The round table debate called "50 years of the EU: What Have We Learned for the Future" was also attended by Croatian Foreign Affairs and European Integration Minister Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic and German Ambassador to Croatia Hans Jochen Peters, whose country is currently the President of the EU, and members of the diplomatic corps
Today's concept of the EU rose from ashes of World War Two. The Union is a historic success, Degert said, assessing that European integration processes had offered a true platform for the future of European peoples.
He reiterated that the creation of the European Union with common values, such as democracy, the rule of law, the respect of human and minority rights, had brought many benefits to EU citizens, notably peace and stability.
We need to bear in mind that the EU has the strongest economy in the world, he said. Great achievements have been made in the free flow of goods, capital and people, Degert added.
The EC official particularly praised the enlargement process.
Enlargement from the then six (Germany, France, Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands) to the current 27 members shows that a wish for greater democracy is a pretty strong force, Degert said.
He stressed that relations between Croatia and the EU are constantly intensifying.
Croatia is drawing increasing attention of European institutions, Degert said and announced a number of visits of European officials and leaders of member states to Croatia in the coming period. He said German Chancellor Angela Merkel, European Commission President Manuel Barosso and EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn were scheduled to visit Croatia in May.
The EC official also pointed to problems the EU was faced with, saying that the bloc needed better legal mechanisms and a new management system if it wanted to be able to respond to internal and global challenges.
Institutional reform must be implemented and a new constitutional framework made, Degert said. According to him, the European Union must become more democratic, more efficient and more transparent and citizens must be given a greater role in the decision making process.
Minister Grabar Kitarovic said the EU was the most successful integration process in the world which can take pride in peace and stability, a successful enlargement process and a European model of living. She said Croatia, that went through the war, particularly appreciated peace and stability.
Speaking about the enlargement process, Grabar Kitarovic said it led to a reconciliation of European history and geography. She reiterated that Croatia advocated the individualisation of the enlargement process.
German Ambassador Hans Jochen Peters said EU countries must closely cooperate as partners and must not put cooperation with the United States on the margins. He added that small and medium-size countries must have more say in the decision making process.
Those present were also addressed by Italian Ambassador to Croatia Alessandro Grafini who said Croatia was in a particular position.
I think Croatia is the last candidate country for a long period of time, Grafini said
Slovene Ambassador to Croatia Milan Orozen Adamoc wished Croatia success on its path to the EU.