"The European Parliament, which in its beginnings was only an advisory assembly, today, after the Treaty of Lisbon, has transformed into a true co-creator of the European policy and in more than 80 areas, together with the Council of the EU, it creates the European policy. To be part of such a democratic mechanism is an honour and an obligation," said Tonino Picula of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
He said he would participate in the work of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Subcommittee on Security.
Said Andrej Plenkovic of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), "We can use the observer status in two ways, by helping with the timely ratification of the Accession Treaty, by explaining to our colleagues that Croatia is implementing the commitments they follow in the European Commission's monitoring reports. And the other way is to closely follow all the current European topics which will certainly be part of the current topics in Croatia as well."
Plenkovic said he would like to work in the Committee on Budgets, which he said was a very important committee for Croatia "because negotiations are under way on a seven-year budgetary framework in which we will see the European Union's priorities and find out which funds from the European budget Croatia can count on."
Milorad Pupovac of the Independent Democratic Serb Party (SDSS) said the arrival of Croatian MPs in the European Parliament "should give new strength to our parliament, our parliamentarism, and new strength to Croatia, given that decisions on Croatia and its interests will be made here and Croatia will be able to decide about others."
Pupovac said he would like to work in the Committee on Budgets.
Boro Grubisic of the HDSSB party appeared in Strasbourg in a Slavonian folk costume. "I wanted to tell Europe that we are not ashamed of our Croatianhood, our customs, our Slavonia, that we have something to offer and that they should admire us."
Croatia signed the EU Accession Treaty on December 9, 2011 and will join on July 1, 2013, by which time Croatian representatives participate in the work of European institutions as observers. Upon accession, they will be equal participants. A special election will have to be organised for the European Parliament, to which 12 Croatian deputies will be elected.