Croatia has been a member of the European Union for 12 years now, and at a recent conference in Zagreb marking this anniversary, European Commission Vice-President Dubravka Šuica proudly declared that the Croatian voice is heard within the EU. According to her, Croatian citizens are living better thanks to funds from the European budget, the Solidarity Fund, and the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism. GDP per capita has risen from 12,000 to 22,000 euros, which is a huge leap despite inflation. Successful projects include the construction of the Pelješac Bridge and the ‘Zaželi’ program for women’s employment. However, Šuica warns that EU values such as solidarity and democracy cannot be taken for granted, especially in light of terrorist threats and disinformation. Branko Baričević, the first head of the European Commission representation in Croatia, dismisses claims that Croatia is small and insignificant, emphasizing that Croatia now sits at all relevant EU tables, including the Schengen area and the Eurozone. Cultural researcher Nina Obuljen Koržinek agrees that it is hard not to feel the direct impact of the EU but warns of a gap between citizens’ perception and actual knowledge of the EU, which should not discourage us. She particularly highlights the Erasmus program as key to connecting young people with European values. Zrinka Ujević, head of the European Commission representation in Croatia, reminds us that the EU is going through many crises, from financial to pandemic-related, but cohesion is the foundation of joint action. She stresses the importance of staying united to continue building the internal market and security together. In short, Croatia is in the EU, its voice is heard, but the fight to preserve values and further develop the community has only just begun. So, do you feel your voice in the EU really matters, or is it just a nice story for the public? Share your thoughts, maybe together we’ll discover how truly involved Croatia is in the big European story!
