President Milanović: Whoever thinks the EU will be a federal state is wrong, Croatia wants the identity it gained in the Homeland War
The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović attended a special session of the Municipal Council of the Municipality of Stari Mikanovci on the occasion of Stari Mikanovci Municipal Day. On congratulating Municipal Day, he noted that it is evident the municipality has flourished, but believes it can do better with the help of EU funds. “You will need the help of the state and European funds. Every euro that is available and you did not absorb is to your detriment because that is the principal reason for being in the European Union”, President Milanović stated.
“The principal reason for Croatia’s membership in the EU is not a common foreign policy, common wars and conflicts with third countries of which we know little and can influence even less. Thanks to our membership in the EU, it is our interest to develop better and safeguard what is ours,“ President Milanović explained. He feels so because the Croatian story in the EU is special: “When we look at the last fifty years, the Croatian experience is different from that of other European nations. And that’s why we have to look after our interests and realize that the way of life, problems, traditions and experience in Croatia and in other European countries are not the same. Whoever thinks that in twenty or thirty years we’ll have a united Europe as a federal state not only is wrong, but I don’t even want that. We want uniqueness, we want identity, that’s what people fought for in the war”, President Milanović noted.
In his address the President referred to the territorial organization of Croatia judging that the benefits outweigh the disadvantages. “That’s how I assess the entire system”, he noted, adding that those who are calling for the abolition of municipalities are generally those who don’t live in those communities. He added that the current system of municipalities is viable and not bad, and told those who wish to change it that they must have strong arguments because today it is harder to make such decisions than thirty years ago.
The President reiterated that the problem is not centralization, but poor centralization and corruption. “There has to be some centralization. There are things for which you need assistance from Zagreb in order to preserve a certain sustainable civilized average. For schools to be the same everywhere there has to be a certain level of centralization. The state should be kept together. And to conclude – this system is fine, you have done well and one should stop constantly pulling it apart verbally. The system as such is functional and I wouldn’t give credit to any political group, it has simply evolved spontaneously and in a controlled manner over the course of thirty years”, President Milanović stated.
Also speaking at the special session of the Municipal Council in addition to President Milanović were the Head of the Municipality of Stari Mikanovci Mario Milinković and the Deputy County-Prefect of Vukovar-Srijem County Franjo Orešković.
In the continuation of his stay in Stari Mikanovci, President Milanović accompanied by his host toured the stands and the “čobanac” traditional meat stew cooking competition for citizens’ groups organized in the central park of Stari MIkanovci.
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