Addressing the event, the European People's Party (EPP) President, Belgian politician Wilfried Martens, who is at the helm of CES, said the conference was aimed at drawing Croatia closer to the EU. He added the EPP was the strongest political family in the European Union today and could influence the Union's course better than ever.
The HDZ and its coalition partner, the HSS (Croatian Peasant Party) belong to this political family which has always been pro-European, he said expressing his unconditional support for efforts made by the government led by Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor regarding Croatia's EU membership bid.
PM Kosor is also expected to address the conference.
After that a panel discussion on Croatia as the 28th members in the EU and two debates on pros and cons of Croatia's EU membership and the youth in the EU will ensue.
The conference was held in Osijek as part of the events marking the 21th anniversary of the establishment of the HDZ in that eastern Croatian city.