Opening Concert of the Croatian Presidency of the Council of the EU

Met dank overgenomen van Kroatisch voorzitterschap Europese Unie 1e helft 2020 (Kroatisch voorzitterschap) i, gepubliceerd op donderdag 9 januari 2020.

Top Croatian and European officials gathered at a concert at the Croatian National Theatre to mark the start of Croatia's presidency of the Council of the EU.

The Prime Minister's welcome speech in full:

"Tonight's concert of at the Croatian National Theatre marks the start of the Croatian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which takes place in the seventh year of our membership in the Union and on the eve of the 30th anniversary of Croatian democracy.

The Presidency is an important moment for Croatia, completing our historical cycle from independence to strong affirmation in Europe and the world. We feel honored and have a sense of great responsibility to be able to work for the benefit of all Union citizens over the next six months, while promoting and presenting our specificities and priorities.

Croatia will also present itself with a rich cultural program. The best Croatian artists will showcase their talent and creativity in cultural centres across Europe with carefully selected programs from all artistic fields. With their universal language, they will strive to present the best of Croatian contemporary production and rich heritage to European audiences. At the same time, Rijeka is the European Capital of Culture in 2020.

Our slogan is A strong Europe in a world of challenges. What makes Europe strong are the values ​​we share, the goals we want to achieve, as well as the awareness that, being united, we are stronger and more prepared to meet all the challenges of today - be it security challenges, climate change, demography, trade, the economy or sustainable development.

The Croatian Presidency comes at a crucial moment for the European Union, at the beginning of a new institutional cycle of the Union. In this role, Croatia has the opportunity, in partnership with Member States and institutions, to give Europe its contribution and a new momentum.

European cultural heritage was created through communication and interaction of national cultures with their own peculiarities and uniqueness. In the political sphere, too, we find the motive and strength to act together, and in particular to think more about the future of Europe, acknowledging the views of each Member State.

In doing so, our aim should be to further democratize the decision-making process, to bring European policies and institutions closer to the citizens, so that we can better meet their expectations and needs.

I hope you enjoy the concert, and I wish our guests a pleasant stay in Zagreb!

Thank you!"