President Milanović on EU’s shortcomings: The EU has got no energy and has not ventured into the most modern technologies

The President of the Republic of Croatia Zoran Milanović attended today a special session of the Municipal Council of the town of Križevci on the occasion of Municipality Day. In his address, he mostly spoke of the position of the European Union in the modern world and Croatia’s place in the EU.

Speaking on the European Union, President Milanović referred to it as “as nice, peaceful project, economically powerful and strong” that was created in the decades after the Second World War as a response to the destruction and conflicts of the past century. He reminded that democracies afterwards embarked on a path of cooperation and development, and the EU was given a new impulse after the collapse of communist regimes in the early 1990s.

Still he warned of the changes that followed: “The European Union lacks people, it’s old, and can’t substitute them by importing a workforce in the way some states, the largest ones, imagined it. It looked great, but the past ten years have shown clearly that it isn’t sustainable, and especially not sustainable in small countries such as ours.”

The President emphasized the EU’s energy and technological shortcomings, especially in the context of global competitiveness: “The European Union has got no energy, they have to import it. The European Union has not ventured into the most modern technologies, the things that are changing the world.”

President Milanović is therefore sceptical of the future enlargement of the European Union, especially concerning neighbouring states and Ukraine: “The countries of the region are in such a state that the politics of the West will never accept them in the European Union, unfortunately. Ukraine is too big and volatile to even seriously discuss it, but they are still clouding the issue with some dishonest promises.”

In terms of Croatia’s place within the European Union, President Milanović stressed that membership has brought many benefits, but that Croatia must position itself strategically and realistically in the future.

“We are and will remain part of this European Union, we no longer have any choice”, the President noted, adding that the series of positive changes, namely record low unemployment is a direct consequence of the open labour market and membership in the European Union. Nevertheless, he warned of the limitations of that system: “The system is set up in such a way that it is very difficult to break through from the group of middle-income countries to the group of highest-income countries. That society is, unfortunately, exclusive, closed and has not been open to practically anyone for the last 50 years.”

In concluding, the President called for national vigilance and strategic thinking in further development: “We must seize every development opportunity, but be fully aware that it will not last for very long and that the door will be closed to others.”

“We are the only ones who care about our own country”, President Milanović stated, calling for joint efforts in times where changes on the global scene are developing rapidly and uncertainly.

Speaking at the gathering in addition to President Milanović were the Mayor of Križevci Mario Rajn, the Mayor of Koprivnica Mišel Jakšić, Koprivnica-Križevci County-prefect Darko Koren, the State Secretary in the Ministry of  Defence and delegate of the Prime Minister Branko Hrg, and the Head of the Municipality of Kalinovac and delegate of the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament Darko Sobota. Alongside President Milanović was the Adviser to the President of the Republic for Human Rights and Civil Society Melita Mulić.

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