Zagreb is hosting on October 8-11 the first international conference of Southeast European students dedicated to the EU's future, organised by the World Academy of Art and Science among others.
The conference brought together many prominent figures from Croatia and Europe. It began with a talk by former Romanian President Emil Constantinescu and will end on Friday with talks by former Croatian President Stjepan Mesic and Croatia's member of the European Parliament Tonino Picula.
In his talk "The Levant, the Mediterranean and the Future of the EU," Constantinescu said Europe should get over but not forget its past and promote common European values, solidarity and respect for diversity as well as a society of know-how based on culture to counterbalance a globalised society led by the desire for profit.
Speaking of economic cooperation in Southeast Europe, Croatian Chamber of Commerce president Nadan Vidosevic said that apart from common values and culture, the development of individual states and the EU required a strong institutional structure which protected general interests.
He called on young people to resist manipulation and to take an active part in building their future.