Drnovsek Says the World Needs a Strong Europe

Zagreb, 05 April

President Janez Drnovsek insists that Europe must complete the tasks of adopting the constitutional treaty and pursuing enlargement. This is about the future of Europe and the world, which needs a strong Europe, he told the Crans Montana Forum in Zagreb on Wednesday.

"There can be no enlargement fatigue," stressed Drnovsek, who said he was pleased that Croatia, which is a good candidate country, has started membership talks.
Addressing a panel on Croatia as a gateway to SE Europe, the president also underlined that other countries in the region need to be given the opportunity to join the EU, as there is no alternative to this process.
Drnovsek said the old EU members should strengthen efforts towards the adoption of the constitutional treaty. The politicians there must speak honestly to their citizens about the benefits of enlargement, rather than blame Brussels for everything bad.
The president moreover underlined the EU's role in global stability, peace and prosperity. "We have to tackle issues such as poverty and climate change. Terrorism stems from the conviction that the world is unjust; we most do something about that as well."
However, Drnovsek pointed out that police and security measures are not enough, as a solution needs to be found for all people in the world. This is why the world needs a stronger EU, which will guarantee security, prosperity and peace in Europe and then in the world, he stressed.
The panel was also addressed by the founder of the Crans Montana Forum, Jean Paul Carteron, Croatian PM Ivo Sanader and Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel.

Drnovsek Says the World Needs a Strong Europe

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