During the meeting, former President of the Republic of Croatia Mr Stjepan Mesić addressed the present, emphasising that he was glad for the honour and pleasure of addressing Igman Initiative members on the day Croatia joined the European Union. He pointed out that Croatian accession to the European Union was a crown of all efforts which the Republic of Croatia made in the previous period. He noted that – accession of Croatia to the European family of peoples had to be a positive stimulus for all countries in the region to continue their European path, by fulfilling European Union standards and conditions. At the end of his addressing to Igman Initiative members, Mr Mesić concluded that the Republic of Croatia should be an example to all countries in the region – that dream of European Union was not impossible.

Igman Initiative members were also addressed by the Chairperson of the Committee on International Relations and Emigrants Mr Miodrag Vuković, docent PhD, who emphasised that by Croatia’s accession to the European Union Montenegro had started to share a border with the European Union, and consequently a stable European environment that would have positive effects to further economic, political and security development.  He also pointed out that accession of Croatia to the European Union was an important event, representing the confirmation of the enlargement policy and incentive for all countries in the region to continue successful implementation of reform processes. Mr Vuković noticed that the Croatian entry into the European Union would give a new dimension to the overall regional relations and what was to come should be used for joint action and a focus should be placed on projects and initiatives essentially important for the further development of the regional countries and higher quality of citizens’ life. Croatian entry into the European Union indicates that with great devotion, good organisation and hard work all the challenges can be overcome, necessary reforms achieved, necessary standards incorporated in the social system and values nourished by the European Union for more than 60 years incorporated in the public awareness, Mr Vuković emphasised. He emphasised that full-fledged membership of Croatia to the European Union had certainly caused changes in relations with neighbouring countries, including Montenegro, due to the fact that Croatia would have to apply European Union standards; Montenegro had been prepared for that, as the Government of Montenegro released the relevant document containing over 70 items, defining processes that need to be opened at the bilateral level with the Republic of Croatia in order to carry out necessary adjustment in all fields of mutual relations. At the end of his addressing, he emphasised that fresh Croatian experience witnessed that the progress in the integration process depended solely on them, that there was a reward for good result, that there were no shortcuts on European path and that the European dream is achievable.

Members of the Delegation had an informal conversation with the former President of the Republic of Croatia Mr Stjepan Mesić.