You need to be fit and flexible to be the public face of European diplomacy. EuroparlTV followed Paul Vandoren, the EU’s ambassador to Croatia in his daily duties. His chief mission is to ensure Zagreb becomes the 28th member of the European Union.

The EU’s man in Croatia

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/15043602/N001-100413-003-EN.srt

Being an EU ambassador   keeps you on your toes.

My name is Paul Vandoren.   I'm Belgian, and I grow up in Flanders,

Here we have one very clear objective:   the accession of Croatia

as the 28th Member State to   the European Union,

so my role is basically to accompany this   process of negotiations

by liaising with the authorities   at all possible levels,

with academia, with civil society,   with the business community.

We’re in Croatia, Zagreb to be precise,   the country’s capital.

Since 1 December 2009 Paul Vandoren   has been an official EU ambassador,

As EU ambassadors,   we exclusively represent EU interests,

from that point of view   the role of the EU ambassador

in contrast to when we were head of   delegation of the European Commission,

the role is indeed significantly more   important than before.

Hello Branko, how are you doing?   -How are you?

Somehow it is different than just   a national representation

because they are representing one project   which is so unique in our continent

bringing peace, stability and making   Croatia a part of the big European family.

Back in the embassy, Paul Vandoren   tells us about the new diplomatic service.

In my previous capacity in Moscow   I saw how much work was duplicated

by the indiviual embassies   and the Commission delegations.

Paul Vandoren is one of the pioneers of   the new European diplomacy.

In 2012, he leaves Croatia, which should   have become the next EU member.