Croatian PM Backs EU Enlargement During Talks with Marta Kos

vlada.gov.hr

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said during an Oct. 3 meeting in Zagreb with European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos that Croatia strongly supported EU enlargement, particularly if involving Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“Croatia firmly supports the EU’s enlargement to the countries of Southeast Europe, especially Bosnia and Herzegovina, where Croats are a constituent people,” Plenkovic was quoted as saying in a press release by the government of Croatia. The cabinet went on to say that it had also welcomed during the meeting the adoption of a Reform Agenda by Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Council of Ministers, calling it an important step facilitating the country’s access to funding under the Western Balkans Growth Plan.

Plenkovic underlined that all of the countries in the region needed to meet the required criteria and align as closely as possible with the EU’s policies, adding that Croatia stood ready to help candidate countries implement the necessary reforms.

Strong and unequivocal support for Ukraine was also voiced at the meeting, and the Croatian prime minister underlined the importance of continuing comprehensive assistance to that country. He said Croatia also supported the further progress of Ukraine and Moldova in their accession processes. Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlic Radman also attended the meeting.