well.
The entire festival is being organised by the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Zagreb's French Institute and the French Embassy, and is to be opened with a lecture by one of the world’s most distinguished economists, Thomas Piketty. The programme will officially begin in May with an exhibition of works by Auguste Rodin and three performances of Debussy's "Pelleas et Melisande" opera in the Croatian National Theatre. More than 150 events in various fields are planned to be held by end-May as past of the festival.