President Milanović in Buzet: Croatian Interests in EU Can Be Realized Only if We Are Loud and Persistent

The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović attended the special session of the Town of Buzet’s Municipal Council  on the occasion of Municipal Day.

“Your region and your community are not poor”, President Milanović told the residents of Buzet, adding that he is aware that the loss of the status of a poor and assisted municipality has certain consequences. “You have other forces, energy and zest to forget such things. You have a developed town, region”, the President noted, and repeated his stance that Croatia must be loud in its fight for resources from EU funds.

“Although we are small, we must be loud and selfish. It is important to fight for every euro from EU funds. That is our money. We must never allow again that we absorb only fifty percent of the funds that are at our disposal. This is a problem encountered by other small states as well. We have given up our sovereignty for which some people in this country indeed suffered and exposed themselves, that also counts. We are still not taking advantage of everything that is ours to take. We must be selfish. Croatian interests can be realized only if we are persistent, and if we keep reminding ourselves of this because the European Union today for Croatia means money, how much we gave and how much we took”, President Milanović stated.

He added that at this moment we do not know how the European Union will look in ten years’ time, and therefore underlined the importance of good relations with neighbouring Slovenia. “They are our best neighbours, not because Mr. Kučan is present. It is a plain fact and this is good. In spite of minor problems between Croatia and Slovenia, we have normal relations. There is a basis on which we can build a joint approach as two small states, of medium-size economy, Slovenia somewhat more powerful, but in reality of limited influence, to orient ourselves together toward Europe. We are not the focus of the big ones, they are not concerned about us, they often do not even see us. We are small and we have to be loud”, he said.

In concluding his address, President Milanović said that the state must be centralized to a certain point as to ensure equal standards. “Centralization, administering from one state centre in key strategic issues is the assumption of every state, modern state, but the right to local self-government, the right to associate is the right that makes a society, a human being, a family”, the President noted.

Also speaking at the special session besides President Milanović on the occasion of the Town of Buzet’s Municipal Day were the President of the Municipal Council Davor Prodan, the Mayor of the Town of Buzet Damir Kajin, Istrian County Prefect Boris Miletić and the Minister of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure and envoy of the Prime Minister Oleg Butković. Also attending the special session were former Croatian presidents Stjepan Mesić and Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović as well as former Slovenian President Milan Kučan.

Accompanying President Milanović at the celebration of the Town of Buzet’s Municipal Day was the Head of Cabinet of the President Bartol Šimunić.

PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Ana Marija Katić