European prospects can strongly motivate countries of the region, Croatian President Ivo Josipovic said in Paris on Saturday after meeting French President Francois Hollande.
Josipovic is on a visit to Paris, at Hollande's invitation, to take part in the ceremony marking Bastille Day.
During the talks with the French president, Josipovic thanked France on its support during Croatia's EU path.
"The enlargement policy is important for Europe as (the EU) is a peace project," Josipovic said and Hina learnt from a source in the Croatian delegation.
Josipovic and 75 members of the Croatian Armed Forces will be guests of honor at the Bastille Day military parade in Paris on Sunday July 14, Hollande said, adding that this is a sign of friendship and good relations between the two countries.
The two presidents will meet again in Brdo Pri Kranju, Slovenia, on 25 July. Apart from the presidents of the countries of the region, the meeting in Slovenia will also be attended by other heads of state.
Josipovic said Croatia had worked and would continue to work on reconciliation in the region. He expressed satisfaction with the fact that France had seen Croatia as a partner in the enlargement policy in the region.
The two presidents agreed there was room to improve the two countries' cooperation in the economy, security, culture. They also said that after the 'Croatie la voici' project, which was organised in France to present Croatia's culture, a similar project should be organised to present French culture in Croatia.
Hollande said there were many French companies in Croatia, adding however that it would be good if their number was higher.
Josipovic offered his condolences to Hollande over the train derailment that killed at least six people in central France on Friday.
