State Secretary for Europe Andreja Metelko-Zgombić held political consultations in The Hague on 9 September 2026 with Heleen Bakker, Director-General for European Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The two sides expressed mutual satisfaction with the state of bilateral relations, highlighting significant potential for further expanding and deepening cooperation in agriculture, defence, energy, the economy and tourism. The meeting provided an opportunity to exchange views on key European issues, including the Multiannual Financial Framework, migration, competitiveness, European defence, cohesion policy, agricultural policy and the future of the European Union. Particular attention was paid to the EU enlargement process, both with regard to Ukraine and Moldova and to the Western Balkan countries. In this context, the importance of a merit-based approach and meeting the established criteria was emphasised, including the implementation of reforms in the areas of good governance, transparency, human rights and, in particular, the rule of law. The consultations demonstrated a high degree of convergence between the positions of the two countries on the issues discussed.
The meeting also highlighted an interest in stepping up bilateral visits between the Republic of Croatia and the Kingdom of the Netherlands at the highest level, with a view to strengthening political cooperation between the two EU Member States and NATO Allies.
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