Debate on the future of the European Union: Croatia - Leaving the shadows of the past behind

The European Parliament continued its series of debates with invited European leaders on the Future of Europe with the visit of the Prime Minister of Croatia, Andrej Plenković. Greens/EFA co-president Ska Keller used her speech to raise questions regarding widening social inequality and environmental concerns in Croatia.

“The European Union is founded on the aim of preventing wars and putting nationalism behind us. However, in Croatia many cling to the past. Croatia must overcome the shadows of the past and learn to prosper together with its old enemies.

Despite economic progress, inequality in Croatia is widening. This worrying trend is visible in many EU Member States. The European Union is based on the promise of a prosperous future for everybody. We urgently need to address social injustice if we are to keep the European Union together.

Croatia must do more to protect its exceptional environment. I urge Prime Minister Plenković to reconsider his plans for the LNG terminal in the Northern Adriatic and for huge golf courses which would be deeply damaging for the environment and local businesses."