Great expectations

Those who are convinced that Croatia will officially join the EU only July 1st 2013 could be surprised by the fact that Europe is already here. In fact, in Trogir, a city 28 km away from Spalato, has been marked by an international atmosphere for a long time. This is because the municipal administration over the years ratified over 30 twinnings with Italian, Hungarian, cities and from other Countries. "Alone we are nothing, but by uniting our forces and helping one another, as only friends can do, we will grow . We yearn for a better future, a future that for Croatia will soon be European", the mayor of Trogir Damir Rilje told Nike Giurlani, SIR Europe correspondent. The city of Trogir, like many other Croatian cities, has been engaged in the enhancement of its strategic economic sectors. "Only if we are guided by common rules, with a synergic action, will we be able to aim at ambitious objectives at national and local level".The last efforts. Europe seems ready to welcome this new member, as it emerges from the latest report drawn up by the EU Commission on enlargement (October 2012). Croatia complies with required political criteria, but it "should make a last effort in the areas of competition, justice and fundamental rights". At economic level it can count on "functioning market economy". But "the implementation of urgent measures that may enable Croatia to address the pressure of competition – states the report – and market forces within the EU in the short term" is necessary , state the authors of the report". These include "the privatization of the boatyard Brodosplit that would enable to complete the restructuring in the field of the Croatian naval construction". On this front the negotiations reached a good point and in a few months will become official. The naval boatyard sector. It is located on the doors of Trogir at it covers and area of 170 thousand square meters, "near which will soon be also created a harbour for yachts", the mayor told SIR Europe. "Established in 1944, it has always been a key sector of Croatian economy, especially for Trogir, where on a population of some 14 thousand, as many as 13000 work in the Brodosplit boatyard". Thanks to its advanced, innovative technologies, "the company can count on a portfolio of international customers, most of whom are from Norway, Sweden, Russia and Germany – underlines the general manager, Mateo Tramontana – with growing requests also from Arab countries". Another third sector. Another strong point of of Croatia is tourism, which according to statistics for the first six months of the year saw an increase of 6% compared to last year. Good results at national level, followed by as many locally. “During high season Trogir has been awarded second place in the ranking of the most visited medium-small destinations" notes the director of the Tourist Office of Trogir, Ivana Pavla. Not only seaside tourism, concentrated in the period from June to August, but also naturalistic and cultural tourism. It is no coincidence that Trogir has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage register. For several years, moreover, religious tourism is growing considerably and “almost 90% of the faithful directed to Medjugorje, 150 km from Trogir, on the island of Èiovo make a stop to visit the Convent of S. Cross and the Church of Our Lady of Prizidnica”, says the owner of the hotel Sv.Križ, Silvana Karaèiæ. Future forecasts. Croatia is in a period of historic transition and for many the entry into the EU is an essential step to counter public debt, which amounts to almost 100% of GDP, in order to boost economic growth, estimated for 2011 to 0,5%, and to prevent the increase in unemployment, accounting for 17.5%. Part of Croatian public opinion fears that the current financial difficulties of the European Union will result in a reduced inflow of structural funds. “Fueling this perspective are often the media that emphasize the eurozone crisis – says Vjesuceslav Pejša, europlanning expert- passing over on opportunities offered to European citizens, for example, the possibility for young people to study and train abroad". Democracy, Christian values. To the youth is addressed the worried glance of the general vicar of the archdiocese of Split -Makarska, Fr Ivan Èubesiæ, looks with fear to the crisis in the concept of democracy. “Europe needs a reaffirmation of Christian values, those very values ​​that animated the work of the founding fathers, who wanted to give the Christian imprint also to the flag of the EU: blue as the Virgin’s mantle and with the 12 stars that in Catholic iconography make up the crown of the Virgin Mary".