President Milanović Warns: The time of EU funding is coming to an end and Croatia must find its own place in the sun
“I want you to take full advantage of EU funding. Those funds are the sole purpose of being in the EU. I don’t see any community of people there. A community of values, yes. We are a democracy, we have our own rules and customs, and we should not fool ourselves into thinking that it will be a single community and nation because it won’t. One should be loyal, resilient, and fair, but the funds are the only thing that makes a difference,” the President of the Republic Zoran Milanović said today at a special session of the Vela Luka Municipal Council, which was held on the occasion of Municipality Day and the Feast of Saint Joseph.
Commenting further on EU funding, the President emphasized that we should not be satisfied with the current absorption rate, and called for Croatia to be better at using EU funds. He mentioned the examples of Portugal and Greece, where, he said, after 10-15 years of EU funding, no new factories were built but “one patches things up, embellishes and decorates. That’s great, but there is no power in that.”
“Once EU funds are no longer available, we must not stay at 70% of the EU (development) average, which is where Portugal and Greece have stayed. The big countries, the rich countries do not like or dislike us, but they don’t give us money to compete with them. In tourism, maybe yes, because God gave this to us and we developed some things ourselves. But in the struggle and competition among nations, you only have space and success if you take care of yourself and if you realize that only you and your people care about you,” said President Milanović, pointing out that this is a lesson for a small nation. “One should be tough and, if necessary, selfish, not mean and evil, and aware that the time of EU funding is coming to an end and that Croatia must find its own place in the sun,” he said.
He told the residents of Vela Luka to continue living on the island because “life on the Croatian islands is a special culture of the heart of our people.” “I want you to continue living here. I want to always be greeted by that old, fascinating island dialect. It is the last line of defence of the old, ancient, Slavic Glagolitic identity, and that is why I like to come here,” President Milanović concluded.
In addition to President Milanović, also speaking at the special session were the President of the Vela Luka Municipal Council Zoran Manestar, the Head of the Municipality of Vela Luka Katarina Gugić, the Mayor of Trogir Ante Bilić (on behalf of towns and municipalities), Dubrovnik-Neretva County Prefect Nikola Dobroslavić, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Physical Planning, Construction and State Assets Branko Bačić. At the ceremony, annual awards were presented to the most deserving individuals for their contributions to the Municipality’s progress.
Ahead of the special session of the Vela Luka Municipal Council, held on the occasion of Municipality Day and the Feast of Saint Joseph, President Milanović attended a culture and art programme of the Kumpanija Vela Luka Folklore Society, the Vela Luka Folk Music Association, and the Association of Majorettes in front of the elementary school building in Vela Luka.
President Milanović was accompanied by the Head of the Office of the President of the Republic Orsat Miljenić and 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