President Milanović: Corruption is our country’s biggest problem
“Corruption is our country’s biggest problem. As far as corruption and public mistrust in the spending of our money is concerned, that is the key issue, everything else passes or falls on this”, the President of the Republic Zoran Milanović stated in Opatija where he attended a special session today marking the 30th anniversary of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County and highlighted its leadership as a model of good management.
Since the special occasion was to mark 30 years since the establishment of the County, President Milanović once again talked about the territorial organization of the state. “Municipalities and cities are strengthening their fiscal capacity, it is growing according to a number of criteria, it is also growing given the general well-being of the state, a greater transfer of power, a certain rate and rhythm of decentralization that Croatia has and can go to a certain extent. However, at one moment decentralization must stop since Croatia is a small state with a very small population”, he noted.
Reminding that Croatia has 20 counties and the City of Zagreb, President Milanović explained that counties had the wind at their backs thanks to European funds that should be absorbed relentlessly, as he said, “to a maximum, as much as possible because in my opinion this is the purpose of our membership in the European Union”. “To learn from those who are better than us at something and at the same time be aware of what we are better at than others – for me that is all the philosophy of life in the European Union. I wish you much success in absorbing European funds because is our money and every euro that is left somewhere in between is a missed opportunity”, the President stated.
President Milanović also addressed the issue of the emigration of the population of which the County-Prefect also spoke. “The population decline is a problem encountered by other new EU members as well, a problem from which they did not recuperate. Yet statistics refer to all those states as successful and good examples. Croatia, as it is organized, has functioned for 30 years. The experience of our nation, our political community is solid, but a high price has been paid for all that Croatia has, a terribly high price. The only ones who are paying a higher price are the Ukrainians, we are now seeing this in this unbelievable and callous horror unfolding before our very own eyes. Croatia has come a long way and so has this County and this area – that is rounded up in terms of its history and identity – is one of the prime examples. As Istria, Međimurje and all those counties who perhaps had a harder time, but gave all of themselves, accepted all the challenges and turned this country into what it can be – which is a pleasant place to live”, the President noted, and concluded on an optimistic note that the population in this County will certainly increase because, as he said, “this is a desirable county, and in Croatia we have ideal circumstances for a normal, healthy and safe life”.
Also speaking at the special session in addition to President Milanović was Primorje-Gorski Kotar County-Prefect Zlatko Komadina, who together with the President of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County Assembly Marko Boras, presented annual County awards for 2022 and the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County lifetime achievement award.
Alongside President Milanović was the Adviser to the President for Human Rights and Civil Society Melita Mulić.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia/Filip Glas