According to Croatian MEP Picula, the intergroup for islands comprises 82 MEPs from various political groups in 21 countries who are connected with the ambition of helping islands and coastal regions where the population is particularly vulnerable.
"Statistics are on our side and the European Union has the institutions where we need to create a link between what Croatia has and what the EU offers. It is important to think about the economy because that is the only way we can keep people on the islands," Picula said.
He assessed that agriculture, tourism and fishing were not sufficient and that new models and methods need to be designed that will help islanders and attract new people to the islands. "This visit is the first attempt at trying to apply the good results achieved by other European island countries without too much philosophising and transfer that practise to Croatia," he underscored.
Meissner explained that she wished to see the situation of Croatian islands first hand and how people think and what challenges they are faced with.
I am aware of the significance the Adriatic-Ionian strategy has for Croatian islands and I believe that the intergroup should conduct a meeting in Croatia to discuss better connections with the islands and to improve ties as the European Parliament is in fact discussing better ways to connect the north and south. The aim is not to have everyone move to West Europe and large cities, the aim is to set normal living conditions in all communities, she said ahead of a planned tour of several islands off Zadar.