Opening the 14th Europe Week, we have reached the point at which Croatia is 56 days from EU membership, Pusic said, recalling that the past 12 years had focused on building and stabilising institutions and the state.
It is important to understand the EU as an area that we organise together with our friends and partners, she added.
Vandoren said the 14th Europe Week had special significance because it was the last before Croatia's EU accession on July 1.
During the accession process, the EU Delegation closely cooperated with the foreign ministry and the main task was to follow the government during the negotiations and help it strengthen administrative capacities. It was an exciting process full of challenges, he said.
EU membership brings many opportunities but there will be challenges as well. The EU is still being built and Croatia will have the opportunity to participate in that, said Vandoren.
Speaking of the European Commission's new directive on the marketing of seed and plant propagating material, Pusic said new topics were being raised in the EU every day, including the possibility of revoking the Common Agricultural Policy.
Everything depends on Croatia's engagement, she said.
Vandoren said membership would give Croatia the possibility to shape European policies, including that on agricultural seed, but stressed that consensus was key for achieving compromise.
He said Croatia would benefit more from some European policies and less from others, recalling that Croatia would have the opportunity to utilise its chances if it was ready.
As of July 1, the European Union will also be Croatia, he said.
As part of Europe Week in Zagreb, Pusic and Vandoren opened the "I am the citizen of the EU" multimedia exhibition, which closes on May 11 and then moves to Split, Osijek and Rijeka. Last Friday, European Film Days were opened. After May 11, the films will be shown in Rijeka, Pula, Split, Novska and Dubrovnik. Admission to all Europe Week events is free of charge.