The centre aims to introduce citizens to the impact of European legislation on daily life, the work of EU institutions and current European topics in an interactive and engaging way.
"Even in today's digital world, in-person contact is necessary, so we have offered citizens a meeting place," said Maja Ljubić Kutnjak, head of the EP Office in Zagreb, adding that organised groups of citizens from different parts of Croatia are also expected to visit the centre.
The Experience Europe centre will officially open its doors to visitors on 8 March. It will operate seven days a week and entry will be free of charge.
"For over ten years in Croatia, the European Parliament Office has been connecting with civil society institutions, the media and educational establishments, and this is yet another step closer to jointly evaluating what the European Union truly is," said Ljubić Kutnjak.
Citizens participated in creating the centre’s content. In the section "Europe in Everyday Life", 40 stories from citizens across the EU showcase how their private and professional lives have changed since becoming EU citizens.
The centre features a room where visitors can take on the role of members of the European Parliament - debating in committees and engaging in discussions with other member states.
This space is designed for citizens of all EU member states, with all content available in the EU's 24 official languages.
Visitors will also have the opportunity to experience a day in the life of an MEP through virtual reality glasses, which simulate their daily work, learn about the roles of the Council of the EU, the Commission and Parliament, and hear stories from European cities.
The first such centre opened in Berlin in 2016, followed by 14 other European capitals.