The European Union is a movement which plays a key role in moving the peoples of all European countries towards European values, said Ofstad. We share the same values and the main challenge today is including all of the Western Balkans into the EU for stability, peace and a successful economic future, he added.
He recalled that in 2012 the Norwegian parliament gave the Nobel Peace Prize to the EU, which this year marks the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II and the lasting peace which he said had put an end to the practice of war being the recipe to deal with conflicts and various interests.
Ofstad received the European speech of the year award, jointly given by the Europe House Zagreb (EDZ) and the European Movement Croatia (EPH), for initiating, organising and keynote addresses at the "Norway and Croatia: Partners in the economy and social development" conference in Zagreb in January, said EDZ president Dubravko Miholic.
On that occasion, Ofstad underlined the importance of investing in human resources and social dialogue, cooperation and joint responsibility for the purpose of economic and social development, as well as civil society's key role in ensuring a stable and democratic society.
A successful civil society requires civic education, tolerance, equality and active citizenship, he said then.
Presenting him with the award, a sculpture by Kresimir Rod symbolising Croatia in the EU, Miholic thanked the ambassador also for his outstanding talk earlier this year on the relationship between Norway and the EU.
Norway is not an EU member but as a member of the European Economic Area it has access to the European economic market and is economically strongly integrated into the EU, with which it has signed a series of agreements, including on borders, immigration and agriculture.
Ofstad's speech was awarded because it promotes the goals and values advocated by the EDZ and the EPH, which for 25 years have been raising awareness in Croatia of the value and necessity of European integration.
The award has been given since 2003 on the occasion of Europe Day. It is the highest award given by European movements within the European Movement International in Brussels. Among the recipients are incumbent President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic when she served as foreign minister, former presidents Stjepan Mesic and Ivo Josipovic, former prime minister Ivo Sanader, former Slovakian ambassador Jan Petrik, Croatian National Bank governor Boris Vujcic, Zagreb Mayor Milan Bandic, and Institute for Danube Region and Central Europe Chairman Erhard Busek.