The EU Info Centre will provide a wide range of information services and activities for those who want to know more about the EU and who wish to get actively involved in the debate on European integration.
By opening this centre we are promoting a new information window on the world, a window that will broaden the horizons of the world of which we want to be a part, a window on the future to which we aspire, Mesic said at the opening ceremony.
Mesic, whom Degert announced as the moral authority who advocates key European values, said that the citizen is the end-user for whom the Union was created in the first place and who should have most use of it. He recalled that Croatia's path to EU membership was one of adoption of European values.
Degert expressed hope that the EU Info Centre would become a place of dialogue and information on the European Union, which he said Croatia should join as its 28th member.
We would also like to change to a certain extent the perception of the European Union, because Croatian citizens very often take the accession issue emotionally, Degert said.
Citing domestic opinion polls, Degert said that between 52 and 53 per cent of Croatian citizens supported Croatia's EU entry, noting that young people were among the staunchest opponents of accession.
Young people will be creating the future of Croatia and of the European Union, he said.
The level of support for EU membership in Croatia is the lowest among all acceding countries, the head of the EC Delegation warned, adding that the EU Info Centre was intended for all categories of citizens.
By joining the EU, Croatia would, in addition to economic and other benefits, also get peace and stability, but the Union would also get the same from Croatia's accession, he said.
Noting that talks between Croatia and the EU were progressing well, Degert said that the chapter on culture and education were due to be opened and closed later today in Brussels. The year 2007 will see great changes and progress in the accession talks, he noted.