"The interest in Croatia is great, but we have to adapt our environment to the European Union," Mesic said, adding that in talks at London City, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the British-Croatian Chamber of the Economy he also heard complaints about slow administration and red tape, which discourage greater investment in Croatia.
Mesic said the people he talked to over the past two days were also interested in the situation in Serbia and Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Kosovo status issue.
He added his visit should also be viewed in light of the recently launched negotiations with the European Union. "Europe is uniting and must unite, and this most developed part of Europe has to accept the countries in transition as an area in which one must invest so as to have one acceptable market tomorrow".
Mesic said he tried to assure his hosts at London City and the EBRD that developed countries which invested in countries in transition were investing in their own development.
The nongovernmental and nonprofit British-Croatian Chamber of the Economy was set up in 1998. It has some 20 members and its main goal is to promote economic relations via trade, investment and financial activities. Mesic met people from companies doing business with Croatia, such as Bond Tours, and from London branches of Croatian companies such as Croatia Airlines, Varteks and INA.
Mesic also granted interviews to the Times and the Economist.