EU Lecture Series: “What does the EU mean to Croatia?” by the Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia to Japan (6 Nov)

On 6 November 2018 His Excellency Mr. Dražen Hrastić, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Croatia to Japan, gave a special lecture titled “What does the EU mean to Croatia?”. This has been the 10th lecture in the EU Lecture Series.

The lecture was held in the class on “International Relations” that is offered by Professor Kazunari Sakai (Graduate School of Intercultural Studies) in the 4th period. The lecture, which was given in English, first outlined the history and economy of Croatia, the newest EU Member, and highlighted the paramount importance of the EU and NATO membership. EU membership has important implications for Croatia in all areas (politics, economy, security) and the lecture emphasized that for Croatia there is no alternative to the EU and NATO membership. EU is confronted with major challenges of the international politics (such as threats to a liberal rules-based order and multilateral trade mechanisms), with global security challenges (such as terrorism and climate change) and with the challenge of migration crisis that spreads beyond the Mediterranean region, therefore Croatia as an EU Member cooperates with other EU Member States in addressing these challenges. During the question and answer session, students asked H.E. Mr. Hrastić about prospects of further EU enlargement in the Balkans and about the future cooperation between Croatia and Japan.

Prior to the lecture, H.E. Mr. Hrastić paid a courtesy visit to Professor Tetsu Sakurai (Dean of the Graduate School of Intercultural Studies). From Kobe University Prof. Kazunari Sakai and Assoc. Prof. Eva Hanada (Institute for Promoting International Partnerships) attended the meeting. Prof. Sakurai explained the double degree programs, international study programs and exchange with European universities, which are promoted by Kobe University and the Global Studies Program (GSP) which has been implemented since 2017 by the Faculty of Global Human Sciences in order to include all students in overseas studies. H.E. Mr. Hrastić expressed his enthusiasm for further academic cooperation between Croatian Universities and Kobe University.