Branka Ribicic and friends, U3A at POUZ, Zagreb, Croatia

I wanted to find out what some of my friends and acquaintances think and how they feel about Europe. So, I asked them. This questionnaire isn’t a vote for or against the European Union. These are simply experiences of my friends – those who live in the EU and those who live in Croatia, which is currently in pre-accession negotiations. Common for all of them are experience of living in Croatia and/or in the former Yugoslavian region.

“Since Slovenia became a member state of the EU I have had more opportunities for professional growth and international cooperation than earlier. Among other things I attended an excellent screenwriting workshop and script contest (Scripteast) funded by the EU Media programme, which included meetings with renowned European filmmakers at the festivals of Berlin and Cannes. I enjoy travelling without borders through Europe and the common currency is very practical, although most of the prices have doubled in our country after the introduction of the Euro.”

Vedrana Grisogono Nemes (57), screenwriter and journalist from Ljubljana, Slovenia

“The EU brought us both good and bad things. The good ones are: political and economical balance with the US, the opening of the borders and the Schengen Agreement, the international court of justice, the open market and the introduction of the Euro which makes our payments easier. But we must consider negative sides, too. We can see that life expenses have been doubled since the adoption of the Euro. Statistics deny it, but I think that this is because statistics considers all prices, including those of merchandise that are not important for everyday life. Bureaucracy is very expensive. There is a problem of adjusting the needs of 27 different nations with different economical and political systems (East-West). In my opinion, Romania, Bulgaria and some other countries were associated too early; they are far away from democracy and their development costs a lot of money. There is also a problem with some of the EU commission decisions which are wrong and decided upon without enough competence. I am sure that in the future all problems will be solved so that we can feel that we are one united Europe.”

Zlatan Cvjetic (62), entrepreneur from Munich, Germany

“In the seminar ‘ABC of the EU’, which was organized by the Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integrations for the training of civil servants in the matters of European integration and Croatia’s EU accession, I found out that civil servants in the developed EU countries have possibilities of lifelong learning and that learning new skills and work excellence are rewarded with promotions. I can see that those values are partly implemented in Croatia, however, I’m looking forward to seeing it fully implemented after the accession.”

Sanja Ribičić Radić (45), civil servant from Zagreb, Croatia

“Martin Luther King said: ‘I have a dream.’ I say: ‘I believe in that dream.’ You might ask why? I’m more or less 60 years old and my life is predictable. My pension, without help from aside, is not enough for the mere survival but that is an old story, like all the stories from the transition countries. The only thing that is left to me is my dignity and they try to take even that away from me. I have a constitutional right to live from my work. If you think that I want to go to Europe because of the possibility of a bigger pension, you are wrong. I’m in Europe already if we judge by roots, culture, knowledge, tolerance toward different ethnic groups and other races. I’ve always considered myself a part of it. I don’t have big illusions, I even acknowledge that life after the accession will be harder and more expensive because we sold our treasures in exchange for one Kuna (Croatian currency), and we are servants now. It is easier to be a servant to Europe than to Stef (a common Croatian name) who is portrayed with one hand at his heart (symbolically showing patriotism) while he’s putting goods with the other hand in his pocket. We are a small country and we are obviously incapable of putting an end to corruption, nepotism and stealing. We are a small pond with muddy water, a place where everybody knows everyone. I believe that one day, when we are a part of the EU, justice and laws will be applied equally to all, and that borders will exist only in our minds. I believe that the Norwegian and the Inuit will be my brothers and I would do anything to help them if they need my help. I believe in the united Europe, a land of peace and justice for all. Europe is in my heart.”

Smiljana Špika Prskalo (60), pensioner from Zagreb, Croatia

“I often ask myself what it was, that the EU has brought us. In my opinion, it brought us a lot; we received ‘the whole package’. There were some positive changes and some negative ones. For me, the most important gain was the freedom of movement. For example, I traveled with my friend from the UK last year. It was a pleasure not to be stopped by anybody, not even for speeding (ha, ha, ha). I know that for you, being from Croatia, that is not as fascinating as it is for us because you hadn’t been living behind the ‘”iron curtain”. For us the freedom of movement is important; and more than that, we don’t feel any more like “some poor people”, but a nation that is equal to all other European nations (with the developed ones). I’m not in the position to judge how the accession influenced the standard in general. Almost all my friends are well-off and I think that accession helped them. I don’t know for sure how the majority is doing. I can see there is a lot of construction going on; Bratislava is developing rapidly and as far as I know it became the 13^th most expensive town in the world (somewhere near Barcelona). I don’t know why we have such a ‘high standard’ – I don’t know why is living so expensive.”

Lubomira Peručičova (50), artist from Bratislava, Slovakia

“I don’t think that the European Union will bring us any good. First of all, it will mean the increase of import and I think that the prices for health care and education will increase, too. At the same time salaries will decrease. I’m afraid that, once in the EU, we will sell out the rest of our national treasures to foreigners.”

Martina Poje (30), unemployed economist from Zagreb

“I’m happy about Slovakia being a part of the EU. Mostly because I feel it is for the benefit of our country, especially now that the Euro is the official Slovak currency. I think life is easier, there is more social security, food prices are even lower than before and I see all the opportunities for Slovakia to develop by using European funds. Social justice and ecology are now on a higher level. I see the EU as a union of solidarity and a better future. I’m not mentioning the freedom to travel without being stopped for customs and border controls – it goes without saying!”

Anton Smolinsky (75), pensioner from Bratislava, Slovakia

“There’s been a lot of talking about freedom of movement as the most valuable EU achievement. I travelled a lot and I hope I will travel again in the future, but I never found it difficult to show my passport to a customs officer. My expectations regarding the EU aren’t high. The accession will bring us good as well as bad things but my hopes concern mostly the sorting out of our legal system and the fight against corruption.”

Marinko Grbin (65), mechanical engineer from Zagreb, Croatia

“I think that the EU will bring better mobility for the students and workers, with the abolition of the borders. But it will also bring increased cost of health care and education. I’m afraid of cultural assimilation not only of the Croatians but of the other small nations, too.”

Marina Poje (26), PhD. Sci. Physics from Osijek, Croatia