Zagreb, (IKA) — Our approach to the European community must not become a game of political rivalry. It is a matter of the national good and our future, particularly the future of our children and young people, said the archbishop of Zagreb, Msgr. Josip Bozanic, in an interview published on January 17 in the Croatian daily newspaper Vecernji list. In this interview, in which Archbishop Bozanic spoke about Croatia’s approach to the European Union, he said that everything in the EU is not completely idea but the zone outside is gray and poorly protected.

In response to a question concerning the extent to which the domestic political situation helps or hinders Croatia’s approach to the EU, the archbishop said that here as in other areas, good results primarily depend upon ourselves, our unity and common position. Unity and a clearly presentable common position are our best recommendations, said the archbishop, pointing out that sometimes there is the impression that everything in Croatia is being instrumentalized, including national interests. In Croatia, there is an urgent need to define the general national good, which must be protected and furthered by all the parliamentary political parties and must not become a subject for cheap political points by individual leaders, warned the archbishop.

In response to the question whether moving toward the EU requires a national consensus, the archbishop replied that it does, noting that it seems to him that in our country there is a lack of knowledge concerning what is required of us and what we have to do on the path toward the EU. It can certainly be concluded that the attitude among the public is wide open toward the EU. The alternative is a wagon in which the so-called west Balkans are left behind. Croatia is able to help the more rapid integration of its neighbors into the EU said the archbishop. In this process, he sees an important role for the media, but cautions that in Croatia the media is quite closed. “Try to analyze how many European topics were presented in our mass media during the past year. I am thinking concretely: to what extent did we follow the attempts of our neighbors on their paths toward the EU? To what extent do we already know their positive and less positive experiences?” said the archbishop, noting that when the range of our media focus expands, the need for fantastic combinations and imprecise interpretations of events in the society and the Church disappears.

In response to a question whether the archbishop supports the decision by the Government to submit Croatia for candidacy to the EU, he pointed out that in December a high official of the Holy See asked the President of Croatia why we were lagging so far behind on the path toward the EU. In the opinion of the archbishop, it is important not to lose time today and therefore the help of everyone who can do something for the common good is needed.

In reference to the support which Croatian aspirations receive from the Holy Father and the Holy See, the archbishop said that on several occasions the Holy Father has emphasized the need for the Europeanization of the EU as soon as possible, so that the EU will become a common house for all Europeans. In this sense, Croatia can and should count on the support of the Holy Father and the Holy See, said the archbishop, adding that the Holy See recognizes and appreciates the role of Croatian culture and civilization in Europe’s past and present.

Archbishop Bozanic also referred to his recent meetings with the president of the European Commission, Romano Prodi, both personal and as part of the delegation of the Central European Catholic Day. Although there was reference to Croatia at the meeting with the delegates, the archbishop spoke personally with President Prodi before and after the meeting, which was not the case with the other representatives of the bishops’ conferences. The archbishop stated that he presented the position of the Crotian episcopate to President Prodi regarding European integration and the historical, cultural, religious and social links between Croatia and the countries that are about to enter the EU. In these conversations, the archbishop had the impression that President Prodi was favorably disposed to Croatia’s application for membership in the EU and that Croatia was now in a better position to achieve this goal than the European countries that had not applied for membership.

In reference to the significance of the Central European Catholic Day for Croatia, Archbishop Bozanic said that he wants to inaugurate various initiatives for developing stronger links among the participating countries, i.e. among citizens-believers, which in itself will contribute to better connections with Europe. Thus, a new European consciousness will be formed that values and promotes our common cultural heritage. We who are still not candidates for the EU can greatly profit from the experiences of our neighboring countries that are candidates, concluded Archbishop Bozanic.