"Now you have practically become an EU member when it comes to science and research. The signing of this memorandum is important for Croatia because now it has access to all science and research programmes," said Potocnik.
He voiced satisfaction that science was the first chapter in the analysis of the adjustment of Croatia's legislation to European Union standards, and underlined that he was very satisfied with what Croatia had shown.
Prime Minister Ivo Sanader attended the signing and reiterated how important this memorandum was.
"It wasn't by accident that science was chosen as the first chapter for screening. We clearly indicated what the future of the success of the EU, as well as Croatia, will be based on," said Sanader.
"If Croatia wants to be competitive and stand against rising economies such as China and Russia, knowledge is the only instrument for that," he added.
Primorac said that by signing the memorandum Croatia was becoming a knowledge-based society.
Sanader took the opportunity to thank Potocnik for supporting Croatia before its EU entry negotiations were launched.
FP6 is the biggest European research programme with two strategic goals -- to strengthen the scientific and technological industry base and to promote Europe's international competitiveness.
FP6 was opened in 2002 and will be closed in 2006, when the seventh cycle will be launched.
Croatia has participated in FP6 since the start with third country status and within the Western Balkans group. The memorandum grants Croatia associate status. Croatia will have access to all tenders within FP6 as of January 1.
According to official EU statistics, funds allocated to Croatian partners in 2004 alone amounted to EUR2.2 million, said Primorac.