Zagreb (IKA) — The range and limits of political consensus in Croatia and the public consensus on economic strategy were the topics discussed by Dr. Ivan Rimac, scientific associate of the Ivo Pilar Institute of Social Sciences in Zagreb, and Dr. Ante Babić, secretary of the Central Government Office for Development Strategy, at the third of this year’s Lenten social tribunes of the Center for the Promotion of the Social Doctrine of the Church. Croatian Conference of Bishops, held on Tuesday, March 16 at the Tribune of the City of Zagreb. Speaking about the range and limits of political consensus in Croatia, Dr. Rimac expressed the opinion that today’s consensus in politics and any other sense, even economic development, is inhibited in the first place by a low degree of confidence among citizens and toward organized forms of public life. He mentioned that no one in this country believes that it is necessary to pay ! taxes because no one believes that there could be any benefit derived from these taxes. Speaking about the Croatian consensus, he concluded that at this moment it rests on something unquestioned, which is the development of the traffic infrastructure in the country and something that is every so often brought into question when we speak about the actual assessment of the political situation, and this is the consensus regarding entering Europe. He noted that there are a series of daily assessments that show wavering in the conviction that Croatia should follow the path of Europe. He pointed out that our conviction that it is necessary to enter Europe is based on several very different arguments. The initial understanding, that it would be necessary to enter Europe because we would derive some benefit, i.e. if Europe includes us in its community, it will develop us with its funds, was replaced by the current resistance that consists of preservation of national identity and! loss of the initial optimism about the development of Croatia with European funds, said Dr. Rimac. He pointed out that at least one phase follows, the understanding that we shall only enter Europe if we develop ourselves. However, he noted that this phase has yet to come. In his opinion, only an awareness of our achievements and opportunities will provide us with an adequate negotiating position toward Europe. He concluded that now, when our relations with Europe are only connected with daily political events or relations that are developing through a series of negotiations, it is evident that there is no powerful public consensus on entering Europe.

Speaking about the public consensus regarding economic strategy, Dr. Babić noted that we all want to live better, to enjoy the prosperity of Europe, because we are well acquainted with this image. However, he says that the only problem in the implementation. Pointing out that the European Union has become an identifier of points of consensus, he cautioned that it is necessary to understand the process that awaits us and that there will also be losers. He expressed the opinion that we should consider entry into the European Union as a motivation for all the levels of society and change ourselves, in order to satisfy ourselves, because, he said, no one wants an unregulated society from Europe. He concluded that all of us want accelerated growth and development based on export, knowledge and entrepreneurship with institutional reform.