Speaking at a conference on the 10th anniversary of Croatia's accession to the EU, organized by the Croatian Government and the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs at the National and University Library, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said Croatia had achieved incredible success in those ten years. Prime Minister Plenković said that Croatia had been completely transformed. “A lot still needs to be done, but we have international reputation and our voice is heard. We have earned respect, and that’s a lot in ten years,” he said.
Metsola: Croatia achieved incredible success in 10 years of EU membership
Metsola said that this success was crowned by the accession to the Schengen Area and the Eurozone this year.
“These are ten years of incredible success for a country in the very heart of Europe,” she said.
Plenković underlined that EU membership, for a young country that had achieved freedom and democracy through war thanks to Croatian defenders and the vision of first president Franjo Tuđman, was a major goal for Croatia.
“For us, the EU was a community of values and rights. These two aspects are at the core of what we have achieved by joining the EU. This is reflected today in the democracy, freedom, the protection of human and minority rights, strong institutions and a firm position at the very heart of the EU,” he said.
The prime minister added that the benefits of Croatia’s EU membership were manifold.
“We have joined the Eurozone and the Schengen Area, a space of security and border protection. We are a part of Europe’s stabilization mechanism, empowered by 25 billion euros for this decade.”
Plenković said that the benefits also included reputation, as evidenced by Croatia’s credit rating, the way in which we are perceived by other stakeholders, investors, as well as international and domestic financial markets, adding that we are on the radar of those who want to do business with Croatia and be our partners.
“Looking back on our journey, we can be extremely satisfied. Croatia has been completely transformed. We still have some T’s to cross, but we have international reputation and our voice is heard. We have earned respect, and that’s a lot in ten years,” he said.
Croatia continues its journey on three paths
Plenković added that the country continued its journey on three paths: green transition, digital transformation and demographic revitalisation.
Those three topics ensure competitiveness on the global market and the ability to face challenges while remaining together as a society, he pointed out.
Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković rejected criticism from Eurosceptics that Zagreb was only following the policy of Brussels. “No, we are actively involved in decision-making and we align our own interests with the interests of other members,” he said.
Croatia will not use problems with neighbours to block them
Speaking about EU enlargement, Plenković said that Croatia, which has lost several years in negotiations due to the border dispute with Slovenia and relations with the Hague court, will not use problems with neighbouring countries to block their path to the EU.
Blockades are unjust, they create a bad atmosphere. Croatia wants to resolve bilateral issues in an intelligent way, and not in a way that presents an obstacle to negotiations, Planković said.
He added that Russia’s aggression against Ukraine had completely transformed the old member states’ position on enlargement.
“The tectonic changes in Europe’s security environment have made both heads of state and administration change views, resulting in a quicker accession process,” Plenković said, adding that Croatia would support countries aspiring to join the EU, as membership brings stability, progress and security.
Jandroković said that it was in Croatia’s interest to Europeanise the neighbourhood, and not to have someone in its environment that advocates semi-democratic or non-democratic models.
“Our neighbourhood is not clear on European integration, and that is cause for concern. We will help everyone who wants to move towards EU membership,” said the Parliament Speaker.
Speaking about the elections for the European Parliament next year, Metsola called on voters, especially young people, to go to the polls because these are the most important elections so far.
There is an invisible line and when we cross it, we have lost our citizens. If you manage to “sell” the argument that voting is not a privilege, but a right and even a duty, then we will understand what the citizens want and show a clear vision that the EU has its worth. To achieve this, we must make sure that as many people as possible vote next year. Every vote matters, Metsola underscored.
Text: Hina/MFEA
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