˝It is very important to inform constituents not only about the structure, functioning and role of the European Parliament, but also the importance of their vote, because the European Parliament is the only body of the European Union in which the members are directly elected,˝ stressed Šuica.

The meeting of the Presidency of the European People's Party ( EPP), the largest group in the European Parliament, is being held today in Amsterdam. The main topics are the social market economy, sustainability and energy challenges in cities and regions, and an especially important topic, how to increase voter turnout, since turnout in European Parliament elections is low in most of the member countries and in Croatia only 20 per cent came out to vote.

The conference was opened by the newly elected President of the EPP, Joseph Daul, former Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenede, and Michel Barnier, European Commissioner for the Internal Market. MEP and Head of the Croatian EPP delegation, Dubravka Šuica, is also participating in the conference. ˝Europe is not Brussels, Europe is the concern for our citizens, Europe is the future of our country, Europe is new jobs for youth, Europe is sustainability, a common market and Europe is a better life for our citizens˝, said Šuica.