The event, organised by the Political Science Research Centre, was addressed by Boris Grigic, a representative of the Foreign Affairs and European Integration Ministry, who said that the ministry and the government were cooperating with EU bodies in dispelling fears and prejudices among Croatians who view the EU with skepticism.
The organiser of the event, Andjelko Milardovic, said that Euro-skepticism was a media term rather than a scientific one and that it was present in all ideological segments of society.
There are two types of Euro-skepticism in Croatia - soft and hardline Euro-skepticism, Milardovic said.
Soft Euro-skepticism is promoted by radical left-wing parties, while its hardline version is present in the populist nationalist rhetoric of radical right-wing parties, Milardovic said.
Euro-skepticism manifests itself as rational and irrational fears of losing sovereignty and identity, of neoliberal market fundamentalism, globalisation and denationalisation, and as a fear of Croatia joining associations similar to the ones from its recent past.
The Zagreb seminar, which continues on Friday, was attended by sociologists and political scientists from Croatia and other countries.