President Milanović: I believe in the EU as a project of free trade, tolerance and peace, not as a political superstate
“Međimurje has generally lived in a certain form of peace, stability, and predictability. There have never been grandiose projects, or too much money. It has developed slowly and systematically. It has always been known that the boat is sailing in one direction. You know that the one who does not row rocks the boat, and here everyone has always rowed, so that boat was going in a beautiful, good, and positive direction. And that is what Croatia needs, which historically did not have that because parts of our most beautiful and only homeland have had different histories, occupations, perils, arson, and death,” said the President of the Republic today at the ceremonial session of the Municipality Council of Donji Vidovec in Međimurje, celebrating its Municipality Day and 800 years since the first documentary proof.
He told the people of Donji Vidovec that they knew best what was good for them and how to develop, but also encouraged them to use the EU funds. “It doesn’t matter that you are a small municipality. You use the EU funds because it’s our money, too. Don’t be too grateful when receiving the money – neither to the general government which is only channelling the money, nor to the European Union which is giving us what was agreed in the deal. We didn’t enter the European Union as a poorhouse to receive charity. We opened our market and worked at the expense of our own production. The ratio of has been given and received from the EU membership could be a matter of debate,” said the President.
Moreover, President Milanović said that he believed in the European Union primarily “as a project of free trade, tolerance, and peace.” “Not as a political project of a common superstate because it is not clear how many rowers are there, who is rowing, and who is rocking the boat. The EU as a space of free trade, open market, tolerance, and understanding – yes. The EU as a superstate which will arm and wage wars – no,” said President Milanović.
The President reminded that Croatia had been in a joint state with both the Hungarians and Austrians, which did not suit us best, and now the European Union counts “twenty states and a few small ones, like us.” “This doesn’t lead anywhere. The people must learn lessons from their history and stick to our own. Let’s be calculated, even selfish in certain things. As Croatia, we should look after our own interest, and not to be carried away by grand ideas, imperial projects, arming, and defence. We should push our own agenda and avoid the troubles we can avoid. But sometimes you can’t avoid trouble and need to tackle problems,” concluded President Milanović and congratulated the Municipality Day, wishing the people as less as problems possible.
Apart from President Milanović, the President of the Donji Vidovec Municipality Council Doroteja Kranjec, Municipality Mayor Bojana Petrić, and Međimurje County Prefect Matija Posavec made an address and handed in commendations to the to the most deserving individuals and organizations for their contribution to the development of the Municipality at the ceremonial session. President Milanović was accompanied by the Adviser of the President for local and regional self-government relations Nikša Peronja.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Ana Marija Katić