"I raise this glass to toast Croatia's openness to Europe and the world. In the European and world context we represent a small number, which is inversely proportionate to the size of our dream of full freedom for every individual," Milanovic told those present.

"I raise this glass in an invitation to resist fearmongers who spread fear of 'others', of those who are different. That is how we, in essence, understand Europe: a pure heart, not fear, cooperation, not suspicion, acceptance, not closing in a ghetto, trying to understand, without accusing in advance, getting to know, without persisting in prejudice.

"And, finally, I raise this glass in the name of our common future and our shared courage, in the face of numerous challenges of our time, to keep a deep awareness of the irreplaceability of fundamental values, like solidarity and education. This awareness is the only guarantee of having selected the right path to take us to a happier society and a more meaningful living," the Prime Minister said.

President Josipovic said that the accession of Croatia to the EU was not only a dream of a generation of politicians of the new Croatian state coming true, but also a confirmation of citizens' conviction that they belong to the European democratic and cultural circle and the European set of values.

"The Croatian reality, regardless of nuances in which we perceive it, is today completely different from what it was when we set out on the path of independence and building our own state. It is this reality that we are proudly celebrating today," Josipovic said, adding that now was the time to get new forces moving to prove that the undertaking has been worth the effort.

The President thanked the representatives of the EU member states for helping Croatia on its EU path in different ways. He also thanked their citizens for supporting Croatia's EU membership bid.

Josipovic also thanked Croatia's Western Balkan neighbours for coming to Zagreb, stressing that Croatia would support their countries in the EU integration processes. "Croatia's interest for us all together to live in a zone of peace and progress will remain one of our most important political objectives," he said.

"The moment of Croatia's accession to the European Union is a time of many doubts and questioning. In Croatia too, there are similar dilemmas. However, at the end of one stage in Croatia's history and at the beginning of a new, European age for us, there is a prevailing conviction in Croatia that the project of the European Union is a project of the future. We look to Europe as a new opportunity to achieve new democratic, political cultural and any other progress," Josipovic said in his toast.