(ANSA) - ROME, JUL 7 - President Sergio Mattarella stressed the EU's role in building peace and prosperity after meeting his Croatian counterpart Zoran Milanović for a working lunch in Zagreb on Monday. "Europe was born to ensure a prospect of peace to a continent torn apart by centuries of wars," Mattarella said. "A peace that has lasted for more than 70 years and is, therefore, a model offer to the rest of the international community. "The challenges have multiplied and Europe needs, now more than ever, the convinced contribution of all its member states to continue to strengthen and integrate, to be able to face the changed geopolitical context as a lead player," he continued. "Europe has always cultivated its vocation for peace and maintains it. "Moreover, the European Union is at the centre of an open trade network that guarantees peace: the EU's peace vocation is shared in order to take international life back to a model of peaceful coexistence". (ANSA).