Croatian bishops are "genuinely joyful" that Croatia will become an active EU member because it has always been under its influence, so it is better that it actively participates in decision-making in this big community of peoples, Rijeka Archbishop Ivan Devcic told the press in Split on Thursday after the end of the Croatian Bishops' Conference's 31st autumn plenary conference.
"Although we know that there are things in the European Union that we as Christians and believers cannot be satisfied with, we think that as a whole this project is in accordance with the Gospel promoting cooperation among people, togetherness and solidarity, which are principles on which the contemporary EU is founded," said Devcic.
He added that Croatian bishops expected the Croatian negotiators to properly represent and protect national interests.