Bestowing the decoration on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of Croatia's independence, Mesic highlighted Friedrich's contribution to the strengthening of Croatia's ties with processes in united Europe, stressing that united Europe was the future of both Croatia and Southeast Europe.
Croatia shares the ideals of united Europe, in which big and small states for the first time do not fight but make decisions through democratic mechanisms in joint institutions, and in which minorities do not divide but link states because there is no majority people in united Europe, said Mesic.
Friedrich said the decoration was a big honour for him, but also an obligation to further intensify cooperation between Croatia and the European Parliament.
Every nation has its place at the European table and this is why cooperation should continue, so that Croatia could join the EU and its citizens be able to elect their deputies to the European Parliament as soon as possible, said Friedrich.
A Christian Democrat from Bavaria, Friedrich is a member of the European People's Party, the most numerous in the European Parliament. He has been Parliament Vice President since 1999.