On December 9, 2024, students of sociology, demography, and Croatian diaspora studies from the Faculty of Croatian Studies attended lectures at the Office of the European Parliament in Croatia.

On this occasion, lectures were organized by the Croatian Member of the European Parliament, Assoc. Prof. Tomislav Sokol, and the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain to the Republic of Croatia, His Excellency Juan González-Barba. The Croatian MEP, Assoc. Prof. Tomislav Sokol, elucidated to the students and other attendees the functioning of the European Union institutions, Croatia's political position, and various intricacies related to the procedures for adopting EU directives and regulations. Within his roles across several committees of the European Parliament, he outlined the EU's main priorities in the areas of the internal market, sustainable development policies, geopolitical guidelines, consumer protection, and various issues related to migration and security. The Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain to the Republic of Croatia, His Excellency Mr. Juan González-Barba, delivered a lecture on the concepts of European and national identities and the overall significance of identity in the contemporary global context. Drawing on geographical, historical, and political characteristics, Ambassador González-Barba engagingly explained the diversity of European regions and shared biographical sketches from his extensive diplomatic career.

Following the lectures, there ensued a question session from the students and a dynamic discussion on the contemporary challenges of the European Union, primarily regarding foreign policy, economic, and migration issues.

The interactive lectures are part of the activities pursuant to the Cooperation Agreement signed between the Office of the European Parliament in Croatia and the Faculty of Croatian Studies at the University of Zagreb in September of this year, initiated by Assoc. Prof.  Andreja Sršen from the Department of Sociology. The goal of such activities is to acquaint students with current changes in the process of European integration and the priorities of the European Union.

The event was also supported and enhanced by the attendance of the Acting Head of the European Parliament Office in the Republic of Croatia, Ms. Maja Ljubić Kutnjak, the Advisor to the President of the Republic of Croatia for Foreign and European Policy, Mr. Neven Pelicarić, the Acting Dean of the Faculty of Croatian Studies, Assoc. Prof. Tomislav Krističević, and Mr. Ivo Antunović, Public Relations Advisor at the Office of the European Parliament in the Republic of Croatia.