President Milanović in Varaždin: It is important to be aware of our region, but only together do we form a whole

“We are a small country, and our population is small. We have a very complex and unique heritage, and we have uniquely formed ourselves as a modern political nation. It is important to be aware of our region, but only together do we form a whole, and without that, it is difficult to represent ourselves abroad,” said the President of the Republic Zoran Milanović today in Varaždin, where he attended the special session of the Town Council of Varaždin on the occasion of Municipal Day and the Feast of St. Nicholas.

In his address at the ceremony, President Milanović emphasized that Croatia exists only as a unified whole, encompassing differences and particularities. “Your example, and the example of this part of Croatia, is a demonstration of the need to live and work through more complex types of labour,” said the President.

In this regard, he noted that Varaždin has 700 employees per 1,000 inhabitants, which is more than most Croatian cities. “This is a constant and a source of strength for this town, as well as a guiding example. It should serve as a model for how Croatia could and should be – how it could look better than it does now and how it is likely to look in the foreseeable future,” he said.

Congratulating the residents of Varaždin on Municipal Day, he encouraged them to take full advantage of EU money. “Make full use of all available European funds and invest them in communal and public infrastructure, projects that improve social standards and go beyond the standard. Use what you would otherwise invest from your own budgets for development, for your profit, and for what makes you wealthier and more competitive,” said President Milanović. He added that most of the projects funded by European money do not provide a competitive advantage. “That money is used to raise certain standards, which are merely one of the prerequisites for positioning the country among wealthy and, as much as possible, independent states,” concluded the President.

In addition to President Milanović, the President of the Varaždin Town Council, Lovro Lukavečki, the Mayor of Varaždin, Neven Bosilj, and the Minister of Justice, Public Administration, and Digital Transformation, and the delegate of the Croatian Prime Minister, Damir Habijan, also spoke at the event. Public recognitions were awarded to the most deserving individuals and organizations for their contributions to the town’s development.

President Milanović was accompanied by Melita Mulić, Adviser to the President of the Republic for Human Rights and Civil Society.

PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Tomislav Bušljeta