President Milanović at Columbia University: What becomes of EU in next decade is paramount for Croatia

“The EU is probably the most complex political association in the history of mankind. It is difficult to govern, it lacks political legitimacy, since it is mostly run by bureaucrats. For my country the question of utmost importance is what will become of the EU in the next 10 years”, the President of the Republic Zoran Milanović said at Columbia University in New York addressing an event in the framework of the World Leaders Forum entitled “Emerging Crises and Competing Narratives”.

Speaking to students at Columbia University, President Milanović stated that Croatia had a long wait before becoming a member of the European Union and that Croatia’s success in the EU should be measured by the amount of absorbed European funds. Answering students’ questions, President Milanović also indicated his view of EU enlargement.

“The South East of Europe aspires for EU membership, however, not all of the countries are sufficiently motivated to join the Union”, the Croatian President said, and explained that the hardest thing for Serbia is the fact that Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić was one of the most infamous warmongers of the 1990s”. President Milanović feels that Serbia “is not harbouring strong intentions” to join the EU, whereas North Macedonia and Albania are making great efforts. He noted that Montenegro is the closest to EU membership having opened 33 chapters.

Speaking at Columbia University, President Milanović commented on the situation in Afghanistan where the Taliban have regained power, and all NATO troops have abandoned the country. “Croatian soldiers should have retreated ten years ago after the leader of al- Qaeda Osama bin Laden was killed”, President Milanović said among others, and added that “he never deluded himself about bringing democracy to Afghanistan”.

PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Dario Andrišek