http://www.euronews.com/ This week, I Talk will discusses Croatia’s upcoming EU accession with Mario Nobilo, Croatia’s ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg.

Isabelle Kumar, euronews:

“A spiralling debt crisis, record high unemployment, low trust – it’s a wonder anyone would want to join the EU. But after more than ten years of tough negotiations, Croatia has managed to achieve just that, and July 1st looks set to be its date with destiny.

Joining me to discuss this and take your questions is a man who’s been very much part of those entry negotiations: Croatia’s ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg, Mario Nobilo.”

Isabelle Kumar, euronews:

“Ambassador, many thanks for joining us here on I Talk. We’re going to go to our first question now, which comes from Hungary.”

Question from Böbe, Hungary:

“Hello, I’m from Hungary. In your opinion, why is it good for Croatians to become members of the EU?”

Isabelle Kumar, euronews:

“It’s a very good question isn’t it? Because Europe is hardly the most attractive proposal at the moment…”

Mario Nobilo, Croatian Ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg:

“Well, we believe there is no alternative to Croatian membership to the EU. Historically, we belong to Europe. Also, Croatia is a post-conflict country and the European project is also a project of peaceful cooperation, so there is a message beyond our membership: the stability of the region. And here we have Croatia, a country, a new member with a special task towards the region.”

Isabelle Kumar, euronews:

“But Croatia is not in good shape either: your unemployment figures are high, your growth is low, and your investment potential is junk. How can you convince or reassure Europeans that you’re not going to be the next country that needs a bail-out?”

Mario Nobilo, Croatian Ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg:

“Well, indeed. But most of Europe is in crisis, in a recession. And also Croatia is a post-conflict country, we spent billions of euro to rebuild the country after the war. And also, the costly negotiations over the EU have cost our economy a lot. But on the other hand, Croatia, during the Nineties and beyond, proved its vitality, its ability to liberate itself, to rebuild itself, and also to pass through tough negotiations with the EU. We are the first country of the new generation of acceding countries that is entering alone.”

Isabelle Kumar, euronews:

“So no bail-out then? You can categorically say that that is off the cards?”

Mario Nobilo, Croatian Ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg:

“I believe so, because our structural problems are different to those that the EU is facing today in Cyprus or in Greece. They are more or less a consequence of triple transition from war to peace, from one system to another, and there’s partly also the negotiations with the EU. But again, our potential is great, we have 70 percent of European average, so I don’t believe Croatia is going to be a new problem, in a financial or any sense, for the EU, on the contrary.”

Isabelle Kumar, euronews:

“And joining the euro, when is that going to happen?”

Mario Nobilo, Croatian Ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg:

“Well, that depends very much on the ability and decision of Croatia, the timing, of course, is crucial. It will probably take some time. But in that aspect too, we are euro-enthusiastic, we will join the euro one day, we believe this crisis is temporary, it’s going to pass, and our next aim is to enter the Schengen area in several years.”

Isabelle Kumar, euronews:

“Ok, we’re going to go to our next question and that question comes from Croatia.”

Question from Marina and Nives, Croatia:

“Why is the idea of post-accession monitoring undertaken by Croatian institutions for the sake of sustainability of reforms treated as an insult to the nation rather than Croatia’s ID as an EU member committed and proactive in promoting the rule of law?”

Isabelle Kumar, euronews:

“So post-accession monitoring… it’s kind of a fair enough thing to want to do. Europe is in enough trouble as it is. Is it deemed an insult?”

Mario Nobilo, Croatian Ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg:

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