Vandoren congratulated them on their appointment and underlined the role they would play in the European Parliament in accordance with the Treaty of Lisbon, saying that Croatian citizens would be in a unique position that would enable them to enjoy the advantages of the Danube Strategy and the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative.
Vandoren said the observers should contribute so that Croatia continued to meet the commitments which it undertook upon the completion of the EU accession negotiations, and highlighted their role in the ratification of Croatia's Accession Treaty in EU member countries.
Croatia's accession, at a time when the EU must respond to the challenges of the economic and financial crisis, will show that the EU has the strength to pursue the integration process also in difficult times and will send a positive signal to the entire region that reforms will be rewarded, Vandoren said, adding that Croatia had to make a long journey in a short time and that it could be proud of its accomplishments.