European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek will pay an official visit to Croatia on Wednesday, during which he will meet with the most senior Croatian officials, Buzek's office said in a statement on Tuesday.
Buzek is expected to meet President Ivo Josipovic, Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor, Parliament Speaker Luka Bebic, Deputy Parliament Speakers Josip Friscic and Zeljka Antunovic, the chair of the Committee monitoring Croatia's EU accession talks, Vesna Pusic, and the co-chair of the Croatia-EU Joint Parliamentary Committee, Marija Pejcinovic Buric.
After Croatia, Buzek will visit Serbia on Thursday and Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday.
"My message for the visit is simple: The door to EU membership is open, but the willingness to enter must be proved through hard facts. Further reforms are needed not only to advance on the European path, but first and foremost for the benefit of the people. They should aim at strengthening the rule of law, regional cooperation and economic competitiveness. Corruption should be attacked at all levels," Buzek stated ahead of the visit.
