Author: Dražen Jakšić, Director, EIHP
Accession to the EU was extremely challenging for Croatia because membership in the EU brings certain obligations, such as adaptation to European regulations and policies, but also significant. Membership in the EU facilitated access to the EU's single market and encouraged foreign investment, creating opportunities for greater economic growth and development. Accession to the EU brought Croatia greater political stability strengthened the rule of law; and in addition to all that, citizens also got new opportunities - the right to free movement within the EU, the possibility of working and living in other EU member states, and more options for education and career development. Croatia has made significant progress in various areas in the past ten years thanks to its membership in the EU, but we must continue. We are still facing the challenges of economic diversification, and there is room for progress in the more profound reform of the judiciary, faster reactions to necessary changes, and the systematic fight against corruption.
As for the Energy Institute Hrvoje Požar, the past decade represented a more intense engagement on common European topics, marked by the creation of energy policies, guidelines and recommendations. One of the key focuses of the Institute was the contribution to the achievement of the energy and climate goals of the EU, especially in the promotion of renewable energy sources, the increase of energy efficiency and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, membership in the EU has facilitated our cooperation with other institutions, research centers and universities across Europe, which has led to new partnerships, knowledge exchange and opportunities for joint projects. At the same time, the Institute supported policymakers at the national level, economic entities, and the public through education and consulting. In addition, membership in the EU increased the influence and visibility of the Institute at the European level. It enabled the mobility of our researchers, as well as access to educational programs within the EU. All this improved the expertise and quality of the work of the researchers at the Institute, which today implements more than 200 international and domestic projects a year, and next year marks its thirtieth birthday.
In the coming period, it is necessary to continue strengthening institutions, continuing the reforms that have started, and participating more actively in making policies and decisions within the EU. Emphasis should be placed on encouraging innovation, more significant investment in education and technological development, and creating quality jobs in high-tech industries. The transformation of the energy sector and the entire economy following the European Green Plan represents a great challenge for our society, so the Institute's support of state institutions and economic entities becomes even more significant. We believe that our actions so far have improved the Croatian energy scene and contributed to joint efforts to create a sustainable, safe and efficient energy future for the entire EU. We will continue working on this more intensively for the next ten or more years.
The text was published in the 151st issue of the EGE magazine.
