Informing and educating about the EU |
A total of 148,000 copies of free publications distributed
In 2009, activities related to the Communication Strategy Aimed at Informing the Croatian Public about the European Union and Preparations for EU Membership continued.
The project Europe in Croatia – The Euro Info Point Network was extended to 18 new info points (in Zadar, Split, Grubišno Polje, Opatija, two info points in Zagreb, Čazma, Garešnica, Pitomača, Karlovac, Prelog, Osijek, Novi Vinodolski, Gospić, Vukovar, Trnovac, Bednja and Turčin). The network has grown to a total of 128 info points throughout Croatia. Another important project is the info phone line “Hello, EU” which enables citizens to obtain information about the European Union and the integration process in Croatia by dialling a toll-free phone number (0800 622 622). In 2009, 24,500 calls were recorded. Co-operation continued with electronic and print media at national and local levels, regarding the presentation of topics related to the European Union and the process of Croatia's accession to the EU. Regular co-operation with radio networks was ensured through the radio show “EU news” and with the daily paper Vjesnik in the preparation of the weekly supplement “Croatia and the EU”. As part of
the co-operation with non-governmental organisations, the Ministry financed 15 projects aimed at informing and educating citizens about the EU and the integration process, and participated in NGO projects like seminars and lectures.
Six new publications were issued: the second edition of Croatia on the Road to the European Union and the counterpart French and German editions La Croatie en route vers l'Union européenne and Kroatien auf dem Weg in die Europäische Union; the bilingual Croatian – English appointment calendar for 2010 titled Facts about Croatia / Upoznajte Hrvatsku; and Croatian and English editions of the National Programme for the Integration of the Republic of Croatia into the European Union 2009.
The central celebration of Europe Week which on the 9 May marked Europe Day, was held on the Cvjetni Trg in Zagreb and at the Bundek Lake in Zagreb. As in previous years, the Ministry participated in the EU Bus project of the Delegation of the European Commission, which visited ten Croatian towns (Supetar, Knin, Karlovac, Čakovec, Koprivnica, Virovitica, Vinkovci and Zagreb). In co-operation with county councils for European integration and civil society
organisations, Europe Week was marked by special programmes, distribution of publications and special shows broadcast on local radio programmes. In 2009, the Ministry participated in the organisation of the conference “EU Days” at the Faculty of Economics in Zagreb titled “Five years after enlargement – experience of new EU Member States“. During Europe Week, 3,500 free copies of promotional material and 37,000 publications were distributed to citizens. In total, 148,000 copies of free publications were distributed. In addition, the Ministry's web pages regularly publish news and other content related to the EU and the integration process in Croatia.
Educational programmes encompassing 2,700 civil servants
Efficient state administration, trained to tackle all the challenges of future membership and to act effectively in the area of European public administration, is one of the key criteria for accession to the European Union, which gains its full meaning through membership and active participation in all structures and activities of the European Union. In light of these facts, in 2009, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration continued with the implementation of a number of diverse training activities targeted primarily at state officials, as well as the regional and local self-
government, pupils, students, teachers and the non-governmental sector. The abovementioned activities encompassed over 2,700 participants, the backbone being three different but compatible training projects: a cycle of seminars entitled “The ABC of the EU”, projects within the framework of bilateral cooperation with partners from EU Member States and the Kingdom of Norway as a member of the European Economic Area, and the Croatian Government programme for scholarships in post-graduate European studies abroad. In 2009, 43 seminars were organised at the state level and 2 at the regional and local levels in 8 modules of the cycle of seminars entitled “The ABC of the EU”.
Given that at the beginning of 2009, the first call for expression of interest for employment of Croatian citizens in EU institutions as contract agents was published, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration additionally intensified training activities related to the preparation for the testing and the selection process for these posts. About 100 citizens were able to participate in a three day preparatory seminar conducted by French experts. Basic information about the selection tests were published on the Ministry's website. A special conference was dedicated to the topic of employment of Croatian citizens in the institutions of the European Union. The aim of the conference was to draw attention of Croatian officials and higher
management structures to the benefits and needs for appropriate staff planning, faced with the prospect of a number of civil servants leaving for posts in EU institutions.
In line with several years of practice, youth training continued through the “European Integration Summer School”, attended by some forty Croatian high school students and their teachers. In co-operation with the Hanns Seidel Foundation, the “European Integration Winter School” was organised for about 50 students studying at Croatian Universities. Some faculties announced the possibility of awarding participants of the “Winter School” with ECTS points. Twelve informative lectures on the basic goals of the European integration process and on the development of relations between the Republic of Croatia and the European Union were organised as part of the celebration of Europe Week. The lectures were attended by 500 pupils and students.
As part of bilateral cooperation with France, Ireland, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Norway, three seminars were held in Croatia and Croatian civil servants were also given the opportunity to
participate in 19 seminars and courses abroad on specific topics related to European integration issues. In co-operation with the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe, 3 seminars and 1 workshop were organised in Trieste and Zagreb respectively, as part of the UniDem seminar project. Co-operation with the International Organisation of La Francophonie have resulted in the organisation of French language courses for civil servants, attended by 180 civil servants each year.
The seventh international conference “Learning Europe” entitled “Challenges of Learning and Communicating in the European Context” was held at the Plitvice Lakes on 26 and 27 October. It was supported financially by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and the Regional School of Public Administration. The conference gathered experts from Croatian public administration and the administrations of other countries in the region. Together with their counterparts from EU Member States they discussed the position of the state within the European context, national coordination of European affairs, the need for lifelong learning and the training and preparation of citizens for work in EU institutions.
In 2009, five scholarships for the academic year 2009/2010 were granted to civil servants through the scholarship programme for post-graduate European studies in the field of EU economy and multidisciplinary European studies. Approximately HRK
700,000 were allocated. At the same time, 22 scholarship recipients, all of whom had successfully graduated in their study programmes, continued their work or started working in state administration bodies of the Republic of Croatia.
Bilateral relations with EU Member States and EFTA Member States