President Milanović in Samobor: Be successful in using European funds
The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović attended a special session of the Samobor Town Council on Municipal Day, on the occasion of which he wished Samobor residents great success and that they continue to develop Samobor on the foundations they built themselves, as well as on those they inherited. “That is tradition and without tradition man does not exist. Come to an agreement,” the President told them.
In his address at the special session, President Milanović recalled that Samobor looked like a Western European town in the 1980s. “There were others before us who arranged everything and made an effort. Build on what those before us left us and on what some took from us thirty years ago. Enjoy what you have and be glad because this is the folklore of a slightly happier side and face of history with a smile,” said the President.
President Milanović said we should be aware that thirty years ago people in our country went through horrific emotional and material losses, which are still felt. He described Samobor as one of the best cities of this size in Croatia in terms of life quality and added that the entrance to the town feels cultured and Western European, giving one a feel of a town with a good quality of life. “Be successful in using European funds – not in their uptake, but in their use,” said the President, underscoring that today, eight years after Croatia’s EU accession, this is the only measure of success.
“We can talk about values, freedom, democracy, open borders, the right to free and individual development, but also loyalty to the community, nation and state. However, when the line is drawn, it is all one big battle for influence, position and money,” the President emphasized. In that sense, we cannot compete with the biggest countries, he added, but we do have our qualities. “There is no reason for us not to excel on that voyage and for most of Croatia not to reach Samobor’s standard, or for Samobor to stand in one place in the meantime, to wait for those who are lagging behind and not move forward. It is the only philosophy that is imposing itself on me as something to be fought for. That is a job, especially at the municipal level,” concluded President Milanović.
Speaking at the special session of the Samobor Town Council apart from President Milanović were Town Council President Irena Franceković, Mayor of Samobor Petra Škrobot, member of the Croatian Parliament and Mayor of Sveta Nedelja Dario Zurovec and Zagreb County Deputy Prefect and envoy of the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament Ervin Kolarec. Adviser to the President of the Republic for Human Rights and Civil Society Melita Mulić was alongside President Milanović.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Tomislav Bušljeta